Extinction Rebellion hold huge climate change protest in Falmouth
They urged the G7 leaders to do more to tackle the crisis
Last updated 12th Jun 2021
Thousands of Extinction Rebellion (XR) protestors marched through the centre of Falmouth today, demanding more action on climate change.
The group initially gathered in Kimberley Park where speeches were held, before carrying out a slow procession through the town carrying banners and various messages to the G7.
Music also featured, as well as various stunts including several people cleaning the front of a Barclays bank, considered dirty for its investment in fossil fuel companies.
The whole focus was the concept of "greenwashing", when politicians and companies like banks claim they are committed to tackling the climate crisis, while continuing to do things that harm the environment.
XR activist Senan Clifford, said: “Greenwashing’ is about fossil fuel companies like Shell trying to convince people that they are part of the solution; it’s about banks like Barclays promising Net Zero while pumping trillions into new fossil fuel projects; and it’s about the UK government as greenwasher-in-chief claiming climate leadership while simultaneously granting licenses for new oil and gas exploration.
“Shell is a major greenwash culprit. On one hand it announces plans to cut its emissions by half by 2050. Yet, 99% of its business is still in fossil fuels."
Senan claims that under their current plans, Shell would only go carbon neutral by 2070.
"Far too late to limit global warming to the 1.5 degrees the UN is now saying will be necessary if we are to avoid catastrophic damage.”
XR spokesperson Nat Squire, an osteopath from Falmouth took part in today's event.
“I’m in Falmouth today to help raise awareness and to demand change from the media and financial sectors to tell the public the truth about the climate and ecological crisis," she said.
“Our media have huge influence over the people.
"These billionaires (referring to the owners of many British newspapers and outlets like Sky) therefore have a huge amount of power, of which they use to promote a bias in favour of the fossil fuel industry.”
The G7 leaders insist they take the climate crisis seriously and are doing all they can to tackle the issue, but Boris Johnson came under fire at the start of the G7 for flying to Cornwall from London.
On Friday (11/06) the Secretary General of the United Nations Antonio Guterres held a press briefing virtually from London, in which he said the world is on "the edge of the abyss" regarding climate change.
But speaking from the capital, we asked him how he planned to travel to the G7.
"I will also fly," he said.
"I think it is probably the only way to be there on time.
"I asked if I could go by land and I was told not."
You can watch our special video report from the protest above.
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