This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2019/apr/24/extinction-rebellion-declares-end-to-london-protests

The article has changed 12 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 9 Version 10
Extinction Rebellion protesters glue themselves to London Stock Exchange Extinction Rebellion protesters stop traffic in London's financial hub
(about 2 hours later)
Climate change activists have glued themselves to the London Stock Exchange, in protest against the role of the finance industry in fuelling climate change. Up to 400 Extinction Rebellion activists have been stopping traffic in moving protests across the City of London’s to highlight the role of the finance industry in fuelling climate change.
Extinction Rebellion plans to cause rush-hour disruption in London’s financial district before it brings an end to the wave of demonstrations in which protesters have occupied sites across London for more than a week. Protesters are periodically forming human blockades across roads around London’s financial hub, occupying the street and halting traffic for seven minutes before allowing vehicles to pass for several minutes, and then repeating the action.
On Thursday morning, 13 protesters attached themselves the front and back entrances of the stock exchange and were said to be preventing people from entering. They wore LED signs saying: “Climate emergency”, “Tell the truth” and “You can’t eat money”. Police were there, but no arrests had been made, according to the group. Dozens of protesters, including a samba band, blocked the road outside Goldman Sachs as several people lay on the floor and connected their arms with tubes. Other swarming groups targeted junctions outside Bank station, King William Street, near Rothschild & Co, and Fleet Street. One protester held up a sign that read “Sorry for the delay, we won’t be long”, as about 40 people blocked Upper Thames Street, near London Bridge.
At Canary Wharf, at least four protesters climbed on top of a train on the Docklands Light Railway holding signs saying “don’t jail the canaries” and “business as usual = death”, in what the group said was a reference to “the financial sector’s role in our collective suicide”. Police officers are at the scene. Jane Goodland, 29, a maths teacher from Cambridge, said that the so-called swarming protests allow small groups of people to cause disruption, while attempting to have engaging conversations with drivers to increase awareness of their cause. “We’ve targeted the financial sector because we believe the economic system in this country is part of the problem.”
It follows a similar action this month after which three people were remanded in custody until their trial in May. Augusta Hull, 48, a massage therapist from north London, said: “It’s my first time swarming, but I’m out here because we have a climate and ecological crisis. I’ve been with Extinction Rebellion all week and have been inspired by the way they do things, the non-violence, the support of protesters when they’re being arrested, and the focus on love of the planet.”
The environmental group said it was their last day of action before choosing to end their campaign of peaceful mass civil disobedience, following actions that led to hundreds arrested and thousands of police officers deployed to sites occupied by the group for more than a week.
Earlier on Thursday, climate change activists glued themselves to the entrances of the London Stock Exchange wearing LED signs saying: “Climate emergency”, “Tell the truth” and “You can’t eat money”.
Simultaneously, protesters in south-east London climbed on top of a train at Canary Wharf holding signs including “business as usual = death”, in what the group said was a reference to “the financial sector’s role in our collective suicide”.
Protesters at both sites were later removed by police and five people were arrested at Canary Wharf.
Among the protesters at Canary Wharf was Phil Kingston, an 83-year-old grandfather who has been involved in multiple direct action protests. One of the first members of Extinction Rebellion, he gained notoriety after chaining himself to a pipe in Oxford Circus.Among the protesters at Canary Wharf was Phil Kingston, an 83-year-old grandfather who has been involved in multiple direct action protests. One of the first members of Extinction Rebellion, he gained notoriety after chaining himself to a pipe in Oxford Circus.
“Like all parents and grandparents, I want a future,” he said. He expressed his concern over the impact of climate change on the poorest people, arguing that they would be most affected by ecological collapse. “Everything is going to have to shift,” he added, eating a sandwich on top of the train.“Like all parents and grandparents, I want a future,” he said. He expressed his concern over the impact of climate change on the poorest people, arguing that they would be most affected by ecological collapse. “Everything is going to have to shift,” he added, eating a sandwich on top of the train.
Diana Warner, 60, a retired GP, had superglued herself to the train. She said: “I’ve done it because, what else can I do? I want to speak up for all of our children. I also want to speak up for those who are losing their land now, and those who aren’t able to get enough food.”Diana Warner, 60, a retired GP, had superglued herself to the train. She said: “I’ve done it because, what else can I do? I want to speak up for all of our children. I also want to speak up for those who are losing their land now, and those who aren’t able to get enough food.”
Following last Wednesday’s similar action, Cathy Eastburn, 51, from south London, Mark Ovland, 35, from Somerton in Somerset, and Luke Watson, 29, from Manuden in Essex, were charged with obstructing trains or carriages on the railway by an unlawful act, contrary to section 36 of the Malicious Damage Act 1861.
Police detached Warner from the train and arrested her. When asked whether she was scared of also being put in remand for a long period of time, Warner said no. “It made it more necessary to be here. We are part of them and they are part of us. We all need to survive. Some people can see it, understand it, and feel with compassion that we need to prevent more death and catastrophe, but there are many who don’t.”Police detached Warner from the train and arrested her. When asked whether she was scared of also being put in remand for a long period of time, Warner said no. “It made it more necessary to be here. We are part of them and they are part of us. We all need to survive. Some people can see it, understand it, and feel with compassion that we need to prevent more death and catastrophe, but there are many who don’t.”
