People Have Been Protesting Outside Of The Climate Change Conference, And The Photos Are Pretty Awesome

Sunday marked the start of the 2021 United Nations Climate Change Conference (also called COP26), and let's just say it's been a pretty big week for climate activists.

An image of world leaders at the conference
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This year, the conference is taking place in Glasgow, Scotland. Leaders from all over the world are in attendance, and they've been discussing some of the biggest issues surrounding the climate crisis.

An image of President Joe Biden in front of a sign that says "COP26"
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All week, protesters have been demonstrating across Glasgow in hopes of getting the attention of these leaders, and so far, it has been a sight to see. Here are some of the most striking photos from the protests:

A sign that says "#Make Our Planet Great Again" above a person's head
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At the beginning of the week, dozens of people demonstrated at Festival Park. Miss Greta Thunberg herself was even seen speaking during the event.

Climate activist Greta Thunberg speaking at a demonstration
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Meanwhile, on the other side of the city, protesters demonstrated in front of the Gallery of Modern Art.

Protesters wearing masks of different world leaders
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They wore masks of different world leaders, hoping to draw attention to "hot air" and rising global temperatures.

protesters holding signs that say "Hot Air"
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And outside of the conference's venue, performance "artivists" stood their ground with a sign that said "Code Red for Humanity."

Protesters posing in front of a sign that says "Code Red For Humanity"
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A Squid Game–themed demonstration also took place nearby.

Protesters in masks playing Tug Of War
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I seriously want to know who thought of this. Brilliant.

Protesters holding dice that say "Act On Paris" and "End Coal"
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At one point, the Loch Ness monster made an appearance, although the police had to detain him. The creature is supposed to symbolize the debt that many lower income countries must overcome before they can focus on a greener future.

An inflatable Loch Ness monster
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On the other side of the city, protesters marched in front of the offices of a J.P. Morgan bank.

Protesters holding signs that say "Vote For The Planet" and "No More Fossil Fuels"
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There was quite a crowd.

A protester in front of J.P. Morgan bank
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It was an eye-full.

A protester holding a sign that looks like a giant pair of eyes
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Other demonstrators took to the streets and dressed up for the occasion, like this person, who had actual tree branches attached to their back.

A protester with leaves attached to their back
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There was certainly no shortage of costumes...

Protesters in their costumes
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...and performance art.

Protesters dressed as birds on the ground
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It was pretty awesome.

A protester holding a sign that looks like a newspaper
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Just look at these "oil heads"!

Protesters wearing plastic containers on their heads
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They were the same people who hung up this huge banner.

A banner that says "Boris Is A Tool Of The Fossil Fools"
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In the middle of the week, things started to get a little fishy...

Protesters wearing fish-head costumes
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But also...cute? A group of Pikachus marched near the venue, holding up signs that said, "Japan Stop Funding Coal."

Protesters wearing Pikachu costumes
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It seems like some passed on the costumes and stuck to holding up giant banners.

Protesters holding a sign that says "War Is Not Green"
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Someone also put up a scale outside of the conference.

Protest artwork that looks like a scale
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By the end of the week, the crowds grew larger. Many protesters attended the "Fridays for the Future" youth climate rally that was held in the center of the city.

protesters gathered on the streets of Glasgow
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Many young people showed their support for the cause.

A young girl at the protest sitting on the shoulders of an adult with a sign nearby that says 'Save the Humans'
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I am so proud of Gen Z for this one.

young adults holding signs at the protest
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But seriously, though. What a historic moment in time. If all of these people can stand united, I think I have a little hope left for the world.

Various signs being held up at the protest
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What do you think of these protesters? Comment below!