The environmental degradation and loss of biodiversity constitutes a “state of emergency,” said protester Jenny O’Hara Jakeway, who traveled six hours with her two children to attend the demonstration. “Everyone must pull together so that future generations can still enjoy our beautiful planet.”
The 47-year-old added that she should actually take to the streets more often to protect the environment, but her life consists of “work and family”. Inaction is “no longer an option because of the urgency of the situation”. Ten-year-old Fox, who attended the protest with his parents and five-year-old sister, wore a tiger costume. “We are here to save the planet from people who are destroying it,” he said.
At the conclusion of the rally, protesters prostrated themselves in front of Parliament “in commemoration and mourning the heartbreaking 70 percent decline in wildlife populations since the first Earth Day in the 1970s,” organizers said.
Greenpeace UK chief Areeba Hamid said: “As the government continues to fan the flames of the climate and biodiversity crisis, it is clear that only concerted efforts can extinguish them.” The four days of protests in the UK served as “the catalyst for a new united struggle against interest groups that put profits before people and the planet”.
The protest days began on Friday with demonstrations in front of ministries in London, in which, according to the environmental group Extinction Rebellion (XR), thousands of people also took part. “The environmental and social failure” of the British government was denounced.
XR has caused controversy in recent years by blocking roads and airports. In January, however, the group announced that it would stop such sensational protests for the time being and instead mobilize numerous people to work for nature and climate protection.
XR accuses the conservative British government of ignoring the dangers of global warming. “The climate and environmental crisis will not happen in the future, it is already here,” said XR spokeswoman Zoe Cohen. “It’s about time the government took this seriously and listened to the people here.” A large rally is planned for Sunday parallel to the London marathon. In order to minimize disruption, the protest organizers held talks with the organizers of the sporting event in advance.
