Since Friday, April 21, the district of Westminster has been transformed. Groups of tourists, surprised, weave their way among protesters dressed as animals, planets, wearing masks of King Charles III and Prime Minister Rishi Sunak. Scientists, architects, professors give speeches to the Ministries of Education, Transport, Energy. Parents with strollers, students and other demonstrators listen and march to the sound of drums.
Others, the Red Rebels, in red velvet suits and under white make-up, walk in silence, punctuated by Big Ben’s clock striking every quarter of an hour. As soon as an official car drives out of Parliament, an activist shakes her piggy bank and approaches: “Gentlemen, does the government still have money for Shell please?” under the amused gaze of the police.
It was here, in front of Westminster, that Extinction Rebellion (XR) launched in October 2018. Greta Thunberg, then little known, gave one of her first speeches there. Since then, the environmental movement has multiplied disruptive actions: blocking roads, bridges, metro trains, for several days or even weeks. But in January 2023, XR announced a change in tactics to focus on organizing this peaceful rally in London. The goal: to get as many members as possible. “A lot of people are afraid of being arrested and going to jail. So we want to give them the opportunity to get involved, without them taking that risk,” says Jamie Kelsey, 58, an early member. “So far, more than 150 people have served prison sentences. »
By carrying out actions of civil disobedience, XR has mostly alienated a large majority of Britons, even though “eight out of ten people are worried about the climate”, according to a spokeswoman, Alanna Byrne. The activists were accused of attacking the exasperated workers, with whom the altercations were often verbally violent. “I think a lot of people are reacting negatively because they don’t want to see that the situation is scary,” said a 19-year-old student who came especially from the north of England. Because if they open their eyes, they will have to address it and act. I read that by 2050 my hometown will probably be under water. It’s terrifying. She wishes to remain anonymous, but insists that she, “privileged” because she is “white”, is ready to go to prison. Because “civil disobedience is a necessity.” Behind her, participants dance to “Rebel, Rebel” by David Bowie.
XR and its 200-plus organizations, including Greenpeace and Just Stop Oil, are cooperating with police and rescue over the weekend at their authorized protest, ‘The Big One’. 1,200 mobilized coordinators repeat to passers-by and participants encroaching on the road to watch out for cars. “Sometimes it’s easier when it’s not allowed,” sighs one. Because today, the police absolutely do not help us to ensure security. We do the job ourselves. So far, no incidents have been reported. This Sunday, XR even spoke with the organizers of the London Marathon so as not to disturb the thousands of runners.
Activists issue an ultimatum to the government expiring Monday, 5 p.m., to meet their demands. Among them: that the government “tell the truth about the climate emergency, that it create a citizens’ assembly on the climate, like the one set up in France in 2019, and put an end to the exploitation of hydrocarbons” . In 2021, the UK authorized new oil and gas drilling in the North Sea. The following year, Liz Truss, short-lived Prime Minister, lifted the moratorium on shale gas development to deal with the crisis and become a net exporter of energy by 2040. “We have eight years of gas and oil, notes Jamie Kelsey. We can use them during the energy transition period. »
According to Yaz Ashmawi, in charge of XR strategy, there is no longer any question of disturbing the population. He admits that the 2018 strategy no longer works in 2023. “There will be no more blockages on the roads, but targeted actions, for example at the annual meetings of fossil fuel companies. We want to gather. We have a say in the direction our country is taking. Especially since we have just had two Prime Ministers for whom no one voted. »
