FROME’S eye-catching protest group, the Blackbirds, descended on the UN Climate Change Conference (COP26) in Glasgow to bring attention to the climate crisis.
The group hopes to persuade and encourage global leaders at the event to make good on their promises to tackle the climate change issue and make significant gains in climate policy.
The Blackbirds, which are part of Extinction Rebellion, joined widespread protests at COP 26 in Glasgow last week and were there to ‘sound the alarm for nature’.
Annabelle Macfayden, the choreographer for Blackbirds said, “There was a whole range of people from different groups in Glasgow, not just XR. I was involved in two main marches, Fridays for Future, with all the young people which was very powerful indeed and then there was the Global Day of Action for Climate Crisis.
“People were marching all across the world in solidarity. The big thing for me was hearing from those that are being affected by climate change right now, including indigenous communities who have a more balanced relationship with nature than we do here. The crux is we have been exploiting nature, so we should learn from those that have been living with nature consistently and successfully.”
Talking about the blackbirds themselves, Annabelle said, “People get it, they understand this is about nature and that we are speaking on behalf on those that don’t have a voice. The response that we got was really supportive, people were saying they were quite moved by the Blackbirds.
“Our intention is to provoke people into an emotional reaction to the climate crisis and get more people to listen to nature.”
The group’s costumes are designed to look striking and draw attention to their cause, and the inspiration came from the calls of the blackbird when they are threatened. The costumes were designed by Dulcie Best, a costume designer and owner of the clothes shop Popicoq in Frome.
The Blackbirds have been active in their plight towards a greener UK, with the group making an appearance at the G7 summit in Cornwall before making their way up to Scotland for COP 26.
