|
Extinction Rebellion (XR) said the groups had issued the British
government with a demand to end all licences, funding and
approval for new fossil fuel projects and to immediately create
"emergency citizen assemblies".
If the government did not agree to discuss these by a deadline
of 1600 GMT on April 24, they would step up their campaigns,
which would include unspecified civil disobedience.
"This time we won't be alone," Marijn van de Geer from XR told
reporters.
In January, the British arm of XR, which has previously closed
key roads and bridges in central London, blockaded oil
refineries, smashed windows at banks and thrown paint over
government buildings, said it would cease public disruption.
But other activists, such as Just Stop Oil, have continued with
high-profile campaigns, including halting the world snooker
championship on Monday.
Later this week, some 200 groups including Greenpeace and
Friends of the Earth will gather for a four-day demonstration
organised by XR, dubbed "The Big One", which will be held
outside parliament in central London, with 28,000 signed up to
attend.
While XR said this week's action in central London was not
intended to be disruptive, nor would it target the coronation of
King Charles next month, van de Geer said they would step up
campaigns in future in "new and inventive ways".
She said it would be up to each group and individuals involved
to decide what these would be, saying there might be some
"bigger disobedience".
(Reporting by Michael Holden, Editing by Kylie MacLellan)
[© 2023 Thomson Reuters. All rights
reserved.] Copyright 2022 Reuters. All rights reserved. This material may not be published,
broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Thompson Reuters is solely responsible for this content.
|
|
