Young people from all over the world rallied at Freedom Square in downtown Poznan on December 6 to mark the 2008 Global Day of Action on climate change.
In a colourful and lively display of banners, flags and costumes, over 1000 young people participated in the rally, which drew international media attention.
Hundreds of young participants dressed up as clowns, demanding world leaders and climate negotiatiors make a serious effort to reach a global deal on reducting carbon emissions, pleading for them to stop "clowning" around.
Following the rally, young people took to the streets, marching from Freedom Square to the conference centre where climate negotiations are being held. Led by what seemed an orchestra of rythmic drumbeats, young people danced and sang their way through the streets despite the cold weather.
Youth were joined in solidarity by representatives of Polish labour and political groups.
The Poznan rally was one in a list of hundreds of demonstrations that took place across the world to mark December 6 as an international day of action. In Canada, rallies were held on December 7 so as not to conflict with December 6 as the national day of rememberance and action on violence against women.
The global day of action has been organized with the intent of raising the public's awareness of the dangers associated with climate change. According to the official website the coordinated actions target world leaders, demanding they take "urgent and resolute action that is needed to prevent the catastrophic destabilisation of global climate, so that the entire world can move as rapidly as possible to a stronger emissions reductions treaty which is both equitable and effective in minimising dangerous climate change."
The website also includes a comprehensive list of event details for climate actions that took place in 94 countries around the world.
Prior to the Poznan rally, hundreds of people took part in a critical mass bicycle ride that snaked it's way through the streets of Poznan, ending at Freedom Square.
