"We apologise in advance for any inconvenience, but this is a very small price to be paid in comparison to the threat to life we are facing..." Claire, Extinction Rebellion
This Friday, 30th August, is the start of Extinction Rebellion's Northern Rebellion, and the climate campaign group has announced that it intends to occupy Deansgate for four days to hold a "non-violent, peaceful 'uprising' to draw attention to the growing environmental emergency".
Deansgate is one of the most polluted roads in Manchester with illegal levels of nitrogen dioxide, and the group is inviting everyone to join in to turn the road into a 'giant, peaceful, family-friendly protest and creative space', with free talks, music performances, art, training, food and workshops.
There will also be installations including a five-metre high sculpture made from waste plastic, a garden of donated plants and a DJ-decked yellow boat.
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"Most Greater Manchester boroughs and the GM Combined Authority have now declared a climate emergency" says Claire from Extinction Rebellion "Every policy, including transport, is now supposed to consider its effects on our climate crisis and help cut carbon emissions.
"Yet despite these statements little seems to change and we're barely scratching the surface of the cuts we need to make" she explains "Manchester Airport is still expanding, and millions are still being invested in major road developments that will increase car journeys, such as Great Ancoats Street in Manchester.
"We apologise in advance for any inconvenience, but this is a very small price to be paid in comparison to the threat to life we are facing" she adds "Unfortunately, years of polite campaigning and petitions have not worked, and we are left with no choice. We have been working with Greater Manchester Police to minimise disruption and they have been helping other agencies plan contingencies, and people plan alternative means to travel over this period."
Extinction Rebellion is calling on the UK Government to tell the truth about the urgency of change needed by declaring a climate emergency, reduce greenhouse gas emissions to net zero by 2025 to halt biodiversity loss and create a Citizen's Assembly to lead decision-making on climate justice.
"The Amazon is burning, glaciers are melting, temperatures are rising and there is an existential risk to all life on Earth" Claire explains "It is the very least we can do, as the last generation who have the time and the power to stop this, to act to prevent this unfolding catastrophe.
"More and more people are starting to feel the same and stepping forward to make their voices heard" she adds "The time to do that is now. We are urging anyone who is seeing what is happening and feels similarly heartbroken and let down by our leaders, to come and find out more about the crisis we are facing and what to do about it...''
Salford City Council recently declared a 'Climate Emergency' with a target date of 2038 for the city to become carbon neutral however, the Greater Manchester Pension Fund on which Salford Council has a representative is still investing £2billion in fossil fuel companies*.
For more information on Extinction Rebellion and to support the Northern Rebellion click here
* For a full background see previous Salford Star article: Extinction Rebellion Glued To Greater Manchester Pension Fund Office As Salford Council Declares Climate Emergency click here
Extinction Rebellion announced itself in Greater Manchester last year with a march, road blocks, a die-in and arrests see previous Salford Star article click here
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