Jennifer Smith, 30 April 2019, Tags:
On Wednesday 24th April, the Dorking contingent of Extinction Rebellion and the Dorking Solar Group hosted an eye-opening event to tell others of their experiences of the on-going climate change protests in London.
At Dorking's Burgundy & Black cafe around 50 or so people gathered to hear the experiences of a group of individuals who had taken the bold move to join in with the climate change protests.
The demographic of those who attended was a mixed bag; young, old, middle-aged, with varying faiths and backgrounds. All with the same concern; what are the world leaders going to do to make the change that’s really needed to save this planet?
The evening began with an announcement; “We want to warn you all that there are criminals in this room.” People laughed and applauded. In the corner were the “Four Js” four individuals – their names all beginning with the letter J - who were arrested in London doing their part to make parliament take action – more action – on the climate emergency we are currently facing.
We learnt about the amazing positivity at the protests, the camaraderie to make sure everyone was safe and peaceful. We heard about the thought and choreography of the campaigns, for example, the so-called “vandalism” of the Shell building; the graffiti was chalk paint and would wash off with the first sign of rain. And the smashing of the glass doors? A strategic pre-planned attempt to get in to the courtroom with Shell and made to answer some difficult questions under oath.
Another point to note was the calmness and understanding of the police, whose reluctance to arrest the peaceful protesters was noted by all involved.
The careful thought, the serious planning and the out-and-out passion of Extinction Rebellion should tell everyone that this is not a group of people who, on a whim, wanted to cause chaos and shutdown for the fun of it. At the heart of the protest is a very serious matter, which is causing many people frustration, anxiety and upset. Parliament is being too slow and reluctant to make the significant changes needed to take the planet off-course from this man-made disaster.
While this was an uplifting evening in Dorking, listening to the stories of those who protested, it is clear that momentum needs to be maintained in order to really make sure action is taken by parliament.
Green MP, Caroline Lucas, along with Labour’s Shadow Treasury Minister, Clive Lewis, have tabled the motion for the Green New Deal. The core principles “revolve around a transformation of the economy on environmental lines, a vision for a low-carbon future where climate change and unemployment can be tackled simultaneously. Investment in renewable energies and energy efficient homes is central to the proposal, creating hundreds of thousands of new jobs and reducing emissions at the same time.”
We urge all those in the Mole Valley and Epsom and Ewell areas to write to their MPs to join the motion to get this New Green Deal through Parliament.
If you would like to find out more about Extinction Rebellion please read their webpage here. They welcome anyone who would like to join the protest against climate change.
