Thousands of Londoners have flocked to the streets to protest against a lack of support from governments for tackling climate change and the impending doom and gloom it’s casting on the future of the planet. The hordes of citizens belong to the socio-political movement, Extinction Rebellion (XR) and have launched their week-long international protest campaign in London.
Activists protested and caused blockades in the streets to bring attention to their climate change cause, and to rouse the interest of the public and political entities to effect change.
Protests at Marble Arch, London. Image by Talia Woodin.
‘We don’t want to disrupt people, but our government’s failure over the last 30 years leaves us no choice,’ an Extinction Rebellion spokesperson told The Guardian. ‘Governments prioritise the short-term interests of the economic elites so, to get their attention, we have to disrupt the economy.’
Groups marched on popular London spots such as Parliament Square, Piccadilly Circus, the Marble Arch and Waterloo Bridge to alert the public and government to the threat of environmental collapse on the future generations. Some children have been involved in adding their voices to the protests in the form of civil disobedience, like ‘striking’ from school.
The original faction that was formed last year in May and comprised largely of academics who feel that short term campaign promises are not prioritised or don’t have enough time to be effected in the UK election cycles. Politicians are also swayed by need for votes, as well as lobbyists, commercial media and capital injections from wealthy supporters.
The XR symbol is an hourglass in a circle, signalling that time is running out for humans to act and save the world from the already devastating impact of climate change as brought about bin the Anthropocene age (the period during which human activity has been the main influence on the environment).
Some of XR’s demands include transparency on the part of politicians about climate changes crises, immediate action and an agenda ‘beyond politics’, as has become a catchphrase in their particular movement. XR wants a ‘Citizens’ Assembly’ on climate change and ecological problems where members can learn, deliberate and make well-processed recommendations to particular social and environmental issues.
Over 27 countries have committed to the XR cause, including Ireland, Australia, Sweden and Colombia. In International Rebellion Week 49 countries will be participating, including the citizens of Ghana and South Africans in Cape Town and Gauteng.
The XR sites for International Rebellion Week in SA, 15-19 April 2019 include:
– Peaceful occupation for an Emergency Electricity Summit at 9.30am, at The River Club, in Observatory, Cape Town
– Johannesburg from 12pm, at Gauteng Provincial Legislature, Beyers Naude Square
PRESS RELEASE: Today, 11am, London: International Rebellion begins https://t.co/uy81QjACJ1 #extinctionrebellion #marblearch #oxfordcircus #waterloobridge #parliamentsquare #hydeparkcorner #piccadillycircus #rebelforlife pic.twitter.com/MLRen8w1YN
— Extinction Rebellion 🐝⌛️🦋 (@ExtinctionR) April 15, 2019
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Images supplied by Extinction Rebellion and via Facebook
