Activists take part in ‘The Big One’ event in the British capital to demand that the government do more to tackle the climate crisis.
Environmental campaign group Extinction Rebellion has begun four days of action in London, promising less disruption and more inclusion than the mass blockades that have become its trademark.
“This is about broadening the invitation and bringing in a lot more people into a lot more groups,” Clare Farrell, the co-founder of the group known as XR, said on Friday.
“For many people, going on the march is like going to a picket line as a first step,” she told AFP news agency, pledging targeted “non-violent civil disobedience.”
XR has gained media attention in recent years due to disruptions, hitting roads, airports and other public transport networks with direct action protests against climate change.
But in January it temporarily halted its high-profile demonstrations, pledging instead to mobilize huge numbers against what it sees as the government’s lack of action on global warming.
The group hopes that 100,000 people will gather outside parliament this weekend for “The Big One” event, and 30,000 people have so far expressed their interest.
The action coincides with the London Marathon on Sunday and talks have been held with race organizers to reduce the disruption.
Dr. Rita Issa, a general practitioner and climate health researcher who attended the protest on Friday, told Al Jazeera that tackling the climate crisis would have beneficial effects on health in society.
“I work as a GP in East London where we have illegal levels of air pollution quite often. What that means in practice for me as a doctor is that I see children with 10 percent reduced lung capacity due to air pollution,” she told Al Jazeera.
“Taking action on the climate crisis is good for our future, but it is also good for the health of the population here today.”
Julia Hailes, a climate activist for 35 years, was among those setting up stalls in central London on Friday.
“People are becoming aware… that we have a devastating future ahead of us and that we have an opportunity that we need to act on,” she said. “The earth is dying. We have to stop this.”
Her son, Connor Bryant, 28, said his children and great-grandchildren will be more affected by climate change.
“So action is so important to me in some ways to feel like I’m doing what it takes to protect everyone I’ll ever love,” he added.
He urged more people to join the movement: “The longer companies and governments wait to respond, the more extreme the response will be.”
More disruptive, drastic measures were “inevitable as we get closer to the blaze,” he said.
Protester Lisa Milne said she was hesitant to take action that caused “friction” with the public.
“I was happier this time to come along and get involved and show support and show my concern for the planet and what we’re doing to it,” she added.