This article is from the source 'bbc' 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.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-47935416
The article has changed 13 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 7 | Version 8 |
---|---|
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. |
Extinction Rebellion campaigners parked a boat at Oxford Circus and blocked Marble Arch, Piccadilly Circus and roads around Parliament Square. | Extinction Rebellion campaigners parked a boat at Oxford Circus and blocked Marble Arch, Piccadilly Circus and roads around Parliament Square. |
Protester Yen Chit Chong said: "This is our last best shot at survival." | Protester Yen Chit Chong said: "This is our last best shot at survival." |
Three men have been arrested on suspicion of criminal damage after a glass revolving door at oil company Shell's HQ in Waterloo was smashed. | Three men have been arrested on suspicion of criminal damage after a glass revolving door at oil company Shell's HQ in Waterloo was smashed. |
Police have advised people travelling into London to allow extra journey time. | Police have advised people travelling into London to allow extra journey time. |
Organisers claim protests are being held in over 80 cities across 33 countries. | 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? | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. |
A Shell spokesman said: "We respect the right of everyone to express their point of view, we only ask that they do so with their safety and the safety of others in mind." | A Shell spokesman said: "We respect the right of everyone to express their point of view, we only ask that they do so with their safety and the safety of others in mind." |
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. | 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 | At the scene |
By Matthew Cannon, BBC News | 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 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. | 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". | 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. | 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. | 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. | "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. | 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. |