Extinction Rebellion stage protest in Bournemouth

Over 50 attendees marched from Horseshoe Common, through the town centre to the Town Hall and then to the Lower Gardens, led by a samba band, at midday today, Saturday, July 24. 

Marching through Horseshoe Common

BCP Council's "inaction" prompted the demonstration.

Extinction Rebellion general co-ordinator, Melissa Carrington said: "We are here because it's more or less two years since BCP Council decided to declare a climate and ecological emergency. They have done virtually nothing to cut carbon emissions or preserve nature."

The recent extreme weather events, such as the wildfires in the USA, are also a cause of great concern.

Melissa added: "Changes in the climate had gone non-linear and we are passing multiple climate tipping points

"There is a lot to be concerned about.

"Unfortunately, people aren't hearing what the options are and BCP Council is not playing its part in informing people.

"The council is not showing kindness to engage with us. Their aim seems to be on iconic growth and to bring in more tourism and traffic."

According to Extinction Rebellion, BCP Council has backed away from "a number" of its commitments, including, going back on its promise to hold a BCP citizens’ assembly on the Climate and Ecological Emergency, replacing "in-depth community engagement on the climate emergency with a tick box survey that legitimized climate science denial" and delaying development of an area-wide climate action plan to December 2021. 

Friends of the Earth, Transition Towns, Zero Carbon Dorset, Christchurch Climate Action, and Global Justice Bournemouth, also attended the demonstration and marched through town, carrying banners and flags.

Here’s a better view of the attendees preparing to march pic.twitter.com/ayhfF75pv7

— Maya (@Echo_Maya) July 24, 2021

Climate speaker for East Dorset Friends of The Earth, Martin Price, is hoping that BCP Council will engage with the groups and their growing concerns.

He said: "We want to make the case that the council is talking the talk but not walking the walk.

"We have effectively wasted two years while the councillors have played politics with each other. When the Tories took over last year we approached them and offered to work with them and all we've had is deafening silence.

Protesters at Horseshoe Common

"It's hoped that after today the council will talk to us. Dialogue from the council would be brilliant.

"Where is the response to this emergency? Covid has shown what people can do in an emergency. 

"Carbon emissions are still going up, so there needs to be a sense of urgency and realism. We have no alternative. Apart from to perish, but that is not an ideal option."

In response, Deputy Leader of BCP Council, Cllr Philip Broadhead said: "I was puzzled to hear the accusation that we somehow have not been taking climate change seriously.

"When we took control of the council in October, the previous Lib Dem, Green and Labour coalition had cancelled their £240,000 budget allocation for climate change.

"In the last six months, we have not only reversed their cut but actually doubled the amount allocated to £480,000. They had also cancelled their proposed “Citizens Assembly" plan, and we have chosen instead to use those funds to focus on actions, not talk.

"So we are spending approximately four times the amount on tackling climate change than many of those Councillors in Saturday’s protest.

"In my view, that’s all trousers and less talk!"