Our reporter Romy van Baarsen reflects on her participation with Extinction Rebellion and the experiences of activists striving to make a difference. She shares her personal experience and reflections from when she joined Extinction Rebellion's monumental A12 highway blockade in The Hague, when she stood among thousands, driven by a shared pain for our planet.

After 27 days of A12 blockade and more than 9,000 arrests, the blockade sparked a political shift, forcing discussions on fossil subsidies into the limelight. Romy delves into the nuances of nonviolent protest, the shared pain that motivates climate activists, and the impact of their tireless efforts.

This week marks eight years since Aylan Kurdi was buried at the age of three. Aylan's father, who also lost his wife and older son in the shipwreck, said at the time, "Let these be the last to die, and may their deaths not be in vain."

What has changed in that time? Where do we stand now? We've written an article about it in which European Parliament Member Tineke Strik shares her vision. Spoiler alert: it's not very optimistic, although there is a glimmer of hope.