BRECON members of the Extinction Rebellion group have joined the protests obstructing London’s busiest roads in a bid to get the UK Government to take immediate and effective action to avert climate change.
Thousands of protesters from all over the UK are aiming to cause as much disruption as possible to everyday business in the UK capital by peaceful means.
The demonstration, which is scheduled to continue until Monday, April 29 aims to obstruct many of central London’s busiest roads including Oxford Circus, Marble Arch, Waterloo Bridge, Parliament Square and Piccadilly Circus. Some protesters even superglued themselves to the entrance of the offices of oil company Shell near Waterloo station and smashed the building's windows.
Among the protesters is Sian Cox, a 54-year-old member of the Brecon XR group. She said: “Until recently I was living a normal life. Then I started to read the climate science, and my heart started to break. I learned that we are in the most immense, catastrophic crisis. I had to do something. It might not work. We might already be too late. Extinction Rebellion is our best shot, and it has to be now.”
Extinction Rebellion, which is coordinating protests in London, Nottingham and Edinburgh, is calling on the government to reduce carbon emissions to zero by 2025 and establish a citizens’ assembly to devise an emergency plan of action. Extinction Rebellion campaigners in London are camping overnight at Waterloo Bridge, Parliament Square and Oxford Circus.
The action is part of an international movement to protest against environmental and ecological destruction.
Police said more than 200 people had been arrested by midday on Tuesday (April 16). All remain in custody. Most were detained on suspicion of public order offences, while five people were held on suspicion of criminal damage at Shell’s HQ.
The Metropolitan police service estimated that nearly half a million people had been affected by the diversion of 55 bus routes in London.
Robert Proctor, a father of two young boys from Abergavenny who is part of the protest, said: “I find it heart breaking to see what we are doing to nature and to each other and although I have never been arrested before I am prepared to put my liberty on the line for this cause.”
People of all ages have joined Extinction Rebellion.
Vicki Stinchcombe, a grandmother from mid Wales, said she is blocking Oxford Circus for her four grandchildren. “I need to be their voice; the responsible adult who they can look to and protect their future and to trust," said Vicki. “I’ve joined environmental groups, I’ve protested and made banners but it’s not enough.”
The Extinction Rebellion movement says that there is no other choice other than to disrupt the economy.
Sarah Jackman, another member of the group, said, “Joining Extinction Rebellion in London gives me the opportunity to take part, to make a difference, and to contribute to getting this important issue noticed.”
Mayor of London Sadiq Khan said although he "shared the passion" of the activists, he was "extremely concerned" about plans some protesters had to disrupt the London Underground on Wednesday (April 17).
He said it was "absolutely crucial" to get more people to use public transport to tackle climate change.
"Targeting public transport in this way would only damage the cause of all of us who want to tackle climate change, as well as risking Londoners’ safety, and I’d implore anyone considering doing so to think again," he added.