Around 500 people are blocking the road around the Oxford Circus subway station. Tourists stop shopping and take pictures of the colorful protest. The protesters are drumming to make their voices heard, waving colorful flags bearing the inscription: „Act now“ – act now!
Some are also ready to be arrested, as they say. Seven-year-old Ethal Golding also camped in the sun with her father on the street. „I want to get the government to treat our planet well,“ says Ethal. She came with her father from Bristol.
„Things have to change,“ says Ethal’s father Matt Golding. Climate change must be taken much more seriously. In the 30 years of his life, nothing serious has been done to stop climate change. „Scientists predict for the next 30 years that my daughter and I will live through difficult times.“ He wants the government to take responsibility now „and not be distracted by Brexit.“
Also Emma Thompson is there
Golding and his daughter have joined the protest of the movement Extinction Rebellion. The demonstrators are rebelling against extinction. They want to draw attention to their cause with peaceful protest and civil disobedience. Among the radical demands of activists is to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases to zero by 2025. The government should finally tell the truth about climate change, stands on a banner.
Among the supporters is also the actress Emma Thompson. In a video message circulating on social networks, she calls for protest. „The international rebellion begins,“ she says in the video. „It’s a creative and peaceful protest It’s time we saved our planet As we all know, there is no planet B.“
„Until the government talks to us“
The initiative was launched in the UK last autumn, and climate activists have joined the world in recent months, from Mexico City, Berlin, Vancouver. According to their own information, around 70,000 people now belong to the movement.
Elana is one of the organizers in London. „We block five places in London today,“ she explains. „There, where is particularly busy and many tourists are on the move.“ The customer review has been automatically translated from German. She hopes tens of thousands of people join the protest. „We will continue until the government talks to us about our demands.“
