Climate Change Protesters Block Bridges in London
LONDON (Dispatches) – Thousands of protesters gathered in central London on Saturday in attempts to block five bridges, as they demanded the government take greater action on climate change.
The Extinction Rebellion group said more than 6,000 people blocked five bridges – Blackfriars, Waterloo, Westminster, Lambeth and Southwark – during the "rebellion day" of direct action.
Jo Khimba, who was taking part in the protest, told crowds gathered on Westminster Bridge: "We've got to care for each other, and for god's sake, we've got to care for the world."
Organizers estimated that 50 people had been arrested for partaking in action over the last week, with 22 people being detained on Monday after protesters blocked traffic and glued themselves to entry gates at the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy.
Two women, who did not want to be named, told the Press Association: "I have concern for my children and grandchildren. I truthfully believe we're all heading for extinction.”
A separate rally too, place in Parliament Square on Saturday afternoon. At a U.S. climate protest in Washington DC, environmentalists were expected to try to block the traffic in front of Trump International Hotel.
Meanwhile, the Brazil’s new foreign minister said he believed climate change is a Marxist tactic to instill fear, stifle the economic growth of western countries, and benefit China.
The appointment of Ernesto Araújo, who has been named by president-elect Jair Bolsonaro as the country’s top diplomat, is a major cause for concern for those already alarmed at the extent of global climate collapse.
Brazil’s outgoing government has already been heavily criticized for "inviting deforestation”, in the Amazon – the world’s largest and most biodiverse rainforest, which is vital for soaking up carbon emissions.
Araújo’s views closely echo those of U.S. President Donald Trump, who has previously called climate change a "hoax” and a "con-job” which was "created by the Chinese in order to make U.S. manufacturing non-competitive”.
A new study published Friday found that the climate policies of the U.S., Australia, China, Russia and Canada would exacerbate the issue of global warming and raise the world’s temperature high above safe levels by the end of the century.
The study published in the journal Nature Communications warned of a "collective lack of ambition” by the five nations that threatened to exceed global temperatures above a catastrophic 4-5C compared with pre-industrial levels.
The Extinction Rebellion group said more than 6,000 people blocked five bridges – Blackfriars, Waterloo, Westminster, Lambeth and Southwark – during the "rebellion day" of direct action.
Jo Khimba, who was taking part in the protest, told crowds gathered on Westminster Bridge: "We've got to care for each other, and for god's sake, we've got to care for the world."
Organizers estimated that 50 people had been arrested for partaking in action over the last week, with 22 people being detained on Monday after protesters blocked traffic and glued themselves to entry gates at the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy.
Two women, who did not want to be named, told the Press Association: "I have concern for my children and grandchildren. I truthfully believe we're all heading for extinction.”
A separate rally too, place in Parliament Square on Saturday afternoon. At a U.S. climate protest in Washington DC, environmentalists were expected to try to block the traffic in front of Trump International Hotel.
Meanwhile, the Brazil’s new foreign minister said he believed climate change is a Marxist tactic to instill fear, stifle the economic growth of western countries, and benefit China.
The appointment of Ernesto Araújo, who has been named by president-elect Jair Bolsonaro as the country’s top diplomat, is a major cause for concern for those already alarmed at the extent of global climate collapse.
Brazil’s outgoing government has already been heavily criticized for "inviting deforestation”, in the Amazon – the world’s largest and most biodiverse rainforest, which is vital for soaking up carbon emissions.
Araújo’s views closely echo those of U.S. President Donald Trump, who has previously called climate change a "hoax” and a "con-job” which was "created by the Chinese in order to make U.S. manufacturing non-competitive”.
A new study published Friday found that the climate policies of the U.S., Australia, China, Russia and Canada would exacerbate the issue of global warming and raise the world’s temperature high above safe levels by the end of the century.
The study published in the journal Nature Communications warned of a "collective lack of ambition” by the five nations that threatened to exceed global temperatures above a catastrophic 4-5C compared with pre-industrial levels.