Rallying for climate action!

LOCAL people from Thame, Chinnor, Haddenham, Princes Risborough, and Long Crendon have been joining the action by Extinction Rebellion in London over the past three days, blocking major roads and bridges in the city, to demand government action on averting the worst effects of climate change.

Maureen Dyroff from Chinnor was at Marble Arch all day on Monday, along with three others from the AVDC area. She told Thame.Net: “It was a very peaceful protest with a lovely atmosphere and some very thought provoking and inspiring speakers.”

‘People are recognising the severity of the threat’

Florence Miller from Long Crendon went with her three children. She explained why she decided to join the Extinction Rebellion protest: “I took my children (9, 5 and 5) to the Extinction Rebellion protest at Marble Arch. I feel the time has finally come when people are recognising the severity of the threat we’re facing, collectively, and the huge effort we must put into addressing it.

“It was uplifting to be there, surrounded by others who are willing to be arrested to make the point. I had no plans to be arrested given I was there with my kids; we did stand on the road for a bit (and the kids lay down on it, because how often can you lie down on the road at Marble Arch?), but we mostly stayed on the grass, there to add to the numbers and provide moral support. It was rather wonderful to experience central London with no cars — the streets were amazingly calm.

‘convivial, welcoming and very respectful ‘

“My elder daughter (9) has watched a few of Greta Thunberg’s speeches and is very taken with her message; the little ones didn’t quite get what it was all about but loved the atmosphere, which was convivial, welcoming and very respectful. We were there on the first day of the protests and there had not yet been any arrests; the (many) police present were friendly and letting people get on with it.

‘Evidence-based hope’

“It’s too late to ‘avoid’ climate change; it’s already here. But human beings are incredibly resourceful, innovative and resilient. I have total confidence that we can mitigate the worst effects of it and in so doing transform our relationship with the planet and with each other. My husband and I worked on a short film for the BBC Ideas platform that outlines some of the ideas behind this ‘evidence-based hope’, as the Rapid Transition Alliance puts it: https://www.bbc.com/ideas/videos/can-we-transform-the-world-in-12-years/p073j3z5. I was pleased to see it linked to in the BBC’s coverage of the protests today: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-47947775

‘They’ll be there until the Government agrees to meet’

Florence concluded: “My children didn’t want to leave and are desperate to go back! I highly recommend it to all for a fun and positive atmosphere. I was under the impression that they’ll be there until the government agrees to meet, which might be some time…the more people, the more effective it will be!”

Manning the barricades

John Francis from Thame, went along on Tuesday to the protest with members of the Oxford XR group. He found himself at Marble Arch, manning the barricades to block the surrounding roads. John explained what had driven him to become involved with the protest:

‘Government not taking matters seriously enough’

“Despite what our MP John Howell has said, I don’t think the government is taking climate crisis seriously enough, nor taking the necessary action quickly enough. If it was, all these new houses going up would be of higher spec. with maximum insulation and solar power etc. and developers being allowed to lower standards at the planning inspection stage because of so-called ‘viability’ concerns.”

Officially ‘heading for a crisis’

“Several recognised bodies like the UN, the IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel on Clinate Change and the World Wide Fund for Nature, have stated that we heading for crisis if we carry on the way we are. So, there have to be some massive changes; changes that may affect peoples lives. But if we do nothing, everyone’s life will be affected even more drastically.

Disappointment with Oxfordshire County Council

“Speaking more locally, I was disappointed that Oxfordshire County Council did not vote to declare a Climate Emergency and rather than stop the Express Way, by a narrow majority, voted to ask for more public consultation.

Fun, but a serious message

John concluded: “Although there was a jolly, party atmosphere among those at the rally, that didn’t deflect from the seriousness of the message Extinction Rebellion were trying to convey.”