COP15 Rehearses in London – Green Power to the People
Saturday, 06 Dec, 2009
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Sarah Loftus writes about the Wave, a series of COP15 related climate change demonstrations from a Responsible Tourism perspective:
Climategate and the miserable weather made no impact on The Wave on Saturday. No-one seemed to be paying too much about the former (simply sceptical of the sceptics) , and we obviously wouldn’t expect anything other than the latter. In spite of the seriousness of the event, the atmosphere was happy, buzzing and friendly. The police were low profile – and also smiling.
The number of people who joined the rally in London has been estimated at 20,000, 40,000 or 50,000, depending on which paper you read. It felt like much more.
People came from all over England and Wales (similar events were held in Glasgow and Belfast) representing 100 groups signed up to the Stop Climate Chaos Coalition. Many more individuals attended with families and friends. According to the Coalition these groups represent an 11 million supporter base, and include groups such as the RSPB and various Wildlife Trusts, Tearfund, Christian Aid, Cafod, universities, the Green Party, Greenpeace, Friends of the Earth, unions, The Co-operative and many more.
A few Socialist Workers and Bolsheviks were spotted at the rally (didn’t know they still existed).
The four climate sceptics at Trafalgar Square looked pretty lonely up by one of the lions as the 60,000 (latest count) marched by.
The intention was to encircle Parliament by marching through Parliament Square, over Lambeth Bridge, along behind St. Thomas’ Hospital and back over Westminster Bridge. Easily achieved, as the head of the march reached Parliament Square just as the rear was leaving Grosvenor Square. This must have resulted in Parliament being encircled for quite some time – surely far exceeding expectations.
The placards and banners demonstrated just how wide an agenda this is, such as “Quite Dirty Coal” and “Protect the Poorest” (by The Co-Op), “Carbon Cuts not Welfare Cuts” (Green Party) and the simple “Act Fair and Fast” (by the RSPB).
One that we in the tourism sector will be interested in read “Ban Domestic Flights” (by Climate Emergency). Will this happen? We’d better pay attention over the next two weeks.
And our favourite:
E – ON
F – OFF
Further info at www.stopclimatechaos.org/the-wave
Sarah Loftus
Valere
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