Massive demo ahead of climate talks (From Campaign Series)

Massive demo ahead of climate talks

1:20am Saturday 5th December 2009

• Print
• Email
• Share

Tens of thousands of people are expected to join in demonstrations calling for action on climate change ahead of crunch UN talks.

World leaders will meet next week in Copenhagen with the aim of securing a new deal to tackle rising temperatures.

Environmental campaigners, aid agencies, trade unions and organisations including the Women's Institute are travelling to London from across the country to take part in "The Wave" to demand a strong deal on climate change.

Similar protests - all organised by the Stop Climate Chaos coalition - will also be taking place in Dublin, Belfast and Glasgow.

In London, an ecumenical service with an address by Archbishop of Canterbury Dr Rowan Williams will take place in Westminster Central Hall, before campaigners march from Grosvenor Square to Big Ben.

A "climate emergency" rally will also take place at Hyde Park Corner, organised by the Campaign Against Climate Change, with MPs including Michael Meacher, Simon Hughes, Jon McDonnell and MEP Caroline Lucas addressing protesters before they join The Wave march on Parliament.

Meanwhile, there is a "climate emergency" bike ride being planned from Lincoln's Inn Fields. Hundreds of students will perform a "splash dance". Elsewhere, members of the Camp for Climate Action are planning to camp out at an as-yet secret location in the capital.

The march on Parliament will be led by an open-topped double decker bus, and will feature a ukulele-playing trapeze artist, cycling bishops, an 18ft long blue dragon and a coal monster. The Co-operative is supporting the protest and has chartered two trains from Manchester to London and one from West Yorkshire for its members to travel to the event, along with scores of buses from other locations.

The event, in which people are being asked to dress in blue, is being supported by pop group Blue's singer Antony Costa, who said: "Climate Change is the most important issue facing us all and so the politicians must get it right in Copenhagen."

The Stop Climate Chaos coalition, which includes groups such as Oxfam, Greenpeace, Friends of the Earth and WWF, is demanding the UK government increases its targets for EU-wide efforts to cut emissions.

• Print
• Email
• Share