EXTINCTION Rebellion Warrington carried out a number of socially distanced protests around the town asking the Government for a Citizens’ Assembly to “decide our future together” during the Covid-19 recovery, a recovery that must prioritise people and planet over profit.
Members of the group protested at Golden Gates in Warrington, MP Andy Carter’s Office in Stockton Heath and Lymm Cross.
In their Facebook event, the group says, “We are at a turning point in human history. The Government is driving a return to “normal” as quickly as possible. But “normal” is killing us. Our Government has a choice; prioritise profit OR prioritise health. Bailout destructive industries OR bailout people and the planet. Mass extinction OR mass participation. It’s time to trust the people! As part of coronavirus recovery, we demand a binding Citizens Assembly on how to rebuild our economy, our democracy and our future.”
The protest took place in other areas of the country – including Parliament Square in London – and has been carefully designed so that people are physically distanced at 3 metres apart, with everyone being asked to wear masks in order to take part and stand silently for up to one hour. In adherence to current government health and safety guidelines, people will arrive alone or in pairs and are being asked to only attend their local protests by walking or cycling and avoid public transport unless absolutely necessary. People are being encouraged to bring their own cardboard sign with a choice for our leaders on, saying “people OR profit”, “life OR death”, “new roads OR new bike lanes” etc.
Alex of Westbrook in Warrington said: “It’s becoming clearer each day that the Government can’t get us out of the coronavirus mess, or prepare us for future crises. They are more concerned with getting us back to “normal” as soon as possible. But their ‘normal’ just wasn’t working. The coronavirus has shown us what’s possible when the political will is there. Everything can change. Although there might not be a clear way out of either of these two huge disasters, we know one thing for sure: There can be no going back to the way things were.”
Paul Sheeky, Extinction Rebellion Warrington spokesperson said: “As well as exercising our bodies we also exercise our right, under the human rights act, to protest. We protest safely for the future health and safety of our planet and generations of all life. Acting on the Climate and Ecological Emergency is essential and in this case, work we cannot do from home but can carry out safely outdoors.
As we have recently seen, Warrington Council was able to act in a matter of days in response to a crisis threatening the health and wellbeing of our communities. Why then, with a crisis of such enormous magnitude and consequently much greater risk to people, have they done nothing in relation to permanently reducing car traffic in the town and providing safe routes for cyclists and walkers to get to work, rather than just promoting impractical leisure cycle routes?”
Extinction Rebellion Warrington recognises that the coucnil made positive steps by investing in distant solar farms, but there are issues in Warrington itself that still need to be addressed urgently and there is still so much more to be done.
Paul added, “Warrington declared a climate emergency almost a year ago now and their woeful inaction in producing a strategy and action plan since then is worrying. Whilst we understand and appreciate that Covid 19 has presented some unexpected challenges for the Council we know the Climate Emergency has the potential to present similar, if not bigger problems. Perhaps they now understand the meaning of the term
‘emergency’ and will act more swiftly to bring a brighter, cleaner future to the people of Warrington.”
As public trust in the UK Government lies in turmoil following their handling of the pandemic – and their unwillingness to address the climate and ecological emergency – the protest will highlight the lack of faith people have in their ability to protect people from future crises. As the Government begins to ease lockdown and reopen the economy, Extinction Rebellion will stand in defiance of
going back to business as usual, saying there can be no going back to the way things were.
In order to engage the people of Warrington in a debate about the town’s future after Covid-19, XR Warrington will be holding an open-invite online People’s Assembly to gather people’s views.
This will take place on Saturday 20th June from 10am-12pm, see XRWarrington’s social media channels for details.
