Thousands join Extinction Rebellion protests across London – “We are facing environmental breakdown and nothing remotely proportionate is being done about it”
By Matthew Taylor and Damien Gayle
15 April 2019
(The Guardian) – Thousands of people have joined a “climate rebellion” in London, blocking traffic and disrupting “business as usual” to demand action over the escalating ecological crisis.
By 2pm five London landmarks – Waterloo Bridge, Marble Arch, Parliament Square, Oxford Circus, and Piccadilly Circus – had been blocked by thousands of protesters bringing widespread disruption. The protests are planned to continue for at least a week.
The group 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 to tackle climate change and biodiversity loss.
Waterloo Bridge was blocked to traffic and turned into an impromptu garden bridge, with people bringing trees, flowers and setting up a miniature skate park.
At Oxford Circus thousands of protesters danced at the normally busy junction and a life size model of boat was parked in the middle of the crossing with the slogan Tell the Truth emblazoned on the side.
At nearby Piccadilly Circus the youth section of Extinction Rebellion held a sit down protest.
Trey Taylor, 19, said he felt compelled to act when he realised the scale of the climate crisis.
“We are facing environmental breakdown and nothing remotely proportionate is being done about it … when you look at the facts this is happening now and the government response is utterly woeful.”
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