THE Frome Blackbirds, part of Frome Extinction Rebellion, took off for London alongside 60,000 others on Saturday 22nd April to be part of a march and demonstration for Earth Day to draw attention to the ecological crisis and its effects on wildlife.
The Earth Day march was part of a peaceful, four-day climate action named ‘The Big One’ because it brought together over 200 organisations with shared concerns about the climate crisis,” said a spokesperson for the group.
Banners reading ‘Unite for Nature’ and ‘No Nature No Future’ spelled out the message alongside the Blackbirds’ accompanying sign which read ‘Sounding the Alarm for Nature’.
As the Blackbirds ‘flew’ ahead of the march they got the attention of the press cameras as well as passers-by, including a group of school children who were excited by the appearance of these playful and yet compelling creatures with their distinctive alarm call.
“Extinction Rebellion recently announced their intention to no longer cause public disruption and focus instead on building a movement to put pressure on government to bring an end to the fossil fuel era,” said a spokesperson for Frome Blackbirds. “And so, the event was welcoming, engaging and family friendly, and attracted people from all walks of life and all ages.
“The streets around Parliament became a hub for people to gather and talk, for workshops, people’s assemblies, and hearing inspiring speeches by people such as Caroline Lucus of the Green Party, Chris Packham, and the CEO of Greenpeace.
“This march showed us that awareness of the urgent need to act on the climate crisis is growing and with it a sense that we ordinary citizens can be powerful when we act together with a vision of a greener, more compassionate, and equitable world for future generations.”
Among the many who went from Frome were groups such as Frome Extinction Rebellion and Frome Families for the Future. Others went to highlight a particular concern, such as Adele Stanton, a local health care professional who said, “In ‘The Big One’ we picketed the Department of Health and Social Care, and we had a health hub outside Parliament with a programme of events showing how the climate crisis is a health crisis.
“Many doctors have joined XR because of the dangerous effects on people’s health. For example, extreme summer heat in the UK worsens health conditions, placing extra burden on the NHS.”
Another Frome resident, Mary Taylor, who attended a march that featured climate choirs from across the county, said, “As we marched on the streets, the London plane trees in their new spring glory, were a reminder of all we are destroying by our political deafness of the global climate catastrophe, whilst the experience of singing together was the reverse: putting us in touch with each other and how creative humanity can be.”
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Pictured: The Blackbirds in action outside Parliament.
