- Title: "We're nearly on the verge of mass extinction," G7 climate protester says
- Date: 11th June 2021
- Summary: ST IVES, ENGLAND, UNITED KINGDOM (JUNE 11, 2021) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF PROTESTERS PLAYING DRUMS AND WALKING DOWN STREET PROTESTER HOLDING UP PLACARD READING (ENGLISH) "STOP CLIMATE CHAOS" MORE OF PROTESTERS PLAYING DRUMS AND WALKING PROTESTERS DANCING PEOPLE AT RESTAURANT PATIO LOOKING ON AS PROTESTERS MATCH PAST (SOUNDBITE) (English) UNNAMED PROTESTOR, SAYING: "So we want the G7 leaders to make a pledge to actually act on climate change. It is the most important action that they need to do right now. The sea levels are rising, the plastic is rotting in the ocean, we're nearly on the verge of mass extinction now. It needs to be done now, we have no time to act, we go to do it now." VARIOUS OF PROTESTERS MARCHING DOWN STREET (SOUNDBITE) (English) UNNAMED PROTESTOR, SAYING: "For years and years, they've talked, they have met, they have talked, they've met and then they go away and they do nothing to change what's actually happening and we need them to act rather than just talking about it." PROTESTERS PLAYING DRUMS / WALKING ONTO ST IVES BEACH FLAG READING (ENGLISH) "SAVE OUR SEAS" (SOUNDBITE) (English) PROTESTERS, RHYS BARNSBY SAYING: "The climate crisis is the hugest thing we've ever faced and it's the most important thing. Without solving it then there's not going to be a planet for anybody and I'm afraid to have children because they're going to grow up in a world where there will food shortages, more pandemics, there will will be more climate refugees. The world is in chaos and everyone's just sitting back and subsidising fossil fuels instead of putting climate crisis first." PROTESTERS DANCING ON BEACH PROTESTERS' BOAT VARIOUS OF PROTESTERS ON BEACH
- Embargoed: 25th June 2021 16:05
- Keywords: Cornwall Extinction Rebellion G7 summit climate protesters
- Location: ST IVES, ENGLAND, UNITED KINGDOM
- City: ST IVES, ENGLAND, UNITED KINGDOM
- Country: United Kingdom
- Topics: Europe,G7,Government/Politics
- Reuters ID: LVA001EGYKHMV
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: As leaders of some of the world's richest nations gather in picturesque Cornwall, so have dozens of campaign groups that want to court publicity for their causes and send a message to the Western political elite.
Several hundred climate activists - some dressed as blackbirds as a symbol of warning and others banging drums - gathered in St Ives, just a stone's throw from the heavily guarded G7 summit venue at Carbis Bay, and marched along the beach.
"The sea levels are rising, the plastic is rotting in the ocean, we're nearly on the verge of mass extinction now. It needs to be done now, we have no time to act, we go to do it now," an unnamed protester said.
"For years and years, they've talked, they have met, they have talked, they've met and then they go away and they do nothing to change what's actually happening and we need them to act rather than just talking about it," said another demonstrator.
Behind police cordons and layers of security, the leaders from the United States, Japan, Germany, Britain, France, Italy, and Canada gathered for a three-day summit that they hope will show the West can still act decisively on major global issues.
Police have mounted a major security operation for the summit, with thousands of officers drafted in from across Britain. Some of those planning demonstrations have said they intended their protests to be noisy, disruptive and annoying.
On Friday officers said they had arrested seven people after stopping two cars in which they found paint, smoke grenades and megaphones.
However, those organising some of the protests accuse the authorities of oppressive tactics.
(Production: Ben Makori, Catherine Macdonald) - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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