To donate by check, phone, or other method, see our More Ways to Give page.
Campaigners wave a flag to call for action against the climate change, from the roof of the Houses of the Parliament as night falls in central London, with Big Ben's clock face in background, Sunday, Oct. 11, 2009. Several dozen environmental activists scaled Britain's Parliament building Sunday to draw attention to climate change. Greenpeace said its members were atop the building with yellow banners reading 'Change the politics, save the climate.'(AP Photo/Akira Suemori)
Thirty-one Greenpeace activists remained on the roof of the Palace of Westminster this morning protesting about climate change, the environmental group said.
Another
23 protesters have been arrested, three of whom remained in custody,
according to a Metropolitan police spokesman. Greenpeace said there had
been 24 arrests in total.
The demonstrators climbed on to the
roof, ramparts and a turret on top of Westminster Hall yesterday,
unfurling yellow banners that read: "Change the politics, save the
climate". They said there was little resistance from police when they
moved quickly to prop ladders against the wall and climb up.
The
activists hope to greet politicians as they arrive for the start of
parliament this morning with a 12-point manifesto calling for zero
carbon emissions by 2030, a stop to airport expansion, more wind power
and new pollution taxes.
After almost five hours on the roof last
night, some of the protesters climbed down one by one using a ladder
and safety harness, and were arrested for trespassing on a "protected
site". The remainder climbed into bivvy bags in an attempt to keep warm
through the night, Greenpeace UK said on its Twitter feed.
Anna
Jones, 28, a full-time Greenpeace activist from Headingley, Leeds, said
from the roof this morning: "We can't stress enough how important this
is. The clock is ticking - scientists are telling us we have just a few
years left to act to save the planet.
"Now is the time to start
putting policies in place to make sure we are on the right trajectory
to peak our emissions and bring them down. But instead we have a
government that is prepared to lock us into high carbon projects like
the third runway at Heathrow."
She said direct action was
necessary and effective. "Climate change is the biggest challenge we
are facing. It takes action like this to make the politicians wake up.
They are letting us down and letting down citizens around the world."
Jones
said there had been very little police presence as activists scaled the
building. The protesters had managed to get some sleep on the roof
overnight and had spotted shooting stars.
"We're planning to stay
here for the day. It's quite cold up here but we have had hot meals and
are cosy huddled up under one of the big banners," she said.
Another
protester on the roof, Brikesh Singh, 29, from Bangalore, India, said:
"This building is considered as the mother of all parliaments and the
UK is one of the leading developed countries. It has to take leadership
in solving the climate crisis so that developing countries can follow
its lead."
John Sauven, the Greenpeace executive director, said:
"We've got to raise the temperature of the debate because we are really
running out of time. We are at a minute to midnight and there is so
little time left but so much to do.
"Parliament is opening and
there is an election looming so this is a golden opportunity for the
political parties to really think about the future and what future
generations will face."
The ease with which protesters gained
access to the site raised concerns over security. The Liberal Democrat
MP Norman Baker said: "There is understandable concern about the need
to move faster and more effectively to tackle climate change, and
Greenpeace are right to seek to protest in a peaceful way. But I would
have preferred it if they had not done it by breaching the House of
Parliament.
"It shows that things are not as they should be in security terms. The House authorities really need to sort this out."
A
spokeswoman from the Department for Energy and Climate Change said:
"Public demonstration to highlight the need for action on climate
change by all within society is welcome, but it must be conducted in a
way that respects the rule of law.
"We have a comprehensive plan
to transform our economy and society, by investing in green jobs,
cleaning up our energy supplies and making our homes energy efficient.
This week we host vital talks to accelerate the development of clean
coal and to progress the Copenhagen deal. It's our domestic record that
has given us the credibility we need to press hard for an ambitious
global climate deal."
A House of Commons spokeswoman said: "We
can confirm that 45 protesters climbed up the wall adjacent to the
Cromwell Green building. Police have the situation contained. At no
time did the protesters have any access to the building, nor did they
seek it."
Common Dreams is powered by optimists who believe in the power of informed and engaged citizens to ignite and enact change to make the world a better place. We're hundreds of thousands strong, but every single supporter makes the difference. Your contribution supports this bold media model—free, independent, and dedicated to reporting the facts every day. Stand with us in the fight for economic equality, social justice, human rights, and a more sustainable future. As a people-powered nonprofit news outlet, we cover the issues the corporate media never will. Join with us today! |
Thirty-one Greenpeace activists remained on the roof of the Palace of Westminster this morning protesting about climate change, the environmental group said.
Another
23 protesters have been arrested, three of whom remained in custody,
according to a Metropolitan police spokesman. Greenpeace said there had
been 24 arrests in total.
The demonstrators climbed on to the
roof, ramparts and a turret on top of Westminster Hall yesterday,
unfurling yellow banners that read: "Change the politics, save the
climate". They said there was little resistance from police when they
moved quickly to prop ladders against the wall and climb up.
The
activists hope to greet politicians as they arrive for the start of
parliament this morning with a 12-point manifesto calling for zero
carbon emissions by 2030, a stop to airport expansion, more wind power
and new pollution taxes.
After almost five hours on the roof last
night, some of the protesters climbed down one by one using a ladder
and safety harness, and were arrested for trespassing on a "protected
site". The remainder climbed into bivvy bags in an attempt to keep warm
through the night, Greenpeace UK said on its Twitter feed.
Anna
Jones, 28, a full-time Greenpeace activist from Headingley, Leeds, said
from the roof this morning: "We can't stress enough how important this
is. The clock is ticking - scientists are telling us we have just a few
years left to act to save the planet.
