3PM UPDATE: Extinction Rebellion: Letter to Government, Traffic Updates
November 21, 2018 by Extinction Rebellion
Email: press@risingup.org.uk
Phone: +44(0)7878535968 / +44(0)7549766448 / +44(0)7732576590 / +44(0)7403772717 / +44(0)7535928734 / +44(0) 7479234522
Website: www.rebellion.earth
Climate Factsheet for Rebels https://rebellion.earth/the-climate-factsheet-for-rebels/
- Representatives of the movement have written to the Government asking for a meeting to discuss their demands and the Government’s responsibility for the safety of its people, and ways to protect the ecosystems of this country
- Gridlock has continued across London as activists staged roadblocks, causing temporary economic disruption. Over 100 activists have been moving into the roads in peaceful nonviolent protest, halting traffic across London including Vauxhall, Tower Bridge, Earl’s Court and Elephant and Castle
Following a week of action, Extinction Rebellion has sent a letter to Greg Clark MP, Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, as well as Prime Minister Theresa May and Michael Gove MP. The letter asks for a meeting with the Government to discuss the necessary action needed “in response to the climate and ecological catastrophe which is facing our nation and the whole of humanity”. [1]
The letter demands that the Government:
- tell the truth about the climate and wider ecological emergency, reverse inconsistent policies and work alongside the media to communicate the situation with citizens;
- enact legally binding policy measures to reduce carbon emissions to net zero by 2025 and to reduce consumption levels; and
- convene a national Citizen’s Assembly to oversee necessary changes, as part of creating a democracy fit for purpose.
Economic disruption in London
Protestors are engaging in peaceful nonviolent direct action to put pressure on the Government to tackle the impending ecological and economic emergency.
Gridlock has continued across London as activists stage roadblocks, causing temporary economic disruption to raise the alarm of the Government’s criminal inaction on the climate and ecological crisis – which already has us speeding towards economic disruption of a much graver nature.
Over 100 activists have been moving into roads in peaceful protest, halting traffic across London including Vauxhall, Tower Bridge, Earl’s Court and Elephant and Castle.
Angela, 40, from Cambridge, an Extinction Rebellion protestor who was at Elephant & Castle said “At the moment, the police are facilitating our protest, as long as we stick to the plan of having breaks and taking 7 minutes in the road at a time. It is good to be part of an act of civil disobedience against the government that is knowingly criminally negligent in protecting its citizens and biodiversity-loss.”
“We had a large group of photography students from the nearby college come out of their classes to join us, which was a great encouragement, when we’d been here a few hours and starting to flag.”