Thursday, October 3, 2019

Extinction Rebellion protesters spray Treasury building with red paint in climate change protest

begin quote from:Extinction Rebellion protesters spray Treasury building with red paint in climate change protest
© Provided by Independent Digital News & Media Limited Extinction Rebellion protesters outside the Treasury (Reuters) ...

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Extinction Rebellion says it has used a fire engine to spray 1,800 litres of "fake blood" over the Treasury building in Westminster.
The climate change activists ​drove up to the government building in a fire engine and sprayed red paint through the hose onto the building.
Both the Treasury and the Countryside Alliance have criticised the group's actions, with the Treasury claiming that the UK is a "world leader" in climate change.
Four people have since been arrested for criminal damage in relation to the incident.
However, the operation did not get off to the best start when the climate activists lost control of the hose.
a group of people riding on the back of a pickup truck: Extinction Rebellion protesters outside the Treasury (Reuters)© Provided by Independent Digital News & Media Limited Extinction Rebellion protesters outside the Treasury (Reuters)According to the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) website the fire engine runs on diesel fuel.
After the stunt, four activists in stood atop the fire engine which had a banner saying "Stop funding climate death."
They sprayed the same slogan on the walls of the building.
The steps of the Treasury were soaked in red paint.
Extinction Rebellion said its activists had sprayed 1,800 litres of fake blood at the Treasury.
"The Treasury has been frustrating efforts by other government departments to take action against climate change because it cares only about economic growth," one of the activists, named Ben, told Reuters.
"It doesn't see that eternal economic growth leads to climate death," Ben said. "The red symbolises the people dying now in the global south and also the people who are going to start dying from climate change all around the world if we do nothing."
While the operation was eventually a success it took more than one go to get it right.
Police swiftly moved in on the operation and surrounded the fire engine.
The Met have released a statement saying that they have arrested four people in connection with the incident.
On the their official Twitter account they wrote: "Police were called at 10.17 to Horse Guards Rd #SW1.
"People on a privately owned fire engine had sprayed a liquid at the Treasury building.
"No reported injuries. 3 men and 1 woman were arrested on suspicion of criminal damage. Local road closures are in place while police deal."
The Treasury has responded to the protestors by claiming that the UK is a world leader on climate change.
A HM Treasury spokesman said: "The UK is a world leader on climate change - having reduced its emissions by 42% between 1990 and 2017, while growing the economy by more than two thirds.
"In June we became the first major economy to legislate to end our contribution to global warming by 2050, We will continue to build on this proud record."
The action was slammed by the Countryside Alliance who said it was "concerning" that a vehicle can get close enough to a government building to spray it with an "unknown substance".
Gallery: Climate protests around the world (Photos)
Slide 1 of 49: Extinction Rebellion activists stage a funeral for the fashion industry outside the main venue of London Fashion Week on 17 September, 2019 in London, England. Protesters call for the British Fashion Coucil to cancel the London Fashion Week until it can be sustainable in the face of climate crisis and ecological emergency. (Photo by WIktor Szymanowicz/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
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1/49 SLIDES © WIktor Szymanowicz/NurPhoto via Getty Images
Environmental activists have been gathering for non-violent demonstrations in cities around the world in recent months, with campaign groups Extinction Rebellion and Fridays for Future organizing protests in major cities. Their goal is to raise awareness on climate-related issues, while demanding immediate governmental action on global climate change. Click through to take a look at the ongoing protests in pictures.   
(Pictured) Extinction Rebellion activists stage a funeral for the fashion industry outside the main venue of London Fashion Week on Sept. 17 in London, England.  
Mo Metcalf-Fisher, media manager of the CA, wrote in a press release: “It’s incredibly concerning that a vehicle can get so close to a major government building to spray it with an unknown substance.
"It is almost certainly a security and health concern for staff and members of the public."
The Extinction Rebellion group disrupted London with 11 days of protests in April that it cast as the biggest act of civil disobedience in recent British history.
Iconic locations were blocked, the Shell building defaced, trains stopped and Goldman Sachs targeted.
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