York activists have joined Extinction Rebellion protesters involved in civil protests in London.
Activists have blocked bridges and glued and chained themselves to the HQs of major corporations funding fossil fuels and environmental exploitation.
XR York coordinator Adam Meyers has taken part in daily actions since the beginning of the rebellion on Saturday (9 April).
He said: “Almost every country in the world agrees action must happen now. But their plans fiddle about at the margins, not addressing the scale or urgency, and ignoring the recommendations of scientists.
“One of the fundamental jobs of the government is to protect citizens from harm. Our government is failing to do this. Right now.”
He added:
I did not want to lie in roads. I do not want to be arrested. However, I do not feel I can be a bystander.
The ballot box is not producing leaders who address our needs. We need to find a way that brings about meaningful change. All life on this planet literally depends on it.
University of York biology researcher Dr Abi Perrin is also in London, carrying out actions with XR Scientists, which aims to communicate the science behind climate collapse and recovery.
“I’m here in London because I feel I need to be doing as much as I can to raise the alarm about the scale of the climate and ecological emergency and the urgent need for change.
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“I keep seeing the stark warning of scientists being ignored, so clearly doing the research, writing letters, and signing petitions is not enough to protect our planet and all life on it that is under threat.”
XR York said more of their activists will join the London protests over the course of the weekend, “many of whom will be arrested as part of a mass actions across the city”.