Climate activists have turned out in their thousands in London to mark Earth Day in a nonviolent, direct action. Over the course of the weekend, several climate groups have linked up to stage demonstrations.
The four day campaign dubbed 'The Big One' by the Extinction Rebellion (XR) began on Friday (April 21) where people from all groups and movements, not just XR, will gather throughout Westminster and at the Houses of Parliament.
More than 200 organisations including Greenpeace, Friends of the Earth and PCS Union are supporting the cause, filling the streets with People’s Pickets outside government departments. The climate activist group says it is attempting to abandon disruptive tactics and focus on “relationships over roadblocks”.
It also will include a diverse programme of speakers, performers and workshops, awash with colour and culture.
To mark Earth Day, XR says Westminster streets were "filled with thousands of people using their collective power to demand an end to the fossil fuel era and that the UK Government create emergency citizens' assemblies."
On Friday, protesters held signs calling for Prime Minister Rishi Sunak to scrap plans to develop Rosebank oil and gas field that lies west of Shetland.
Extinction Rebellion has previously adopted methods of direct action, with activists blocking roads and gluing themselves to objects to prevent police from moving them on.
However, climate activists have promised protests this weekend will not disrupt the London Marathon which takes place on Sunday.
Supporters of the protest group Just Stop Oil attended Friday’s demonstration attempting to recruit participants for slow marches, which it plans to carry out next week.
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