Morning:
9°c
Eco-protest 'to swamp London'
Mark Prigg, Science Correspondent6 Dec 2007
Activists are hoping to bring central London to a standstill on Saturday with what is being billed as Britain's biggest climate-change march.
The campaigners will call on ministers to impose tough rules on carbon emissions by law.
The march will begin at Millbank and end at the American Embassy, where a series of talks will be given by leading green politicians, including Chris Huhne and Michael Meacher.
It is timed to coincide with the UN climate change talks taking place in Bali and parallel marches will be staged in 50 other countries.
Organisers say they hope up to 40,000 people could attend the rally.
"Last year we attracted 35,000 people and we hope this will be bigger," said Phil Thornhill of the Campaign Against Climate Change, which is organising the event.
"This is a problem that requires a global solution, so we are also targeting the US embassy, as America has been seen to be against many of the practical changes needed." The march will stop at Downing Street to deliver a petition to Prime Minister Gordon Brown.
Organisers say they are confident the protest will run smoothly.
"I hope we can bring central London to a standstill and we hope the police will have taken all of the necessary precautions - we know a lot of the roads in the area are being closed," said Mr Thornhill.
The group has also created a series of posters, downloadable from its website, which include a "wanted" poster featuring George Bush.
The demonstration will also be attended by dozens of smaller campaign groups, such as the Campaign for Eco-Vegetarianism. Seventy members of the student People & Planet group will attend as the culmination of a campaign to try to make universities and sixth forms more environmentally friendly.
"Seven universities will be there but students across the globe are taking action around the talks in Bali," said University College London student Richard Roaf.
"Students are more environmentally aware than ever - we know we will have to live with the effects of a damaged planet. We are inviting everyone who agrees to join us at the march on Saturday to send this message through the medium of song."
Reader views (15)
As an Archaeologist with a sciences degree, I can say without a shadow of a doubt that this phase of warming we are experiencing globally is a by product of industrialisation. (Industrialisation for our American viewers). Core samples taken from the Arctic to the Irish peat bogs show a correlation between raising carbon levels in the atmosphere, human activity and Global Warming. It’s all very, very simple. When I was re-supplying an Arctic expedition in 1989, we knew something was up, the evidence is all there. The real question is - Do we hide from the facts and perish, or use this as an opportunity for new technology and growth?
- James Avery, London, UK, 10/12/2007 19:50
Report abuse
In response to Ppitstop77.
I have 3 children under 8. I'll do my best to ensure they see the current environmentalist religion as the pagan misanthropic doomsday cult that it is.
The world is here for mankind's benefit and to use for our benefit. Cheap energy has been instrumental in lifting billions out of poverty. All this current hysteria is doing is making the poor poorer by increasing energy costs.
We must stand up to these misanthropic gaia-worshiping pagans who want to send us back to some sort of 5th century nirvana.
- Scott Murray, Dunstable, UK, 09/12/2007 13:44
Report abuse
A few hours inconvenience to some in major cites is nothing compared to the devastation and loss of life that climate change is proven to have caused worldwide.
Floods, landslides, droughts, failed crops and pollution are the price many are paying for our 'cheap' extravagances and our freedom to consume when and how much we like.
Science is having trouble measuring the effects as they happen and politicians and governments alike are having trouble adapting their polices and public information fast enough.
There is a window of opportunity here to stop runaway global warming, and also to stop the wide scale environmental degradation like loss of vegetation that also contributes to natural disasters.
We on the march are calling for action on climate change and a reexamination of priorities in our purchasing and energy use.
Any economic models that don't take into account the price of pollution, and climate change or the value of stable temperatures, clean air, and adequate rainfall are out of date and dangerous. What's the use of generating economic growth to fund foreign aid if crops fail and floods wash houses away?
We are not bullies - we're just doing the job that governments should - drawing attention to the choice that we are making for those affected now, and future generations:
Do we go on over consuming no matter what the cost? Surely all of us together can plan a better way. Burying our heads in the sand and carrying on as usual is no longer an option.
- Inanna, London, 08/12/2007 22:52
Report abuse
This march will have absolutely no effect whatsoever on global warming, a natural phenomenon that has seen cyclic climate change since the dawn of time. This type of demonstration will serve only to embolden the duplicitous politicians that would have us believe that the only way to save the planet is to raise taxes and place the cost of travel beyond the reach of ordinary people.
I’m all for reducing the current rate of consumption of the planet’s resources and the reduction in pollution that would follow, that is surely a good thing. However, I am sick to the back teeth of this hysterical scare mongering being used as a vehicle to extract yet more money from us. This government is doing nothing to prepare us for the challenges that (unstoppable) climate change will bring.
