AN environmental campaign group with supporters from all across the county took to the streets of London at the weekend as part of The Big One.
Wiltshire Climate Alliance (WCA), an umbrella organisation for local groups and individuals for action on climate change joined in the peaceful protest organised by Extinction Rebellion from Friday, April 21 to Monday, April 24.
Chair of WCA, Andrew Nicholson, said; "It was inspiring to see people of all ages and backgrounds uniting to support the move to a sustainable way of life. It's essential that the green agenda is mainstream in our lives as it has so many benefits. Far from the reporting of supposed disruption of the marathon and projected trouble, there was none of this."
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More than 60,000 campaigners attended the protest demanding clean energy to boost the economy and reduce the cost-of-living crisis and included Friends of the Earth, Fairtrade Foundation and organisations and businesses including NHS Workers Staff Voices and Patagonia calling for the government to stop issuing new licenses or funding for fossil fuels.
Steering Group Member and Civil Engineer, Bill Jarvis, said: "How great it was to see so many young people adding their voice for change and fitting that the 'blah, blah, blah' mantra Greta Thunberg originated featured on banners because the science tells us that we really do not have any time left to decide what to do.
“We know what to do yet our government is putting barriers in the way of progress which means our grandchildren's future is on the line."
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The government was given a choice by 49 groups to enter negotiations for an immediate halt on all new coal, oil and gas exploration and to set up emergency citizens assemblies to oversee the transition. The deadline for this expired on Monday, April 24.
Wiltshire councillor Dr Nick Murry, who also attended the demonstration said: "This is all about giving the people the infrastructure to be able to move to clean energy - they don't want to be activists, but they do want cheap energy that is not dependent on wars or political change."
The Big One weekend of protests was organised by Extinction Rebellion and supported by more than 70 other organisations.
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