The climate “rebellion” to highlight the escalating global ecological crisis will draw to a voluntary end with a “closing ceremony” and a day of disruption in which demonstrators plan to swarm into the Square Mile to cause roadblocks, targeting big business and banking. The protest follows last Wednesday’s similar action which saw three people, Cathy Eastburn, 51, from south London, Mark Ovland, 35, from Somerton in Somerset, and Luke Watson, 29, from Manuden in Essex, remanded in custody until their trial in May, after they were charged with obstructing trains or carriages on the railway by an unlawful act, contrary to section 36 of the Malicious Damage Act 1861.
BREAKING: Time for MONEY to tell the truth on its role on the Climate and Ecological Emergency Extinction Rebellion UK is hitting the financial industry today to demand they tell the truth about the devastating impact the industry has on our planet. #lse #rebelforlife pic.twitter.com/zqof4bkCbRBREAKING: Time for MONEY to tell the truth on its role on the Climate and Ecological Emergency Extinction Rebellion UK is hitting the financial industry today to demand they tell the truth about the devastating impact the industry has on our planet. #lse #rebelforlife pic.twitter.com/zqof4bkCbR
On Wednesday, the London protesters agreed to remove blockades and campsites at Marble Arch and Parliament Square.On Wednesday, the London protesters agreed to remove blockades and campsites at Marble Arch and Parliament Square.
Extinction Rebellion, which has been backed by senior academics, politicians and scientists during nine days of peaceful mass civil disobedience, said its action in the City of London was likely to last a few hours. The group, which has been backed by senior academics, politicians and scientists, said in a statement that it would leave its remaining blockades on Thursday, but added: “The world has changed … A space for truth-telling has been opened up.
The group said in a statement that it would leave its remaining blockades on Thursday, but added: “The world has changed … A space for truth-telling has been opened up.
“Now it is time to bring this telling of the truth to communities around London, the regions and nations of the UK, and internationally. In this age of misinformation, there is power in telling the truth.”“Now it is time to bring this telling of the truth to communities around London, the regions and nations of the UK, and internationally. In this age of misinformation, there is power in telling the truth.”
The group said it would like to “thank Londoners for opening their hearts and demonstrating their willingness to act on that truth”.The group said it would like to “thank Londoners for opening their hearts and demonstrating their willingness to act on that truth”.
The statement added: “We know we have disrupted your lives. We do not do this lightly. We only do this because this is an emergency.”The statement added: “We know we have disrupted your lives. We do not do this lightly. We only do this because this is an emergency.”
A week with Extinction Rebellion – podcastA week with Extinction Rebellion – podcast
The activists said protesters had “taken to the streets and raised the alarm” in more than 80 cities in 33 countries. “People are talking about the climate and ecological emergency in ways that we never imagined,” they said.The activists said protesters had “taken to the streets and raised the alarm” in more than 80 cities in 33 countries. “People are talking about the climate and ecological emergency in ways that we never imagined,” they said.
The group said it would work to build up a resilient movement to force politicians to address the climate crisis, and further direct action protests may take place as soon as the coming days.The group said it would work to build up a resilient movement to force politicians to address the climate crisis, and further direct action protests may take place as soon as the coming days.
The move came as it emerged that the environment secretary, Michael Gove, had agreed to the meet representatives of the group. A spokesperson for XR said this was “totally unconnected” to its decision to end the current phase of the protest, adding that the meeting was under consideration.The move came as it emerged that the environment secretary, Michael Gove, had agreed to the meet representatives of the group. A spokesperson for XR said this was “totally unconnected” to its decision to end the current phase of the protest, adding that the meeting was under consideration.
“It may or may not go ahead, depending on the details of how public it is and who will be attending,” they said.“It may or may not go ahead, depending on the details of how public it is and who will be attending,” they said.
Support for Extinction Rebellion has quadrupled in the past nine days as public concern about the scale of the ecological crisis grows. Support for Extinction Rebellion has quadrupled in the past nine days as public concern about the scale of the ecological crisis grows. Since the protests began last Monday, 40,000 new backers or volunteers have offered support to the group. In the same period, it has raised almost £200,000 – mostly in small donations of between £10 and £50 – making a total of £365,000 since January.
Since the protests began last Monday, 30,000 new backers or volunteers have offered support to the group. In the same period, it has raised almost £200,000 – mostly in small donations of between £10 and £50 – making a total of £365,000 since January.
The group said the number of people who had signed up to offer ongoing support and backing for future demonstrations had risen from 10,000 before the protest to 40,000 by Wednesday morning.
Extinction RebellionExtinction Rebellion
Environmental activismEnvironmental activism
ProtestProtest
Climate changeClimate change
LondonLondon
London Stock ExchangeLondon Stock Exchange
Financial sectorFinancial sector
newsnews
Share on FacebookShare on Facebook
Share on TwitterShare on Twitter
Share via EmailShare via Email
Share on LinkedInShare on LinkedIn
Share on PinterestShare on Pinterest
Share on WhatsAppShare on WhatsApp
Share on MessengerShare on Messenger
Reuse this contentReuse this content