- Keith Lonsdale, Doncaster, 08/12/2007 20:45
Report abuse
Just a bunch of wannabe hippies wishing it was ‘67 not ‘07 with nothing better to do than stand around in Trafalgar Square bigging each other up on how ‘good’ they are for supposedly ‘saving the planet’, by standing around in the cold moaning. It’s just the latest PC crazy and it’s a good old chance to have a yet another go at America. Maybe they wouldn’t hate America and people having houses and cars if they actually went to work like the rest of us and stopped hanging around in Trafalgar Square moaning about everything.
Shame we've seen no sign of this ‘global warming’ in the UK, oh ‘climate change’ as it's now called. Ever since 2006 when it was a hot summer and everyone said that’s it from now on the UK is going to turn into a desert. Yeah the summer of 2007 was real hot and dry. They should try protesting in Beijing where people have to wear masks to keep alive. They’ll need more than masks to keep alive protesting in Beijing.
Oh and by the way I love the comment 'I take it none of you have kids'. Don't be bringing kids into this trying to make us feel guilty for actually going to work everyday and having a house to live in rather than being a hippy standing around in the cold in Trafalgar Square.
- Ashley, Cambridge, UK, 08/12/2007 16:39
Report abuse
Mindless zombies? Are we mindless zombies when we listen to science? It is not a pc craze, it is scientific research: climate change is one a well researched phenomenon, with support coming from geology, biology, oceanography- even map-makers have noticed that the world is changing drastically. If you don't believe in climate change, you are doubting science, so you may as well stop taking medicine, using cleaning supplies, watching the weather report, and listening to what the world's most eduated and intelligent people say.
We may not be able to stop climate change, but the problem is not that it is occurring, the problem is that it is being sped up dramatically by human activity. And although China must curb its greenhouse gas emmissions also, it is not futile to protest in London, after all we are guilty of increasing climate change too. We also hope to be at the forefront of the technological revolution that is so desperately needed.
And yes, I hope most people did walk, cycle, or take public transport.
- Katherine, London, 08/12/2007 16:13
Report abuse
Why don't they do something useful like lie down in front of the diggers when they start building Heathrow's third runway.
- Simon, London, 07/12/2007 13:16
Report abuse
At least some people are getting off their backside and doing something. I am shocked by the ridiculous coments so far - you are deluding yourself if you think that natural variations of the planet are somehow going to put this right. I take it none of you have kids...
- Ppitstop77, High Wycombe, Bucks, 07/12/2007 11:13
Report abuse
Those who promote Nuclear Energy as 'clean' and demonise Carbon Dioxide as damaging the environment should study Biology and then consider which is in fact more consistent with life on this planet!
- Keith Simpson, Wareham, England, 06/12/2007 17:57
Report abuse
Here come the climate bullies! You will be forced to obey!
How mindless people are - a load of zombies following the latest pc craze and feeling holier than though about it.
- Charles, Bath, 06/12/2007 17:38
Report abuse
Misguided, environmentally pointless and futile, go protest in Bejing.
- Paul Biggs, Tamworth, UK, 06/12/2007 17:26
Report abuse
Marching won't stop climate change that has been going on since time began. Nor will any amount of legislation change solar activity, cosmic rays or changes in the way that the earth rotates, which will contribute to short-term temperature rises before the cycle of global cooling kicks in again.
- Dev, London, 06/12/2007 16:05
Report abuse
Enjoy the right to protest, but remember in doing so, the expected congestion caused, delays to public transport, and like the futility of gathering together at huge cost to taxpayers and the environment the massing together of over 10,000 people on a 'jolly' to Bali, the only noteworthy result will be the display of ignorance by those protesting. Learn more, and save everyone trouble.
- Derek, St Albans, England, 06/12/2007 15:26
Report abuse
I've got little time for Dubbya Bush on most matters, but he at least has the sense not to hamstring America's troubled economy on the basis of political correctness propped up by junkscience and doctored reports.
By focusing attention on CO2, which is actually a weak greenhouse gas, action is being diverted away from tackling real pollutants, such as cancer-causing particulates belched out by London buses, nuclear and electromagnetic emissions.
I am sorry to see the idealism of many well-meaning young people being hijacked in this way.
- Brian, London, 06/12/2007 15:03
Report abuse
I trust they are all walking or cycling to London?
- Paul, London, 06/12/2007 14:22
Report abuse
