Press Release for Action on 19th March
Stop the Pollution, Block the Roads
- Left with no choice but to protest against inaction on climate and ecological
breakdown, climate rebels will block one of Sheffield’s major roads to bring attention
to the climate crisis.
- At 08:00 on Tuesday 19th March, Extinction Rebellion Sheffield will be blocking
Sheaf Street for short intervals.
- Simultaneously, we will talk to drivers and passersby to bring attention to the causes
and consequences of climate crisis.
Sheffield City Council has recently declared a climate emergency and says it will be
transitioning to a fully renewable energy supply. This is to be commended.
Unfortunately, the Council is continuing to spend millions on widening the ring road which
will bring thousands more cars into the city centre every day. Their most recent budget
barely makes reference to climate change. With toxic air pollution from traffic above legal
limits across Sheffield and carbon emissions from manufacturing and private vehicles
causing dangerous climate breakdown, we urgently need to change course and cut
emissions fast.
To bring attention to this fact, Extinction Rebellion Sheffield is organising a “swarming"
protest outside the train station, one of the most polluted places in the UK, at rush hour on
19 March. This involves blocking the traffic on the Sheaf Street crossing for short periods.
This will cause delays but allow the traffic to keep moving. We apologise for the
inconvenience to drivers, but this is nothing compared to the climate catastrophe that is our
current future.
Our aims are to use this protest to pressurise Sheffield City Council to go carbon neutral by
2030, make people aware of the pollution at the train station and endorse the school strike
on March 15th.
Quotes:
Dr Bing Jones: “The young have taken the trouble to leave school and break the rules to
point out that their parent’s generation is spending their birthright just to remain
comfortable. We need to block the traffic to raise awareness and force government to act.
We only have a few years and must act now.”
ENDS
Contact:
- Nathan Strathdee, 07741490906, xrshefpress@gmail.com
- George Hume: xrshefpress@gmail.com
- Dr Bing Jones, 07711447306, bingportraits@gmail.com, xrsheffield@gmail.com
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/events/1188085694677545/
- Twitter: @XRShef
- Instagram; @XRShef
Notes to editors
Climate Factsheet for Rebels https://rebellion.earth/the-climate-factsheet-for-rebels/
About Extinction Rebellion:
Time has almost entirely run out to address the ecological crisis which is upon us, including
the 6th mass species extinction and abrupt, runaway climate change. Societal collapse and
mass death are seen as inevitable by scientists and other credible voices, with human
extinction also a possibility, if rapid action is not taken.
Extinction Rebellion believes it is a citizen’s duty to rebel, using peaceful civil disobedience,
when faced with criminal inactivity by its Government.
Extinction Rebellion’s key demands are:
- The Government must tell the truth about the ecological emergency, reverse
inconsistent policies and work alongside the media to communicate with citizens
- The Government must enact legally binding policy measures to reduce carbon
emissions to net zero by 2025 and to reduce consumption levels
- A national Citizens’ Assembly to oversee the changes, as part of creating a
democracy fit for purpose.
Get involved in Extinction Rebellion’s other events:
In the UK, come to one of our events, join the Rebellion Network and let us know how you
can help out
Start a group where you are – locally in the UK or in your country around the world
Find your local group:
https://www.google.com/maps/d/viewer?mid=11jUqqjTHMThksd4KbvGGzb3I3Cr3PkBl&usp
=sharing
Check out the International XR website, with links to the French, German, Italian and UK
websites. We are holding Collaborative Leadership Calls to help coach people to improve
their leadership skills and capacities. And while your time and energy are the most important
things, if you are financially able to donate money, see our Fundrazr crowdfunder.
UK website:
https://rebellion.earth/
International website: https://xrebellion.org/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ExtinctionRebellion/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/ExtinctionR hashtag #ExtinctionRebellion
Declaration of Rebellion: https://rebellion.earth/declaration/
About Rising Up!
Extinction Rebellion is an initiative of the Rising Up! network, which promotes a fundamental
change of our political and economic system to one which maximises well-being and
minimises harm. Change needs to be nurtured in a culture of reverence, gratitude and
inclusion; whilst the tools of civil disobedience and direct action are used to express our
collective power.
Website http://www.risingup.org.uk/
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/RisingUpUK/
Twitter https://twitter.com/RisingUpUK