THE GOVERNMENT’S Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) is ‘not doing its job’ – that is the view of the Worcestershire’s climate activists who were among those protesting outside Westminster last week.
The Big One protest, outside DEFRA, saw 100 county campaigners, including 14 Bromsgrovians, stand alongside 30,000 other activists from 200 organisations calling for action to stop climate change and preserve wildlife.
At the site of the demo location, chosen by Worcestershire’s Extinction Rebellion (XR) because of the county’s particular problems with flooding and pollution, protesters dressed as skulls and held signs spelling ‘Deathra’.
They claim the department had failed to deliver a recent COP15 resolution which called for the protection of 30 per cent of the Earth’s wild habitats by 2030.
Photo by Ros Cooke. s
They added DEFRA, led by MP Theresa Coffey, had so far avoided publishing policy actions that would meet the COP15 commitment, having only protected five per cent of the habitats it has been entrusted with preserving.
The Government’s Climate Change Committee has ranked DEFRA as the worst performing department, saying it lagged 24 per cent behind its target of a net zero emission economy by 2050.
XR has recently renounced disruptive tactics, opting for more peaceful methods with the recent Westminter and Whitehall Earth Day protests falling under the new approach.
At the Earth Day march around Whitehall on Saturday, protesters dressed as creatures from nature and were addressed by wildlife presenter Chris Packham who said: ”Caring is not enough – this is the time to step up, step outside your comfort zone and take action.
“Come on people, let’s sort it out because this is our last chance.”
Earth Day also saw action outside the Shell Building as Susan Porter from Bromsgrove XR joined Christian Climate Action to sing Amazing Grace and other songs to show their opposition to the organisation’s contribution to worldwide carbon emissions.
In a recent Extinction Rebellion column in The Bromsgrove Standard, the group said: “We are stewards of the earth, and we have a responsibility to care for it.
“Scripture is clear that all of God’s creation, not just mankind, brings him glory.
“Therefore, our stewardship and upkeep of the earth is one of the greatest offerings of worship we can give.”
The climax of the demonstrations for Earth Day saw thousands stage a ‘die-in’ by lying on the pavement in the Mall in silence, aimed at representing the potential future extinction of humanity due to the global climate crisis.
French tourists remarked at how peaceful and well-stewarded the protest was, compared with the violent run-ins with police they saw at home.
XR ‘die-in’ protests. Photo by Ros Cooke. s
Since XR’s recent change in protest tactics, organisers have worked with police to ensure minimal disruption and has provided over 1,000 volunteer stewards.
XR said it also protected last Sunday’s Marathon from any disruption from the separate organisation Just Stop Oil as there were many families with young children taking part.
Visit xrworcs.org.uk for more on Extinction Rebellion Worcestershire.
