On Saturday 30th May Extinction Rebellion supporters protested outside council offices in Dorchester, Weymouth and Portland. As part of a National action, they were asking the Government for a Citizens Assembly to decide our future together during the Covid-19 recovery, a recovery that must prioritise people and planet over profit.
In their Facebook event, the group says, “We are at a turning point in human history. The Government is driving a return to “normal” as quickly as possible. But “normal” is killing us. Our Government has a choice; prioritise profit OR prioritise health. Bailout destructive industries OR bailout people and the planet. Mass extinction OR mass participation. It’s time to trust the people! As part of coronavirus recovery, we demand a binding Citizens Assembly on how to rebuild our economy, our democracy and our future.” They are asking for the Government to include the people’s thoughts and voices in their decisions on how to get out of this crisis. The majority of people want the climate crisis to be a key feature in the recovery of this pandemic.
Protests took place in other areas of Dorset and across the whole country – including Parliament Square in London – and was carefully designed so that people were physically distanced at 3 metres apart. With everyone being asked to wear masks in order to take part and stand silently. In adherence to current government health and safety guidelines, people arrivedalone or in pairs and only attended their local protests.
Emma Smart, Extinction Rebellion said: “As well as exercising our bodies we also exercise our right, under the Human Rights Act, to protest. We protest safely for the future health and safety of our planet and generations of all life. Acting on the Climate and Ecological Emergency is essential and in this case, work we cannot do from home, but can carry out safely outdoors, as per government guidance.”
Protestors held cardboard signs giving clear messages to our leaders. The messages also reflected local issues that Extinction Rebellion has highlighted in the last year. The continued toxic pollution from traffic happening at Boot Hill, Weymouth. The planning application for a new oil well to be developed at Puddletown, Dorchester. The proposal to develop a waste incinerator on Portland:• I’m here because we change or die• Planet or Profit• Cycling or CO2• Reset or ReWind• Manufacture Waste Out Of Production• There’s no Future in Oil• Normal is Killing Us
Len Herbert, Extinction Rebellion, feels that “Dorset Council, having declared a climate and ecological emergency, must be consistent in their decision making. They should clearly state that they will not agree to any planning applications that allow the future mining of dirty fossil fuels. They need to develop waste strategies that don’t include incinerators and the pollutant issues that would bring. They should immediately introduce a decent, affordable public transport system that makes our more rural areas accessible and takes traffic out of our towns. These things are within their powers to achieve”.
Julie-Ann Booker, local supported said: “Dealing with the coronavirus emergency has shown us what’s possible when the political will is there. We know there can be no going back to the way things were. We hope there really is the political will to now face the climate and ecological emergency and build back a more positive and sustainable future for us and our children and children’s children.”
Despite years of warnings from scientists about the inevitability of a pandemic, we were not prepared. It is the same with the climate and ecological emergency. Scientists have been warning for 30 years and we are still not prepared.
However as we have recently seen, Dorset Council was able to act in a matter of days in response to a crisis threatening the health and wellbeing of our communities. We hope they will continue with this positive and proactive momentum and now swiftly move towards agreeing and publishing their Climate and Ecological Emergency Action Plan. Then showing leadership by getting on with putting it into practice as a matter of urgency. They should now understand the power of telling the truth and understand that when people are told the truth they are prepared to make changes and sacrifices. National and local government must start to #Tell the Truth.
#NoGoingBack #DecideTogether #ExtinctionRebellion#ActNow
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