Hundreds of people are protesting outside the
Australian High Commission in central
London over Canberra’s response to the bushfires and climate change.
Demonstrators gathered outside the building on the Strand at midday on Friday, blocking the road whilst holding placards such as “koalas not coal” and “denial is not a policy”.
Organised by climate change activists from Extinction Rebellion, protestors are calling on Australian politicians to do more to protect citizens and wildlife from the ongoing crisis, as well as demanding action from leaders worldwide to prevent climate change. It's kicking off here at the Australian embassy in London! It's time for the Australian government and Scott Morrison to #ActNow in this #ClimateEmergency#bushfires#bushfirerebellion 🔥✊@XRLondon@XRebellionAuspic.twitter.com/VbRg6FkuTL— Extinction Rebellion Haringey (@XRHaringey) January 10, 2020Australia has suffered “unprecedented” bushfires for months, with at least 27 people and an estimated one billion animals killed.
Whilst flames have destroyed more than 2,000 homes and torn communities apart, thick smoke has covered vast swathes of the country – choking major cities such as
Sydney and even drifting as far as New Zealand.
Anna Moore, an NHS respiratory doctor, and mother of four who spoke at the protest said: “I spoke to a doctor in Sydney yesterday – they’re used to coping with bushfires but the scale of these fires is unprecedented. No one has seen this before.
“The fires are so widespread that for many people there is nowhere to go. People who need oxygen to breathe have no choice except to come into hospital because their oxygen supplies need power.
“Emergency departments are overwhelmed with people – especially babies and the elderly whose bodies just can’t cope with the heat.”
Extinction Rebellion is calling for a range of actions, including funding to pay all firefighters, relief and aid for affected communities, a rapid transition away from fossil fuels, and land and water sovereignty for indigenous communities.
Similar demonstrations are also expected to take place in Bristol, Lambeth and Sheffield, whilst dozens of other Extinction Rebellion groups are gathering in cities worldwide. Following today's action @Barclays in Sheffield City Centre we're holding a vigil outside Sheffield Town Hall for Australia and all the lives lost, both human and animal, as a result of the wildfires. #AustraliaOnFire#ClimateEmergencypic.twitter.com/BSHl3mSlHX— Extinction Rebellion Sheffield (@XRShef) January 10, 2020At least 100 demonstrators are here in front of the Australian Embassy in
Berlin to tell @ScottMorrisonMP to #StopAdani and tell the truth on the #AustralianFires link to the climate crisis. pic.twitter.com/yDWqqz0dY2— Extinction Rebellion Berlin 🌍 (@XRBerlin) January 10, 2020Spent my lunch hour protesting outside New Zealand's Parliament today.The fact that smoke from the Australian bush fires reached us here shows addressing climate change is *urgent.*Protest is every Friday 12.30-1.30. I encourage other Wellingtonians to join me. #FridaysForFuturepic.twitter.com/8egG07ZRvF— Amanda Reilly (@AmandaReillyNZ) January 10, 2020Thousands of people also demonstrated major cities across Australia, calling for their government to boost the response to the fires and call for action on climate change.
Amongst them were protestors demanding the resignation of Australia’s prime minister, Scott Morrison, who has been fiercely criticised for his response to the ongoing disaster. Looks like Sydneysiders are fed up with our governments inaction on climate change. Huge turn out at Town Hall. #SackScoMopic.twitter.com/kV6HoK49w2— Sharon F (@sharonfajou) January 10, 2020Old mate #SackScoMopic.twitter.com/xixXmupS0D— Andrew Despi (@d_e_s_p_i) January 10, 2020Sydney calling for the resignation of @ScottMorrisonMP at the #climatecrisis rally this evening #SackScoMopic.twitter.com/2cVS0Vt7SX— Miss MX (@MXYZ_) January 10, 2020Australians living in the south-east of the country have been warned that the risk of fires spreading could increase over the coming days, as temperatures increase and winds pick up once again.
Whilst some rain is set to arrive in parts of the nation, some of the worst-affected areas have been issued with severe weather warnings and in some cases have been advised to evacuate as soon as possible. Related... News Corp Employee's Explosive Email Accuses Rupert Murdoch Empire Of 'Climate Change Denial' No Surprise, 2019 Was The Second-Hottest Year On Record
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