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Inaction = Death

Over 400 rebels from 22 local groups across the south west joined a wave of protests nationwide to draw attention to government inaction on the climate and ecological emergency.

The actions were timed to coincide with the publication of the Committee on Climate Change (CCC) annual progress report to parliament. It shows that, once again, the government has made little progress in carbon reduction or in preparing for the catastrophic impacts of climate change. The report says that the government has only fully implemented 2 out of 31 recommendations made by the CCC for 2019 and 2020 to achieve the net zero target.

Rebels from across the region from Penzance to the Forest of Dean participated. Their actions included:

  • a crime scene investigation make-over of the office of Environment Secretary George Eustice, MP in Camborne
  • a heads in the sand beach action at Bournemouth aimed at Dorset MPs and cabinet ministers
  • a climate catastrophe game show in Penzance
  • an atmospheric visual action on Gyllyngvase Beach, Falmouth including giant placards spelling out inaction equals death
  • a re-enactment of the Hovis advert on Gold Hill, Shaftesbury with homemade XR symbol loaf focusing on ‘build back better’ and visioning a better post-covid world.
  • shoe installations in Barnstaple and Totnes
  • banners and placards outside the country estate of MP Richard Drax in Dorset
  • a climate change die-in at the office of Somerton and Frome MP David Warburton
  • slow marches, creative artworks, speeches and singing

The common theme running through the protests was the delivery of letters to MPs asking them to publicly speak out on the government’s failings on the climate and ecological emergency and come clean with constituents that government inaction will lead to the death of millions. The standard letter, which was tailored by local groups is here.

Extinction Rebellion is urging the government to listen to the latest scientific findings including those from the Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research which demonstrate that carbon emissions need to be reduced to zero much faster than the 2050 target to avoid dangerous global temperature rises.

Some of our press coverage here:

https://www.cornwalllive.com/news/cornwall-news/environment-secretary-george-eustices-office-4261882

https://www.cornwalllive.com/news/cornwall-news/gallery/protesters-host-gameshow-town-centre-4263283

https://www.somersetlive.co.uk/news/somerset-news/gallery/pictures-show-bath-extinction-rebellion-4263970

https://dorseteye.com/dorset-mps-and-cabinet-ministers-bury-their-heads-in-the-sand-over-climate-crisis/

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