greta thunberg friday protests online: 'talks for future' start march 27, 2PM GMT (10AM EST)

swedish climate activist greta thunberg has found a way to continue protesting climate change in the midst of coronavirus lockdown, by moving her fridays for future initiative online. starting this friday, the 17-year-old will host a series of weekly webinars titled ‘talks for future’.

due to the COVID-19 outbreak, fridays for future has postponed all mass gatherings and called for a ‘climate strike online, a strike from home and on the internet.’ the digital events will start from friday, march 27, at 2PM GMT (10AM EST) and will feature climate experts such as scientists, activists and journalists to carry on the spirit of the climate strikes online.

‘starting this friday the movement will hold weekly webinars and discussion rounds with scientists, journalists, and activists as well as other international high-level experts,’ climate advocate group 350 said in a statement on tuesday.

activist and author naomi klein is among the first speakers to appear on the webinar this friday. the first episode will be moderated by greta thunberg herself, and the who’s climate change and health leader, diarmid campbell-lendrum, will be delivering a live talk.

‘we’re taking this education in our own hands with our new project #talksforfuture, so that even in these coming weeks, where we are flooded with news about the coronavirus, we won’t forget about the climate crisis,’ ariadne papatheodorou, a 16-year old climate activist from greece, said in the statement.

last week, thunberg urged her 10 million followers to practice social distancing wherever possible, noting that she believed she may have contracted COVID-19 during her travels around europe.

‘around ten days ago I started feeling some symptoms, exactly the same time as my father – who traveled with me from brussels. I was feeling tired, had shivers, a sore throat and coughed.’

while she was unable to get tested for the virus, she noted, ‘it’s extremely likely that I’ve had it, given the combined symptoms and circumstances.’

‘follow the advice from experts and your local authorities and #stayathome to slow the spread of the virus,’ she concluded.