Disruption as Extinction Rebellion launches summer uprising
Environmental activists call on authorities to act as they block traffic in five UK cities
Extinction Rebellion has kicked off its “summer uprising” with protests in London and four other UK cities.
Monday’s activism – which targeted the capital, Leeds, Cardiff, Glasgow and Bristol – caused disruption to traffic in parts of the cities. Each of the location’s protests are themed on a different issue: rising sea levels, floods, wildfires, crop failures and extreme weather.
The environmental group is demanding that the UK government prevents further losses to biodiversity and commits to producing net zero greenhouse gases by 2025.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
It says more than 3,000 activists have signed up to participate in acts of civil disobedience this week.
In London, protesters blocked the Strand outside the Royal Courts of Justice, pulling a boat emblazoned with the slogan “Act Now”.
The group chose the location after it was announced last week that more than 1,000 activists who participated in April’s demonstrations were facing prosecution following the biggest act of civil disobedience in recent British history.
“We’re here in solidarity with them and climate activists all over the world who are putting their lives on the line for climate justice,” a spokesperson said.
Activists are also using boats to stop traffic in Cardiff, Glasgow, Bristol and Leeds. Extinction Rebellion said the demonstrators were acting “to demand the legal system take responsibility in this crisis, and ensure the safety of future generations by making ecocide law”.
“We also stand in solidarity with climate activists around the world who are sacrificing their freedom to fight for climate justice,” it added.
Commenting on the London protests, a spokesman for the Metropolitan Police spokesman said the force “absolutely recognises the right for people to protest, but it ought to be recognised that we must balance this with the rights of others to go about their daily lives”.
He added: “We have been engaged with the organisers to understand their plans but we cannot tolerate behaviour that crosses a criminal threshold, or causes significant disruption to communities across the capital.”
Founded in October 2018 by Roger Hallam, Gail Bradbrook, Simon Bramwell and other veteran environmental activists, Extinction Rebellion holds that disruptive but non-violent civil disobedience is the only way to “force the government to take action on the escalating climate crisis”, according to The Guardian.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
The Onion is having a very ironic laugh with Infowars
The Explainer The satirical newspaper is purchasing the controversial website out of bankruptcy
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published
-
'Rahmbo, back from Japan, will be looking for a job? Really?'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published
-
What's next for electric vehicles under Trump?
Today's Big Question And what does that mean for Tesla's Elon Musk?
By Joel Mathis, The Week US Published
-
How safe are cruise ships in storms?
The Explainer The vessels are always prepared
By Devika Rao, The Week US Published
-
Biden visits Amazon, says climate legacy irreversible
Speed Read Nobody can reverse America's 'clean energy revolution,' said the president, despite the incoming Trump administration's promises to dismantle climate policies
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Climate change is threatening Florida's Key deer
The Explainer Questions remain as to how much effort should be put into saving the animals
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published
-
Is Cop29 a 'waste of time'?
Today's Big Question World leaders stay away as spectre of Donald Trump haunts flagship UN climate summit
By The Week UK Published
-
At least 95 dead in Spain flash floods
Speed Read Torrential rainfall caused the country's worst flooding since 1996
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Earth's carbon sinks are collapsing
Under the Radar Forests and soil are not operating as usual
By Devika Rao, The Week US Published
-
Why the Earth's water cycle is under threat
Under The Radar Disturbances in the system that moves water around the world place more than half of global food production at risk
By Chas Newkey-Burden, The Week UK Published
-
Climate safe havens may be a thing of the past
Under the radar Safe spaces are few and far between
By Devika Rao, The Week US Published