The Big One
April 21st - 24th, 2023
London
Five members of Croydon u3a's Environment and Climate Crisis Group went to The Big One, a weekend of peaceful demonstration, called by Extinction Rebellion for all interested people and organisations to demonstrate their concerns about the climate crisis and to ask Government to take urgent action. Peaceful picketing took place at various Government departments throughout London.
Croydon u3a were part of the u3a national group who joined The Climate Reality Project and students from Warwick University. Other Croydon u3a members went with the Greenpeace group. Above is Brenda from the national Climate Change and the Environment Group with some of the group.
Below are Camilla and Jenny, Croydon u3a Chair, with our banner, which reads "The planet is bleeding to death".
Below are Camilla and Jenny, Croydon u3a Chair, with our banner, which reads "The planet is bleeding to death".
As we passed through Parliament Square, Margaret met this guy who was standing silently holding a plant pot containing a dead plant.
When asked why, he simply held up the pot, on which was written “I have taken a vow of silence….”. There was more writing, a bit small to read but we didn’t need to in order to understand his message. He said not a word.
Soon after, this coffin went by. Couldn't be clearer.
These guys performed a "magic" show demonstrating what "greenwashing" really is. We were instructed to close our eyes, the box of carbon disappeared and we were assured that the carbon had been magically offset.
In reality of course, the other guy had simply moved the box to one side. A clear illustration of what greenwashing is.
Meanwhile, Sheila and Peter were with Greenpeace but we did see each other briefly in Victoria Street. Here is Peter with one of the Rosebank protesters.
Later, Camilla wandered off into Parliament Square and chatted with lots of people. She saw this poster which couldn't be more explicit - what very nearly is and what could be.
Jenny went again on Saturday, when the theme was Animals.
And then again on Sunday when she took the microphone at the Main Stage (the presenter asked for 4 people to come forward with their grumbles) and spoke about the pathetic media coverage, to much applause!
And then again on Monday........