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Extinction Rebellion set to disrupt London rail and tube lines Extinction Rebellion pledge to disrupt London rail and tube lines
(30 minutes later)
Climate change protesters, who police say have caused “serious disruption” affecting half a million people in London over the past two days, have said they are planning to escalate their protests to disrupt rail and tube lines.Climate change protesters, who police say have caused “serious disruption” affecting half a million people in London over the past two days, have said they are planning to escalate their protests to disrupt rail and tube lines.
Thousands of people have taken part in the civil disobedience protests, blockading four landmarks in the capital in an attempt to force the government to take action on the escalating climate crisis.Thousands of people have taken part in the civil disobedience protests, blockading four landmarks in the capital in an attempt to force the government to take action on the escalating climate crisis.
Now the activist group Extinction Rebellion says it is planning to step up its action to disrupt rail and tube lines in London.Now the activist group Extinction Rebellion says it is planning to step up its action to disrupt rail and tube lines in London.
A spokesman said: “People really don’t want to do this but the inaction of the government in the face of this emergency leaves us little choice.”A spokesman said: “People really don’t want to do this but the inaction of the government in the face of this emergency leaves us little choice.”
Extinction Rebellion is 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 is 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 says climate breakdown threatens all life on Earth, and so it is rebelling against politicians who 'have failed us', to provoke radical change that will stave off a climate emergency.The group says climate breakdown threatens all life on Earth, and so it is rebelling against politicians who 'have failed us', to provoke radical change that will stave off a climate emergency.
On Tuesday, four sites – Marble Arch, Waterloo Bridge, Parliament Square and Oxford Circus – remained under the control of protesters, causing delays and diversions in the surrounding areas.On Tuesday, four sites – Marble Arch, Waterloo Bridge, Parliament Square and Oxford Circus – remained under the control of protesters, causing delays and diversions in the surrounding areas.
A total of 168 arrests had been made so far on Tuesday, the Metropolitan police said, bringing the total Extinction Rebellion related arrests since Monday up to 290. At least 168 arrests were made on Tuesday, the Metropolitan police said, bringing the total Extinction Rebellion related arrests since Monday up to 290.
Hundreds of Extinction Rebellion protesters were still dancing around a boat stage at Oxford Circus just after 10pm, as police tried - apparently in vain - to clear the area.Hundreds of Extinction Rebellion protesters were still dancing around a boat stage at Oxford Circus just after 10pm, as police tried - apparently in vain - to clear the area.
The events in London were part of an international “climate rebellion” organised by Extinction Rebellion. Organisers said demonstrations had taken place or were planned in 80 cities across 33 countries – from India to Australia, and around Europe and the US. The events in London were part of an international “climate rebellion” organised by Extinction Rebellion. Organisers said demonstrations had taken place or were planned in 80 cities across 33 countries – from India to Australia, and around Europe and the US. In The Hague on Tuesday, activists occupied the international criminal court building.
In The Hague on Tuesday activists occupied the international criminal court building. In Scotland more than 1,000 protesters blockaded the North Bridge in Edinburgh, bringing one of the main routes into the city centre to a standstill. Police said they had made 29 arrests. In Scotland, more than 1,000 protesters blockaded the North Bridge in Edinburgh, bringing one of the main routes into the city centre to a standstill. Police said they made 29 arrests.
The blockade began at 3pm, when groups of people on bikes converged from both sides of the bridge, before a human chain formed across the road.The blockade began at 3pm, when groups of people on bikes converged from both sides of the bridge, before a human chain formed across the road.
At about 5.30pm, protesters crossed Princes Street and unfurled banners. Most were immediately carried off the road by police and six people were arrested.At about 5.30pm, protesters crossed Princes Street and unfurled banners. Most were immediately carried off the road by police and six people were arrested.
The biggest protests have been in London, with thousands of parents and their children joining scientists, teachers and environmentalists to demand urgent action in the face of “possible human extinction”.The biggest protests have been in London, with thousands of parents and their children joining scientists, teachers and environmentalists to demand urgent action in the face of “possible human extinction”.
Among the protesters was the prominent UN environment lawyer Farhana Yamin, who helped negotiate the Paris climate agreement. Just after 2pm she glued her hands to the pavement outside Shell’s headquarters near the Thames. Among the protesters was the prominent UN environment lawyer Farhana Yamin, who helped negotiate the Paris climate agreement. Just after 2pm, she glued her hands to the pavement outside Shell’s headquarters near the River Thames.
Nearby, police moved on to Waterloo Bridge to begin a second wave of arrests as hundreds of protesters continued their blockade.Nearby, police moved on to Waterloo Bridge to begin a second wave of arrests as hundreds of protesters continued their blockade.
Some of those on the bridge had been locked or glued to a lorry parked across the carriageway since Monday night. One of those glued to the underside of the van, Ben Moss, 42, a company director from Bristol, said he had been there since midnight on Monday. Some of those on the bridge had been locked or glued to a lorry parked across the carriageway since Monday night.
