Australia Abiding by COVID-19 curbs, Australian school kids protest in opposition to gas

© Reuters/David Gray Pictures of the Year

By Cordelia Hsu

SYDNEY (Reuters) - Thousands of Australian students on Friday protested to demand investment in renewable-energy projects, though COVID-19 restrictions confined the events to small gatherings and online activism.

About 500 protests were held across Australia, with other demonstrations expected worldwide on Friday.

© Reuters/JILL GRALOW Ambrose Hayes, a 15-year-old climate change activist, rides on a barge during an event as part of the Fund Our Future Not Gas climate rally in Sydney Harbour

In Sydney, gatherings were limited to no more than 20 people, while in Melbourne, which is under a stringent lockdown after a second wave of COVID-19, protests were held online.

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Thousands of Australian students on Friday protested to demand investment in renewable-energy projects, though COVID - 19 restrictions confined In Sydney, gatherings were limited to no more than 20 people, while in Melbourne, which is under a stringent lockdown after a second wave of COVID - 19

SYDNEY, Sept 25 — Thousands of Australian students today protested to demand investment in renewable-energy projects, though Covid - 19 restrictions confined the A small gathering of school students take part in Fund Our Future Not Gas climate rally in Sydney, Australia , September 25, 2020.

© Reuters/JILL GRALOW Ambrose Hayes, a 15-year-old climate change activist, rides on a barge during an event as part of the Fund Our Future Not Gas climate rally in Sydney Harbour

Those who could protest in person carried signs and gave voice to their message alongside climate advocates.

"Their future is on the line," Gillian Reffell, a Sydney resident, told Reuters. "We want to see our governments fund children's futures, renewable jobs and not gas."

© Reuters/JILL GRALOW Ambrose Hayes, a 15-year-old climate change activist, rides on a barge during an event as part of the Fund Our Future Not Gas climate rally in Sydney Harbour

The demonstrations comes a year after about 30,000 students and other protesters rallied across Australia to demand stronger action to address climate change.

Fewer virus cases keep Melbourne on track

Victoria's daily infection rate is on track towards the planned easing of coronavirus restrictions come September 28, with more anti-lockdown protests expected.The state recorded 21 new cases in the 24 hours to Saturday morning, its lowest figure since June 24.

Abiding by COVID - 19 curbs , Australian school kids protest in opposition to gas . 1:51am EDT. SYDNEY Thousands of Australian students on Friday protested to demand investment in renewable-energy projects, though COVID - 19 restrictions confined the events to small gatherings and online

Australia has abandoned the development of a domestically-made coronavirus vaccine after participants in clinical trials for the jab returned false positive test results for HIV. Australia scraps Covid - 19 vaccine development after trials lead to false positives for HIV.

© Reuters/JILL GRALOW Ambrose Hayes, a 15-year-old climate change activist, takes part in an event as part of the Fund Our Future Not Gas climate rally in Sydney

The worldwide student strike movement started in August 2018, when 16-year-old Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg began protesting outside her parliament on school days. She has since been nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize.

(Writing by Colin Packham. Editing by Gerry Doyle)