'Extinction Rebellion rush-hour protest sparks clash on London Underground' diff viewer (7/8)

This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on October 17, 2019 07:12 (UTC). It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

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Extinction Rebellion rush-hour protest sparks clash on London Underground	Extinction Rebellion rush-hour protest sparks clash on London Underground
2019-10-17 16:30:16 UTC	2019-10-17 17:39:14 UTC (about 1 hour later)
Extinction Rebellion activists have disrupted London’s public transport network during rush hour, in an action that is likely to polarise opinion on the environmental movement’s tactics.	Extinction Rebellion activists have disrupted London’s public transport network during rush hour, in an action that is likely to polarise opinion on the environmental movement’s tactics.
There were clashes at Canning Town tube station as commuters dragged a protester from the roof of a Jubilee line train and set upon him. He had to be defended by London Underground staff and other passersby.	There were clashes at Canning Town tube station as commuters dragged a protester from the roof of a Jubilee line train and set upon him. He had to be defended by London Underground staff and other passersby.
At Shadwell, five activists blocked the Docklands Light Railway, with two climbing on top of a train and at least one glued to the door.	At Shadwell, five activists blocked the Docklands Light Railway, with two climbing on top of a train and at least one glued to the door.
Commuters now physically dragging protestors from the roof of the train. @itvlondon pic.twitter.com/gDkXfJNxmL	Commuters now physically dragging protestors from the roof of the train. @itvlondon pic.twitter.com/gDkXfJNxmL
Phil Kingston, 83, whose hand was glued to the side of a carriage, said he was doing it for the sake of his grandchildren.	Phil Kingston, 83, whose hand was glued to the side of a carriage, said he was doing it for the sake of his grandchildren.
Extinction Rebellion defies protest ban and targets Google	Extinction Rebellion defies protest ban and targets Google
“I’m also very concerned about what’s happening in the poorer parts of the world who are being hit the hardest by climate breakdown,” he said. “I’m a Christian and it really upsets me to see God’s creation being wrecked across the world.	“I’m also very concerned about what’s happening in the poorer parts of the world who are being hit the hardest by climate breakdown,” he said. “I’m a Christian and it really upsets me to see God’s creation being wrecked across the world.
“So I’m here on those three counts and I’m longing for the government to take some actions which are in accord with the parliamentary declaration of climate and environmental emergency.”	“So I’m here on those three counts and I’m longing for the government to take some actions which are in accord with the parliamentary declaration of climate and environmental emergency.”
Police said eight people had been arrested as a result of both incidents.	Police said eight people had been arrested as a result of both incidents.
Ruth Jarman, who sat next to Kingston, said they had targeted the DLR because its destination was London’s financial district.	Ruth Jarman, who sat next to Kingston, said they had targeted the DLR because its destination was London’s financial district.
“It’s heading for the City, which is the God of our time,” she said. “All the scientific reports coming out now about what we should do about the climate breakdown, about the ecological breakdown, we need total transformation of the economy. At the moment we serve economic growth. Humanity, the planet is crucifying itself to economic growth. It cannot go on.”	“It’s heading for the City, which is the God of our time,” she said. “All the scientific reports coming out now about what we should do about the climate breakdown, about the ecological breakdown, we need total transformation of the economy. At the moment we serve economic growth. Humanity, the planet is crucifying itself to economic growth. It cannot go on.”
“I’m a Christian and it really upsets me to see God’s creation being wrecked.”#ExtinctionRebellion @CClimateAction activist Phil Kingston, 83, who has superglued himself to the DLR at Shadwell. This will be his 13th arrest pic.twitter.com/oH57nwAoud	“I’m a Christian and it really upsets me to see God’s creation being wrecked.”#ExtinctionRebellion @CClimateAction activist Phil Kingston, 83, who has superglued himself to the DLR at Shadwell. This will be his 13th arrest pic.twitter.com/oH57nwAoud
~~Extinction Rebellion said in a statement ~~released~~ ~~later~~ in ~~the~~ ~~day~~ that it was aware the action at Shadwell was divisive, and that many in its movement were not in favour.~~	Extinction Rebellion said in a statement that it was aware the action at Shadwell was divisive, and that many in its movement were not in favour.
It added that those involved included a grandfather, an ex-Buddhist teacher, a vicar and a former GP, who had planned it autonomously.	It added that those involved included a grandfather, an ex-Buddhist teacher, a vicar and a former GP, who had planned it autonomously.
'It has been polarising': tube protest divides Extinction Rebellion	'It has been polarising': tube protest divides Extinction Rebellion
“We are aware that one of our activists responded in self defence in a moment of panic when confronted by a threatening situation. He acknowledges his accountability for this action and we offer gratitude for members of the public who helped to protect him,” the group said.	“We are aware that one of our activists responded in self defence in a moment of panic when confronted by a threatening situation. He acknowledges his accountability for this action and we offer gratitude for members of the public who helped to protect him,” the group said.
“In light of today’s events, Extinction Rebellion will be looking at ways to bring people together rather than create an unnecessary division.”	“In light of today’s events, Extinction Rebellion will be looking at ways to bring people together rather than create an unnecessary division.”