“It’s drastic times and drastic times need drastic measures. I am taking personal action and personal responsibility for the ecological and climate crisis,” he said. One of those glued to the underside of the van, Ben Moss, 42, a company director from Bristol, said he had been there since midnight on Monday. “It’s drastic times and drastic times need drastic measures. I am taking personal action and personal responsibility for the ecological and climate crisis,” he said.
By about 5pm, the atmosphere at Waterloo Bridge had calmed after police stopped arresting people.By about 5pm, the atmosphere at Waterloo Bridge had calmed after police stopped arresting people.
On Tuesday evening, police turned their attention away from Waterloo Bridge to Oxford Circus. Officers circulated around the crowd in groups, informing people that if they stayed in that location they were at risk of arrest.
"Art reminds us to be children"Maxwell the Bubbleologist, second left, who is on Waterloo Bridge with his friends to perform for #ExtinctionRebellion protesters pic.twitter.com/KdJ0Epbb6j"Art reminds us to be children"Maxwell the Bubbleologist, second left, who is on Waterloo Bridge with his friends to perform for #ExtinctionRebellion protesters pic.twitter.com/KdJ0Epbb6j
On Tuesday evening police turned their attention away from Waterloo Bridge to Oxford Circus. Officers circulated around the crowd in groups, informing people that if they stayed in that location they were at risk of arrest. The Guardian witnessed at least one person being carried away, while others left the crowd voluntarily after speaking to police. “We are peaceful, what about you?” protesters chanted as police made an arrest.
The Guardian witnessed at least one person being carried away, while others left the crowd themselves after speaking to police. “We are peaceful, what about you?” protesters chanted as police made an arrest. Many protesters said they were willing to remain at the junction all night in order to hold the space.
Many protesters said they were willing to remain at the junction all night in order to hold the space, even as police officers circulated around the crowd warning them that they risked arrest if they did not leave.
Harriet Gold, 26, a student from Bristol, was among them. “I feel really confident,” she said. “I was surprised to wake up to hear that they had Waterloo Bridge still.”Harriet Gold, 26, a student from Bristol, was among them. “I feel really confident,” she said. “I was surprised to wake up to hear that they had Waterloo Bridge still.”
Elmo MB, 20, was manning a wellbeing tent. He said he was not worried about the police order to leave the area. “I think breaking the law is the point. There are lots of brave folk, and a lot of people have been arrested so far, but they pull one person off and two people come back on. Elmo MB, 20, was manning a wellbeing tent. He said he was not worried about the police order to leave the area. “I think breaking the law is the point,” he said.
“I’m not sure how long this will last, but I imagine it will last through the night.” “There are lots of brave folk and a lot of people have been arrested so far, but they pull one person off and two people come back on. I’m not sure how long this will last, but I imagine it will last through the night.”
Extinction Rebellion was formed in the UK last year and held its first civil disobedience protests in London in November. It is calling on the UK government to reduce carbon emissions to zero by 2025 and establish a citizens’ assembly to devise an emergency plan of action to tackle climate breakdown and biodiversity loss.Extinction Rebellion was formed in the UK last year and held its first civil disobedience protests in London in November. It is calling on the UK government to reduce carbon emissions to zero by 2025 and establish a citizens’ assembly to devise an emergency plan of action to tackle climate breakdown and biodiversity loss.
The group wrote to Theresa May on Monday outlining their demands and asking for talks. In the letter they said they would escalate their disruptive actions during the coming days and weeks unless the government acted.
On Tuesday, Supt Colin Wingrove of the Metropolitan police confirmed a section 14 order was in place and called on the protesters to leave Waterloo Bridge, Oxford Circus and Parliament Square and continue their demonstration at Marble Arch.
'I'm terrified': Extinction Rebellion activists on why they are protesting'I'm terrified': Extinction Rebellion activists on why they are protesting
The group wrote to Theresa May on Monday outlining their demands and asking for talks. In the letter, they said they would escalate their disruptive actions unless the government acted.
On Tuesday, Supt Colin Wingrove of the Metropolitan police confirmed a section 14 order was in place and called on the protesters to leave Waterloo Bridge, Oxford Circus and Parliament Square but they could continue their demonstration at Marble Arch.
“In order to impose this condition, the Met required evidence that serious disruption was being caused to communities in London. We so far have 55 bus routes closed and 500,000 people affected as a result … we are satisfied that this threshold has been met and this course of action is necessary.”“In order to impose this condition, the Met required evidence that serious disruption was being caused to communities in London. We so far have 55 bus routes closed and 500,000 people affected as a result … we are satisfied that this threshold has been met and this course of action is necessary.”
Extinction RebellionExtinction Rebellion
Climate changeClimate change
Environmental activismEnvironmental activism
LondonLondon
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