The rebel mothers marched towards the Riksdag in protest against Swedish climate policy

Sweden has already used up its annual share of the earth’s renewable resources.

It draws attention to the Rebel mothers by wrapping the Riksdag in a four kilometer long scarf that symbolizes the 1.5 degree target.

– I have knitted like only that one, says Marianne Åström.

Today is Overshoot Day, the day when the Swedes have used up their share of renewable resources that the earth produces during a year.

Then hundreds of rebel mothers gathered in Sergel’s square to protest against Sweden’s climate policy. There, among others, the activist Greta Thunberg gave a speech and the demonstrators sang in chorus.

Then they carried a four kilometer long scarf to Mynttorget, which was wrapped around the Riksdag.

– I am worried about my children’s future and any future grandchildren. I don’t think our politicians are doing enough. They should follow the Paris Agreement, something they are not doing in my eyes, Anna Casey.

2,667 scarves

During the spring, mothers, grandmothers and grandmothers, aunts and sisters knitted 2,667 red scarves of 1.5 meters – a symbol of the goal of limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees.

Before the protest, they had been crocheted together to the impressive length.

– We have to do something and this feels like a very worthy way to support everyone who is fighting for a good climate. I have knitted like only that, says Marianne Åström.

“Just rolling up your sleeves”

But many were skeptical that Sweden would be able to comply with the Paris Agreement. Among others, Kristin Palmqvist, mother of three and grandmother of five.

– It seems very difficult, but every day we don’t do it, it becomes even more difficult. But just roll up your sleeves and get on with it. Politicians, citizens, everyone must make that demand. As long as we try, there is hope, she says.

Despite the impressive size, the Rebel mothers were a bit short of the scarf record. The world’s longest was knitted in Wales and was just over 54 kilometers long. The Swedish record stands at almost 19 kilometers and was set by a knitting café in Umeå in 2014.