Thousands of people blocked well-known landmarks in London, bringing widespread disruption to the UK capital in a “climate rebellion”, that organisers said could last several days.
On Monday, parents and their children joined scientists,teachers, long-term environmentalists and other protesters to occupy majorjunctions and demand urgent action over the escalating ecological crisis,reports the Guardian.
The protests are part of a global campaign organised by theBritish climate group Extinction Rebellion, with demonstrations planned in 80cities across 33 countries in the coming days.
The group is calling on the UK government to reduce carbonemissions to zero by 2025 and establish a citizens’ assembly to devise anemergency plan of action to tackle climate breakdown and biodiversity loss.
Five London landmarks – Waterloo Bridge, Marble Arch,Parliament Square, Oxford Circus and Piccadilly Circus – had been blocked bythousands of protesters.
By Monday night, police moved in and began to arrestprotesters still blocking the Waterloo Bridge. By midnight there had beenaround 50 arrests.
Extinction Rebellion, in a letter to May also on Monday,outlined their demands and asked for talks.
“Make no mistake, people are already dying… In themajority world, indigenous communities are now on the brink of extinction. Thiscrisis is only going to get worse… Prime Minister, you cannot ignore thiscrisis any longer. We must act now.”
Organisers are hoping that the rebellion will last forseveral days and said its success depends on the number of people willing tooccupy the sites in the days and nights ahead.
The events in London were the biggest demonstrations but therewere smaller protests in other cities around the world.