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Extinction Rebellion: Climate protesters block roads | Extinction Rebellion: Climate protesters block roads |
(about 1 hour later) | |
Climate change protesters have blocked roads across central London sparking traffic disruption. | Climate change protesters have blocked roads across central London sparking traffic disruption. |
Members of campaign group Extinction Rebellion have also parked a boat at Oxford Circus, and blocked Marble Arch, as part of a global day of action. | Members of campaign group Extinction Rebellion have also parked a boat at Oxford Circus, and blocked Marble Arch, as part of a global day of action. |
Activists smashed the glass of the revolving doors of oil company Shell's London headquarters in Waterloo. | Activists smashed the glass of the revolving doors of oil company Shell's London headquarters in Waterloo. |
Police have advised people travelling into London to allow extra journey time. | Police have advised people travelling into London to allow extra journey time. |
Yen Chit Chong, from Extinction Rebellion in London, said: "This is our last best shot at survival." | Yen Chit Chong, from Extinction Rebellion in London, said: "This is our last best shot at survival." |
Organisers claim protests are being held in over 80 cities across 33 countries. | |
Extinction Rebellion said protests would continue throughout the week "escalating the creative disruption across the capital day by day". | Extinction Rebellion said protests would continue throughout the week "escalating the creative disruption across the capital day by day". |
The group said it planned to "bring London to a standstill for up to two weeks", and wanted the government to take urgent action to tackle climate change. | The group said it planned to "bring London to a standstill for up to two weeks", and wanted the government to take urgent action to tackle climate change. |
In Parliament Square, protesters unfurled banners, held up placards and waved flags as speakers took to the stage. | In Parliament Square, protesters unfurled banners, held up placards and waved flags as speakers took to the stage. |
Who are Extinction Rebellion? | |
Since its launch last year, members have shut bridges, poured buckets of fake blood outside Downing Street, blockaded the BBC and stripped semi-naked in Parliament. | |
It has three core demands: for the government to "tell the truth about climate change", reduce carbon emissions to zero by 2025, and create a citizens' assembly to oversee progress. | |
Controversially, the group is trying to get as many people arrested as possible. | |
One of the group's founders, Roger Hallam, believes that mass participation and civil disobedience maximise the chances of social change. | |
But critics say they cause unnecessary disruption and waste police time when forces are already overstretched. | |
By intentionally causing more than £6,000 damage at the Shell headquarters activists aim to get the case into crown court to put their case to a jury, the campaign said. | |
Protester Chay Harwood told the BBC: "We live in a very sick society at the moment. There's a lot of social issues and social ills that need curing. | |
"But at the moment the biggest threat we face is the threat of climate change." | "But at the moment the biggest threat we face is the threat of climate change." |
The Met said it had "appropriate policing plans" in place for the demonstrations and officers from across the force would be used "to support the public order operation". | The Met said it had "appropriate policing plans" in place for the demonstrations and officers from across the force would be used "to support the public order operation". |
In November, activists blockaded the Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy by chaining themselves together on the pavement, leading to 85 arrests. | In November, activists blockaded the Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy by chaining themselves together on the pavement, leading to 85 arrests. |
At the scene | |
By Matthew Cannon, BBC News | |
The unusual sight of a pink yacht stands in the centre of Oxford Circus, surrounded by protesters holding aloft a sea of coloured flags. | |
The focus here is on the future of the planet - and there is a sense of urgency. | |
Some are wearing red to symbolise "the blood of dying species", one group wants to "save the bees", while a man dressed as a centaur holds a placard which says "climate change is not a myth ...unlike centaurs". | |
Two young women tell me they are not willing to have children due to their fears for the world they will be bringing them into. | |
Another man, who plans to protest through the night, says the protests will be peaceful but he is willing to be arrested. | |
"The more the authorities will get fed up with us the more it brings us to their attention," he said. | |
Organisers have encouraged people to set up camp in Hyde Park overnight into Monday - an offence under Royal Parks legislation. | Organisers have encouraged people to set up camp in Hyde Park overnight into Monday - an offence under Royal Parks legislation. |
A spokeswoman for The Royal Parks said Extinction Rebellion had not asked for permission to begin the protest in the park and that camping was not allowed. |