Extinction Rebellion Southsea members take part in London protests
PASSIONATE activists from Portsmouth are among those currently taking part in 'necessary' climate change protests in London.
Members of Extinction Rebellion (XR) Southsea journeyed to the capital on Tuesday as part of a series of actions in support of the new climate and ecological emergency (CEE) bill that was due to be heard.
The group joined thousands of others in a march on Parliament Square as well as a takeover of roads and other demonstrations that have seen more than 200 people arrested - including two from Southsea.
XR Southsea co-ordinator, Selma Heimedinger - who is still attending the protests - has been working with other XR groups from the south east region to run climate change talks and establish road blocks.
She described the atmosphere as 'amazing.'
'The creativity is inspiring,' she said. 'The police have not been fair and I have seen aggression and violence from them. This is obviously to scare us but we will not back down. People power is stronger than police power and we are non-violent.
'As Extinction Rebellion Southsea we felt it was necessary to attend the London protests as mobilising in the capital would create the most impact and strength with in our numbers.
'We know that the climate crisis will kill and displace millions of people, and government inaction is illegal and needs to be addressed. The only was we can put pressure on the government is through non-violent direct action, which has been used for thousands of years by citizens and activists to bring about change.'
20 out of 650 MPs voted for the CEE bill on Tuesday, and it is scheduled to be presented again in March next year.
She added: 'This is not good enough. A climate emergency was declared by UK government and now no action is being taken.
'The CEE bill is a legally binding bill which holds the UK to account for all carbon emissions, protect biodiversity and woodland, and create a citizens assembly to decide how we as a country and as citizens should tackle the climate emergency.'
It is planned XR will continue to 'peacefully disrupt' parliament for a period of two weeks.