Indonesia’s protest ‘queens’ are a viral sensation. Here’s why their message on haze, climate and cost of living hits the spot

Greenpeace Indonesia's protest 'queens' scaled the Welcome Statue at the Hotel Indonesia Roundabout, Central Jakarta. © Dhemas Reviyanto / Greenpeace

It's early morning on Tuesday 20 October and in the heart of Jakarta, a small group of activists scale the iconic statue at Bundaran HI to stage a peaceful protest. They're demanding urgent climate action and lower cost of living. Two giant banners unfurl bearing messages in Bahasa Indonesia: "Take Action on the Climate Crisis, Bring Down the Cost of Living" and "Disasters are Getting Worse, the People are Struggling, What is the Government Doing?".

Two women in climbing harnesses and helmets rappel down the Selamat Datang (Welcome) monument, holding spherical signs bearing the slogan, No Progress Without Protest. The internet swiftly crowns them "Queens" for their bravery as they climb to defend our planet and make people look up.

Within hours, photos and videos of the protest are viral on social media prompting a government response, and media coverage has spread around the world.

Why are people protesting?

People around the world are protesting to demand justice, equality and a liveable planet.⁣ As the climate crisis accelerates and the everyday cost of living supercharged by fossilflation continues to rise - along with outrage at perceived ineptitude or corruption and inaction of authorities - people are filling the streets to call for change. From Indonesia to France and Albania, students are at the forefront of demonstrations to demand accountability.

In Indonesia, millions of people are facing the worsening impacts of climate disasters such as flash floods, El Niño-charged drought, and forest and land fires that have triggered prolonged transboundary haze. It's a crisis that requires governments and companies to accelerate a just global energy transition away from fossil fuels, the biggest driver of climate breakdown, and to end and reverse forest destruction.

The viral banners dropped by Greenpeace Indonesia at Bundaran HI came on a day of protests in several cities across the country, fuelled by anger over the worst toxic haze in over a decade that has engulfed Southeast Asia. Indonesians are demanding action to tackle the fires and toxic smoke that are harming health and claiming lives, including in Central Kalimantan, one of the worst hotspots, and West Kalimantan where conservation groups have evacuated dozens of critically endangered orangutans.

Beneath handheld signs (pictured), Greenpeace activists unfurled two giant banners reading "Disasters are Getting Worse, Life is Getting Harder, What is Government Doing?" on the Welcome Monument at the Hotel Indonesia Roundabout in Jakarta, marking the two-year anniversary of President Prabowo Subianto administration. © Jurnasyanto Sukarno / Greenpeace

No progress without protest

As crowds and cameras gathered below Jakarta's landmark Welcome Monument watching banners carrying their messages unfurl, Atha Rasyadi, head of Greenpeace Indonesia's Social & Economic Campaign, explained why protest is crucial to keep up the pressure for progress: "We cannot continue to remain silent when economic growth only enriches a handful of people, especially with the greedy exploitation of nature, while the others are forced to struggle to survive.⁣"

The protest is another reminder of what hope in action looks like.⁣ In the words of one of the viral banners shared widely across social media, and even rendered as animated illustrations, No progress without protest.

We cannot continue to remain silent when economic growth only enriches a handful of people, especially with the greedy exploitation of nature, while the others are forced to struggle to survive.⁣

A Greenpeace activist was escorted away by police as she came down from the top of Welcome Monument in Jakarta. © Jurnasyanto Sukarno / Greenpeace

Timing is everything

The peaceful protests in Indonesia mark the second year of the current presidency, a time when sentiments are running high around food prices, air pollution and the climate crisis. Sentiments that resonate, not only across Indonesia, but in countries around the world.

Extreme weather and ecological disasters not only threaten public safety and health but also disrupt livelihoods, suppress incomes and drive up food prices.

"We are amplifying the voices of the public who are urging the Prabowo-Gibran administration to acknowledge the climate crisis, which is increasingly degrading people's quality of life," said Jeanny Sirait, a climate justice campaigner with Greenpeace Indonesia. "Extreme weather and ecological disasters not only threaten public safety and health but also disrupt livelihoods, suppress incomes and drive up food prices."

This is what HOPE in action looks like around the world

Courage and hope are contagious. Across the world, young people are filling the streets to defend each other, their future, and the planet. This generation resists and we're just starting to see its power!⁣

People are refusing to accept futures they didn't choose. From unaffordable homes and underfunded schools to systemic corruption, police brutality, and restrictions on the right to protest, people are organising to demand change. ⁣⁣

While elites feast, people are too often told to tighten their belts and stay quiet. Across Indonesia, and in countries from Albania to Brazil, Kenya, France, Serbia, the UK and the USA, protesters are demanding an end to corruption and the freedom to speak out without intimidation. An informed, united movement is unstoppable and these huge mobilisations bring hope.

Hope isn't something you watch, it's something you DO. This is what HOPE looks like - share this post to help amplify beautiful moments of people rising for a different future.