Extinction Rebellion climate change protesters strip off for ‘nudie parade’ complete with glitter boobs in Australia
EXTINCTION Rebellion protesters in Australia stripped off for a “nudie parade” in a bid to expose the crisis of climate change.
Activists proudly marched in their undies as they took to the streets of Melbourne for the sixth day of demonstrations.
The semi-naked protesters waved flags emblazoned with hourglasses – a symbol of time running out – as painted slogans on their bodies told the world to “act now” on climate change.
Others covered themselves in what looked like blood and oil and scrawled “Business as usual” on their stomachs, as a challenge to the world’s governments and corporations to do more.
INTERNATIONAL MOVEMENT
Australia’s sunny protest contrasted with those in rainy London, where campaigners battled dreary weather to plan actions and marches across the capital.
Doctors, nurses and medical students today demonstrated at Jubilee Gardens, near oil giant Shell’s London headquarters.
Alex Turner, 36, a paediatric and emergency doctor from Bristol who was wearing his blue scrubs and stethoscope, said: “We are meeting outside Shell because they are one of the biggest companies involved in the oil and energy industry, and they have real power to decarbonise that industry.
“We are protesting illegal levels of air pollution.”
Around 200 activists then marched to Trafalgar Square, holding placards warning of a health emergency.
CARBON-ZERO FUTURE
They then removed their shoes and lined them up to represent the 110 lives lost daily from air pollution in the UK.
“Red rebels” were also seen taking part in a blockade in Central London, while hundreds marched in Oxford Street.
The International Rebellion is taking place over a two-week period in 60 countries worldwide.
Activists in the UK are calling for net zero carbon emissions by 2025 – 25 years sooner than the Government’s current pledge.
As of Saturday evening, Metropolitan Police had arrested more than 1,300 protesters involved with the ongoing civil disobedience.
Belgium’s Princess Esmeralda was among those arrested after she joined a sit-in protest in Trafalgar Square on Thursday.
The 63-year-old tweeted: “Today along with many other protesters I was arrested and put in police custody. The climate emergency calls on all of us to put pressure on governments to act with urgency.”
WHO ARE EXTINCTION REBELLION?
Extinction Rebellion is calling on the Government declare a climate and ecological emergency, act immediately to halt wildlife loss and reduce greenhouse gas emissions to net zero by 2025.
Earlier in the year, Parliament declared a climate and environment emergency and the Government has passed a law to cut emissions to net zero by 2050, far later than the activists are demanding.
The group staged 11 days of protests in London in April that disrupted public transport and roads.
On Thursday Extinction Rebellion activists used a fire engine to hose red liquid at the Treasury to draw attention to what they said was the government’s failure to avert climate disaster.
Last week the Met warned that the protests were taking officers away from other vital roles in the capital including tackling knife crime and domestic violence.
More resources have been used policing climate change protest than focusing on terror, it was said.
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Meanwhile, former Paralympic cyclist James Brown appeared in court on Saturday morning charged with causing a public nuisance during the group’s protest at London City Airport on Thursday.
The 55-year-old, who is visually impaired, is accused of climbing on top of a British Airways plane and gluing himself to it, Westminster Magistrates’ Court heard.
Brown denied causing a public nuisance and is due to stand trial on November 8.
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