	It later issued an apology in a statement on its Facebook account.
	It said: “Following our previous statement on this morning’s London transport actions, we would also like to apologise to all those whose lives we disrupted this morning. We have spent a lot of time thinking about how best to respond.
	“Extinction Rebellion remains fully committed to nonviolence. The climate and ecological emergency is the biggest threat facing us all today, and it is unfortunate that something like this has to happen for this to become ‘newsworthy’.
	“That said, we are all incredibly sad at how events unfolded this morning, and are using this as an opportunity to learn and reflect as an organisation.
	Although we are pushing for disruption and civil disobedience, we are still learning how to do this in a way that does not result in violence, and that does not discriminate against hard-working individuals, especially those in communities who stand to be most affected by the climate and ecological crisis and are most vulnerable to systems of power.”
The group launched a wave of civil disobedience on 7 October to highlight the risks posed by the climate crisis and the accelerating loss of plant and animal species. At least 1,711 people have been arrested since the protests started.	The group launched a wave of civil disobedience on 7 October to highlight the risks posed by the climate crisis and the accelerating loss of plant and animal species. At least 1,711 people have been arrested since the protests started.
Most commuters at Shadwell were not impressed. “Is an electric train good or not?” one asked the protesters. “Is this train good for the environment?”	Most commuters at Shadwell were not impressed. “Is an electric train good or not?” one asked the protesters. “Is this train good for the environment?”
“The way they’re doing it is not right,” said another, who complained that her daughter was now stuck on a DLR train between stations.	“The way they’re doing it is not right,” said another, who complained that her daughter was now stuck on a DLR train between stations.
XR said in a statement that activists were willing to go to prison “in order to save lives in acts of conscience and necessity”.	XR said in a statement that activists were willing to go to prison “in order to save lives in acts of conscience and necessity”.
The group said: “The actions are intended to bring further economic disruption to the capital as part of the ongoing campaign to convince the government to take meaningful action on the climate and ecological emergency.	The group said: “The actions are intended to bring further economic disruption to the capital as part of the ongoing campaign to convince the government to take meaningful action on the climate and ecological emergency.
“Safety measures are in place to ensure nobody is trapped underground.”	“Safety measures are in place to ensure nobody is trapped underground.”
The UK group of Extinction Rebellion has three core demands:	The UK group of Extinction Rebellion has three core demands:
1) Tell the truthThe government must tell the truth about the scale of the ecological crisis by declaring a climate emergency, “working with other groups and institutions to communicate the urgent need for change”.	1) Tell the truthThe government must tell the truth about the scale of the ecological crisis by declaring a climate emergency, “working with other groups and institutions to communicate the urgent need for change”.
2) Net zero emissions by 2025The UK must drastically cut its greenhouse gas emissions, hitting net zero by 2025.	2) Net zero emissions by 2025The UK must drastically cut its greenhouse gas emissions, hitting net zero by 2025.
3) Citizens’ assemblyThe government must create a citizens’ assembly to hear evidence and devise policy to tackle the climate crisis. Citizens’ assemblies bring together ordinary people to investigate, discuss and make recommendations on how to respond, in this case, to the ecological emergency.	3) Citizens’ assemblyThe government must create a citizens’ assembly to hear evidence and devise policy to tackle the climate crisis. Citizens’ assemblies bring together ordinary people to investigate, discuss and make recommendations on how to respond, in this case, to the ecological emergency.
In the US activists have added a further demand: “A just transition that prioritises the most vulnerable and indigenous sovereignty [and] establishes reparations and remediation led by and for black people, indigenous people, people of colour and poor communities for years of environmental injustice.”	In the US activists have added a further demand: “A just transition that prioritises the most vulnerable and indigenous sovereignty [and] establishes reparations and remediation led by and for black people, indigenous people, people of colour and poor communities for years of environmental injustice.”
Matthew Taylor	Matthew Taylor
Other members of XR distanced themselves from the action which, it was explained, was autonomously taken by a number of groups within the movement.	Other members of XR distanced themselves from the action which, it was explained, was autonomously taken by a number of groups within the movement.
The results of an internal poll of XR members, shared with the Guardian, showed 72% opposed action on London’s underground network under any circumstances.	The results of an internal poll of XR members, shared with the Guardian, showed 72% opposed action on London’s underground network under any circumstances.
It is understood the results of the survey were shared with the groups planning the transport action before it took place. No information on the size of the sample or the methodology of the poll was given.	It is understood the results of the survey were shared with the groups planning the transport action before it took place. No information on the size of the sample or the methodology of the poll was given.
One activist who protested at Canning Town but was not arrested said she regretted that commuters had been affected. When XR activists previously took action on the DLR, in April, at Canary Wharf station, it was mainly financial workers who were immediately affected.	One activist who protested at Canning Town but was not arrested said she regretted that commuters had been affected. When XR activists previously took action on the DLR, in April, at Canary Wharf station, it was mainly financial workers who were immediately affected.