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Thousands join Extinction Rebellion protests across London Thousands join Extinction Rebellion protests across London
(32 minutes later)
Thousands of people are taking to the streets of London on Monday, planning, blocking traffic and causing widespread disruption to demand action over the escalating ecological crisis. 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.
Hundreds of protesters slept in tents in Hyde Park overnight and many more from around the UK joined them at five makeshift camps across the capital for the demonstration, which is expected to last for at least a week. Waterloo Bridge was blocked to traffic and turned into an impromptu garden bridge on Monday, with people bringing trees, flowers and setting up a miniature skate park.
At 11am on Monday, protesters set up camps and roadblocks at Marble Arch, Oxford Circus, Waterloo Bridge, Parliament Square and Piccadilly Circus. The roadblocks are planned to continue round the clock at each site for at least a week, and potentially longer, in a protest reminiscent of the Occupy London camp outside St Paul’s Cathedral in 2011-12. Protests and blockades also took place at sites across the capital in what organisers hope will be a protest lasting days or even weeks.
Students bring fresh wave of climate strikes to UK streets Laura Sorensen, a retired teacher from Somerset, was one of thousands who had gathered on Waterloo Bridge.
The protest is part of a global campaign organised by the British climate group Extinction Rebellion, which will encompass demonstrations in 80 cities, across 33 countries, in the coming days.
The campaign cites the civil rights and suffragette movements as inspiration and is backed by senior scientists and academics, including the former archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams.
Organisers in London said they were expecting thousands of people to take part in peaceful acts of civil disobedience. “We don’t want to disrupt people, but our government’s failure over the last 30 years leaves us no choice,” a spokesperson said.
“Governments prioritise the short-term interests of the economic elites, so to get their attention we have to disrupt the economy.”
Extinction Rebellion are an international protest group that uses non-violent civil disobedience to campaign on environmental issues. Demonstration have included blocking bridges to traffic in London and a semi-naked protest inside the House of Commons. Extinction Rebellion are an international protest group that uses non-violent civil disobedience to campaign on environmental issues. Demonstration have included blocking bridges to traffic in London and a semi-naked protest inside the House of Commons. 
The group say that climate breakdown threatens all life on Earth, and so they are rebelling against politicians who "have failed us", to provoke radical change that will stave off a climate emergency.The group say that climate breakdown threatens all life on Earth, and so they are rebelling against politicians who "have failed us", to provoke radical change that will stave off a climate emergency.
Eighty-five people were arrested in the capital in November when thousands of protesters, including families, occupied five bridges. “I am so worried about what’s happening to the planet – we are on a knife edge now and I felt strongly that I needed to get out and show myself, rather than just talk about it in the pub,” she said.
The group is demanding immediate action to counter environmental destruction, after predictions that humans face an existential threat if climate change and the loss of biodiversity continues. Students bring fresh wave of climate strikes to UK streets
Extinction Rebellion 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, similar to that created during the second world war. Sorensen said she had not previously been active in the environment movement but had been given a love of nature by her parents.
The group wrote to the prime minister, Theresa May, outlining its demands and asking for face-to-face talks. In the letter, the activists warned they would escalate their disruptive actions over the coming weeks unless the government acted. “I see this disaster unfolding all around me … it is terrifying and the government have done nothing despite all the warnings so we have to act now.”
“Make no mistake, people are already dying,” the letter states. “In the majority world, indigenous communities are now on the brink of extinction. This crisis is only going to get worse … Prime minister, you cannot ignore this crisis any longer. We must act now.” At 11am on Monday, protesters set up camps and roadblocks at Marble Arch, Oxford Circus, Waterloo Bridge, Parliament Square and Piccadilly Circus. The roadblocks are planned to continue round the clock for at least a week in a protest reminiscent of the Occupy London camp outside St Paul’s Cathedral in 2011-12.
Participants have been warned they will be taking part in non-violent civil disobedience and might be arrested. Organisers have circulated legal advice to anyone planning to attend, requesting they refrain from using drugs and alcohol, and treat passersby and the environment with respect. The demonstrations are part of a global campaign organised by the British climate group Extinction Rebellion, with protests planned in 80 cities across 33 countries in the coming days.
The campaign cites the civil rights and suffragette movements as inspiration and is backed by senior scientists and academics, including the former archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams.
In London, organisers said they expected thousands to take part in peaceful acts of civil disobedience, bringing widespread disruption to the capital.
“We don’t want to disrupt people, but our government’s failure over the last 30 years leaves us no choice,” an Extinction Rebellion spokesperson said.
“Governments prioritise the short-term interests of the economic elites so, to get their attention, we have to disrupt the economy.”
The Guardian view on Extinction Rebellion: one small step | Editorial
A total of 85 people were arrested in London in November when thousands of protesters, including families and pensioners, occupied five bridges.
The group is demanding immediate action over environmental destruction, after dire predictions that humans face an existential threat if climate change and the loss of biodiversity continues.
It 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 similar to that seen during the second world war.
Participants are being forewarned they will be invited to take part in non-violent civil disobedience, and might be arrested. Organisers have circulated legal advice to anyone planning to attend, requested they refrain from using drugs and alcohol and asked that they treat passersby and the environment with respect.
A Metropolitan police spokesperson declined to comment, other than to say an appropriate policing plan would be in place.A Metropolitan police spokesperson declined to comment, other than to say an appropriate policing plan would be in place.
Environmental activismEnvironmental activism
Climate changeClimate change
ProtestProtest
LondonLondon
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