For 19-year-old Oleinikova, speaking out against the Russian government’s actions in Ukraine carries a daily risk of imprisonment. Yet, alongside fellow Russian activist Arshak Makichyan, she stood before a crowd in Berlin this week, denouncing the war and pleading for change. “It is very scary and we are afraid. But still, we are doing our activism because we feel that it is very important,” Oleinikova said. “It is the right thing to do and we won’t stop.” Her voice was one of many at the 10th series of worldwide climate protests, where thousands of mostly young people marched through Berlin’s government district to the Brandenburg Gate, many carrying Ukraine’s yellow and blue national flag.
Global demonstrations link environmental message to war in Ukraine
The protests, organized by the Fridays for Future movement inspired by Swedish activist Greta Thunberg, spanned from Indonesia to Europe and the United States. In Jakarta, activists dressed in red robes held placards demanding “system change, not climate change.” Others carried a banner reading “G-20, stop funding our extinction.” This message refers to the fact that the Group of 20 biggest developed and emerging economies account for about 80% of global greenhouse gas emissions. Indonesia hosts the group’s next summit this fall. Some 300 protests were planned in Germany, which has taken in about 250,000 Ukrainian refugees in the past month.
In Berlin, two young Russian activists took the stage to denounce their government’s actions in Ukraine. Makichyan said the war and Western sanctions imposed on Russia were having a drastic impact on the Russian economy. “Everything we had is collapsing,” he said, adding that he hoped for change as quickly as possible. The Brandenburg Gate, long a symbol of the Cold War division between East and West, served as a backdrop for the rally.
From Rome to Paris, young voices call for change
In Rome, protesters carried a giant inflatable globe through the streets and a banner reading “Make school, not war.” Several hundred young people gathered in Paris, marching from the domed Pantheon on the Left Bank to the Bastille plaza. They carried signs reading “Wake Up” with a drawing of a burning Earth, calling on French presidential candidates to do more to fight climate change. Others accused French oil company TotalEnergies of cozying up to Russian President Vladimir Putin for its refusal to pull out of Russia.
The protests highlight a growing intersection between environmental activism and geopolitical concerns. While some scientists argue about the causes of climate change, the debate remains open. The demonstrators themselves focused on immediate issues: clean air, conservation, and the human cost of conflict.
What to watch next
As Indonesia prepares to host the G-20 summit this fall, activists plan to keep pressure on world leaders. The Fridays for Future movement, now in its 10th series of global protests, shows no signs of slowing down. With the war in Ukraine continuing to reshape economies and displace millions, the coming months will test whether environmental and peace movements can sustain their momentum on the world stage.
