Weymouth Councillor Louie O’Leary has proposed a motion asking Dorset Council to condemn Extinction Rebellion for laying a wreath at the Cenotaph in London on Remembrance Day, and standing with a banner which raised the alarm about the links between climate change and global conflicts.
Ex-serviceman Robert Cheeseman from Weymouth says, “Donald Bell, is a 64 year old environmental campaigner and a British Army veteran who saw and suffered injury in action in Northern Ireland in the 1970s. He placed a wreath of poppies with the phrase ‘Act Now’ at the Cenotaph and stood for a 2-minute silence in front of a banner which read: Honour their sacrifice, Climate change means war. As a former soldier I have the utmost respect for those who have served and died in conflict, and I always observe the 2-minute silence in their honour. The decision to take this action was not an easy one for Mr Bell, but I fully understand why he felt the need to do it.
“I agree with Boris Johnson when he says that the cenotaph is a ‘memorial to those who fought and died to preserve all our freedoms’. However, with the freedoms we value, such as freespeech, also comes the freedom to take responsibility. The responsibility to protect life, to be good stewards and good ancestors, to ensure what we pass on to the next generation is better, or at least no worse, than what we inherited and haveenjoyed.”
Former nurse and Weymouth resident Penny Quilter who has a son serving in the forces expresses the dilemma many campaigners feel, “Those we remember, honour and commemorate on Remembrance Day are people who made the ultimate sacrifice to protect our futures. Whilst the action at the Cenotaph felt uncomfortable, and I am sorry for the distress it caused to so many, I understand the need to raise awareness about the dangers of environmental collapse, so that we might prevent future suffering. We cannot silently watch it unfold and do nothing.”
North Dorset advocate for action on climate change Karen Wimhurst says “Cllr O’Leary has admitted that he does not believe climate change is a concern or of any importance. However, the UK’s Ministry of Defence knows the domestic and international disruption climate change is going to cause. It is making strategic plans to respond to a future impacted by climate change.
“A report commissioned by the MOD last year ‘A Changing Climate: Exploring the Implications of Climate Change for UK Defence and Security’, sets out the dangers, challenges and likely military response to the growing crisis. The report states, ‘In the UK, flooding is expected to be one of the most pressing climate change risks to people, communities and buildings over the next five years, and rising temperatures could also induce heat-related deaths and the overheating of military installations, homes, hospitals, care homes, offices, schools and prisons. In this context, there is growing recognition that climate change may aggravate existing threats to international peace and security.’”(1)
James Martin, from Dorset who served as an Aeronautical Engineer in the Royal Navy, also works locally to raise awareness about environmental issues with young people. He said “Donald Bell’s passion to defend our country from the effects of climate disaster is not something that we should just outright condemn, even if it caused many of us to feel angry or distressed. It should be understood as an act of despair, to urgently prevent future deaths from the effects of air pollution, heatwaves, drought, and food shortage, not just in far flung places, but here at home. The heatwaves during the past summer are linked to the deaths of 2,556 people in England alone (2) and air pollution now accounts for at least 36,000 deaths in the UK every year. (3) It’s time to take this seriously. We need to make positive changes, but as Dorset Council has clearly stated, time is running out”.
The comments also represented a number of local campaigners and XR supporters from across Dorset who wished to express their dismay at Cllr O’Leary’s motion: Giovanna Lewis, Joe Burlington, Diana Webster, Shannon Ribbons, Dean Storer, Ken Huggins, Julie-Ann Booker, Caz Dennett.
(3) https://www.gov.uk/government/news/public-health-england-publishes-air-pollution-evidence-review
Notice of Motion – proposed by Cllr L O’Leary (Full Council Meeting 10th Dec 2020)
On Remembrance Day when as a nation we pause to recognise the sacrifice made by those who serve to defend our democratic freedoms and way of life activists from Extinction Rebellion hung a climate change banner in front of the Cenotaph.
That Dorset Council condemns the behaviour and actions of Extinction Rebellion for their actions at the Cenotaph and their total disregard of those who gave the ultimate sacrifice; and for their continued disregard of the law
Proposed by Cllr L O’Leary
Seconded by Cllr B Pipe
Supported by:
Cllr Cathy Lugg
Cllr John Worth
Cllr Susan Cocking
Cllr Andrew Kerby
Cllr Emma Parker
Cllr Bill Trite
Cllr Simon Christopher
Cllr Mike Parkes
In accordance with Procedure Rule 14.3 (a) this Notice of Motion, upon being proposed and seconded, will be debated by Full Council.
Cazza Dennett
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