More than 1500 people marched through Bath on Saturday as part of a protest rally that saw multiple groups from all over the South West coming together to demand action on the worsening Nature, Climate and Social Justice crises, and to promote community resilience.
The groups included Surfers Against Sewage, Greenpeace, Wiltshire Wildlife Trust, Climate Choir Movement, Friends of the Earth Bristol, Christian Climate Action, Frome Families for the Future, Parents For Future Bath/Bristol, Shift Bristol, Kidical Mass Bath, Stop Rosebank, Mogg Watch, Bath Stop War Coalition, BAAN (Bristol Airport Action Network), Sacred Earth Activism, Transition Bath, Climate Hub Bath and North East Somerset, Transition Bath, Bristol Climate Cafe, Unite Bristol and Gloucester Area Branch, Save the Wye, Community Farm Bristol, Transform Bristol, Nature Watch, Bath Campaigns Network, JSO, The Green Party, The Labour Party, Tipping Point, Green Stationery Company, Bath University Left Union, Edible Bristol, Dirty Water Campaign, Health for XR, Scientists for Extinction Rebellion, and XR Psychologists.
Karen Grattage from Parents for Future said: ‘Parents for the Future is joining Unite to Survive because as parents we feel our place is to protect our children by acting on the climate and nature crises. Research shows that if 25 per cent of people engage with the emergency, we can reach a social tipping point to help secure a safer, fairer world for children everywhere’
James Ravine from Wiltshire Wildlife Trust said: “The Wiltshire Wildlife Trust works to drive nature’s recovery, connect all our communities with nature and empower them to take meaningful action for nature and to tackle climate change. Tackling the most pressing environmental and social crises will only be possible by working closely with other organisations in taking action locally and influencing nationally.”
Diana Francis from Bath Stop War/ Rethinking Security said: “We are joining because war causes climate change, destroys nature and creates poverty, and because all these things will cause more wars.”
Saskia Heijltjes from Kidical Mass Bath said: “Kidical Mass Bath is a celebration of cycling, demonstratinh that people want to cycle but need safe spaces to do so, especially children! Cycling is part of the solution to the nature, climate and social justice crises we face because more people cycling means less air and noise pollution, less congestion and is a cheap and healthy way to move around.”
Sara Venn from Edible Bristol said: “The reason we are keen to be involved in Unite To Survive is that Edible Bristol and community gardens are places of connection and community where we work to create resilient futures for people and to bring them together using food and growing as a mechanism for that, whilst growing in a way that challenges both climate and biodiversity crises. Bring climate and social justice together.”
More about Extinction Rebellion:
The day of action was facilitated by Extinction Rebellion whose topline demands are:
Tell The Truth
All institutions must communicate the danger we are in. We must be clear about the extreme cascading risks humanity now faces, the injustice this represents, its historic roots, and the urgent need for rapid political, social and economic change.
Act now
Every part of society must act now to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to net zero by 2025 and begin protecting and repairing nature immediately. The whole of society must move into a new precautionary paradigm, where life is sacred and all are in service to ensuring its future.
Decide Together
We demand a culture of participation, fairness and transparency. The Government must create and be led by a Citizens’ Assembly on Climate and Ecological Justice. Only the common sense of ordinary people will help us navigate the challenging decisions ahead.
Freelance Journalist, broadcaster, columnist and local historian. Director of Bath Newseum. Married and lives in Bath.
Interested in local history, architecture and visual display in museums and urban spaces.
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