"Now is the time to start
putting policies in place to make sure we are on the right trajectory
to peak our emissions and bring them down. But instead we have a
government that is prepared to lock us into high carbon projects like
the third runway at Heathrow."
She said direct action was
necessary and effective. "Climate change is the biggest challenge we
are facing. It takes action like this to make the politicians wake up.
They are letting us down and letting down citizens around the world."
Jones
said there had been very little police presence as activists scaled the
building. The protesters had managed to get some sleep on the roof
overnight and had spotted shooting stars.
"We're planning to stay
here for the day. It's quite cold up here but we have had hot meals and
are cosy huddled up under one of the big banners," she said.
Another
protester on the roof, Brikesh Singh, 29, from Bangalore, India, said:
"This building is considered as the mother of all parliaments and the
UK is one of the leading developed countries. It has to take leadership
in solving the climate crisis so that developing countries can follow
its lead."
John Sauven, the Greenpeace executive director, said:
"We've got to raise the temperature of the debate because we are really
running out of time. We are at a minute to midnight and there is so
little time left but so much to do.
"Parliament is opening and
there is an election looming so this is a golden opportunity for the
political parties to really think about the future and what future
generations will face."
The ease with which protesters gained
access to the site raised concerns over security. The Liberal Democrat
MP Norman Baker said: "There is understandable concern about the need
to move faster and more effectively to tackle climate change, and
Greenpeace are right to seek to protest in a peaceful way. But I would
have preferred it if they had not done it by breaching the House of
Parliament.
"It shows that things are not as they should be in security terms. The House authorities really need to sort this out."
A
spokeswoman from the Department for Energy and Climate Change said:
"Public demonstration to highlight the need for action on climate
change by all within society is welcome, but it must be conducted in a
way that respects the rule of law.
"We have a comprehensive plan
to transform our economy and society, by investing in green jobs,
cleaning up our energy supplies and making our homes energy efficient.
This week we host vital talks to accelerate the development of clean
coal and to progress the Copenhagen deal. It's our domestic record that
has given us the credibility we need to press hard for an ambitious
global climate deal."
A House of Commons spokeswoman said: "We
can confirm that 45 protesters climbed up the wall adjacent to the
Cromwell Green building. Police have the situation contained. At no
time did the protesters have any access to the building, nor did they
seek it."
Thirty-one Greenpeace activists remained on the roof of the Palace of Westminster this morning protesting about climate change, the environmental group said.
Another
23 protesters have been arrested, three of whom remained in custody,
according to a Metropolitan police spokesman. Greenpeace said there had
been 24 arrests in total.
The demonstrators climbed on to the
roof, ramparts and a turret on top of Westminster Hall yesterday,
unfurling yellow banners that read: "Change the politics, save the
climate". They said there was little resistance from police when they
moved quickly to prop ladders against the wall and climb up.
The
activists hope to greet politicians as they arrive for the start of
parliament this morning with a 12-point manifesto calling for zero
carbon emissions by 2030, a stop to airport expansion, more wind power
and new pollution taxes.
After almost five hours on the roof last
night, some of the protesters climbed down one by one using a ladder
and safety harness, and were arrested for trespassing on a "protected
site". The remainder climbed into bivvy bags in an attempt to keep warm
through the night, Greenpeace UK said on its Twitter feed.
Anna
Jones, 28, a full-time Greenpeace activist from Headingley, Leeds, said
from the roof this morning: "We can't stress enough how important this
is. The clock is ticking - scientists are telling us we have just a few
years left to act to save the planet.
"Now is the time to start
putting policies in place to make sure we are on the right trajectory
to peak our emissions and bring them down. But instead we have a
government that is prepared to lock us into high carbon projects like
the third runway at Heathrow."
She said direct action was
necessary and effective. "Climate change is the biggest challenge we
are facing. It takes action like this to make the politicians wake up.
They are letting us down and letting down citizens around the world."
Jones
said there had been very little police presence as activists scaled the
building. The protesters had managed to get some sleep on the roof
overnight and had spotted shooting stars.
"We're planning to stay
here for the day. It's quite cold up here but we have had hot meals and
are cosy huddled up under one of the big banners," she said.
Another
protester on the roof, Brikesh Singh, 29, from Bangalore, India, said:
"This building is considered as the mother of all parliaments and the
UK is one of the leading developed countries. It has to take leadership
in solving the climate crisis so that developing countries can follow
its lead."
John Sauven, the Greenpeace executive director, said:
"We've got to raise the temperature of the debate because we are really
running out of time. We are at a minute to midnight and there is so
little time left but so much to do.
"Parliament is opening and
there is an election looming so this is a golden opportunity for the
political parties to really think about the future and what future
generations will face."
The ease with which protesters gained
access to the site raised concerns over security. The Liberal Democrat
MP Norman Baker said: "There is understandable concern about the need
to move faster and more effectively to tackle climate change, and
Greenpeace are right to seek to protest in a peaceful way. But I would
have preferred it if they had not done it by breaching the House of
Parliament.
"It shows that things are not as they should be in security terms. The House authorities really need to sort this out."
A
spokeswoman from the Department for Energy and Climate Change said:
"Public demonstration to highlight the need for action on climate
change by all within society is welcome, but it must be conducted in a
way that respects the rule of law.
"We have a comprehensive plan
to transform our economy and society, by investing in green jobs,
cleaning up our energy supplies and making our homes energy efficient.
This week we host vital talks to accelerate the development of clean
coal and to progress the Copenhagen deal. It's our domestic record that
has given us the credibility we need to press hard for an ambitious
global climate deal."
A House of Commons spokeswoman said: "We
can confirm that 45 protesters climbed up the wall adjacent to the
Cromwell Green building. Police have the situation contained. At no
time did the protesters have any access to the building, nor did they
seek it."
