With all the hype around Greta and her movement, I was not going to miss the Friday event with Greta's presence in Rome. I got my camera, reusable bottle water and took the tram for Piazza del Popolo.

What I saw was 25,000 disciplined, inspiring, proud, climate-conscious environmentalists from all walks of life challenging business as usual, challenging the hypocrisy of our politicians, politics and policies, challenging the half-truths, challenging lip service, challenging the empty promises, challenging complacency, challenging business interest, challenging narrow-mindedness, challenging greed, challenging personal and political interests.

I saw young event planners who had mastered the art of organizing large-scale events. Organizers who had adopted an out-of-the-box and sound business model - that of not accepting corporate donations, as these inevitably come with strings - rather rely on self-financing and contributions for the general public.

What I saw was 25,000 people chanting in unison "We want our hopes and dreams back". I saw the young generation - the millennial - welcoming the adults with open arms. I saw an informed young generation - starting with the 9 year old Alice to the university students who passionately and eloquently outlined the catastrophic impact of our (the adult's, business and politician's) action on the planet, denounced our criminal undertakings, vowing to continue on their path until they get their dreams back.

I saw 25,000 people practicing what they preach. I did not see a single plastic bottle, but reusable ones. I saw posters and signs made of paper and cardboard. I saw the invention of Gino Bastianelli who works with the musical group Tetes de Bois, powering a stage with bikes. I saw hundreds of volunteer bikers, producing 5 to 6 kilowatt of energy, powering the stage!!!

And guess what, when the event was over, the piazza was stunningly clean. Now this was truly a first. There were no plastic bottles, no food wrappers, no coke or beer cans in sight!!!!! The 25,000 people gathered did not leave any waste behind!!!!

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