Claire Perry MP urged to honour agreed meeting with Extinction Rebellion Youth
March 15, 2019 by Extinction Rebellion
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- Extinction Rebellion Youth today delivered a letter to Claire Perry MP, Minister for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, asking her to rethink her decision not to meet and discuss the government’s response to the Climate and Ecological Emergency.
- This comes as thousands of children and young people take to the streets globally to protest against the inaction by governments in the face of the emergency.
- Extinction Rebellion shares correspondence it has had with Claire Perry MP, who originally agreed to meet them but later pulled out citing a ‘heavily committed’ schedule.
- Extinction Rebellion Youth block Westminster Bridge and hold ‘after-party’ for Youth Strikers
At 11am today (Friday 15 March), during the Youth Strike 4 Climate in London, young activists from the newly formed Extinction Rebellion Youth delivered a letter to Minister for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Claire Perry asking her to reconsider her cancellation of a planned meeting with Extinction Rebellion.
A group of 13 year-olds from Extinction Rebellion Youth were refused entry to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy and told that Claire Perry MP would not meet with them without an appointment. The doors of the department were then locked and security officers appeared.
Extinction Rebellion had previously met with the Minister at COP24, the UN conference on climate change which took place late last year in Poland. They had been promised a follow-up meeting, to discuss the response to the climate and ecological crisis, but the minister later pulled out.
Rafi, 11 years old, who was one of the kids who delivered the letter today, said: “I am absolutely devastated that the government has refused to meet with us. This is the most important issue of our time and it is my generation that will have to deal with it.”
Extinction Rebellion activist Sam Knights, 22, who met with Claire Perry MP last year at COP24, said in his letter to her today: “We are in a climate and ecological emergency which is costing people their lives. We are convinced that current energy policy, such as the Clean Growth Strategy, does not address what urgently needs to happen in the short-term.
“Therefore, we would like you to urgently reconsider our request for another meeting so we can discuss how an emergency framing can help drive emissions to net zero by 2025 and reduce consumption levels. We are ordinary citizens who see civil disobedience as a last resort, recognising a need to move beyond the usual routes for civic engagement with governing bodies due to this emergency.”
Extinction Rebellion launched last year in the UK and now has 206 groups in 24 different countries. Over the last few months, thousands of people have joined the movement and been trained to take part in peaceful acts of civil disobedience. They are rebelling against the criminal inaction of the UK government and will not stop until meaningful action on climate change has been delivered.
Notes to editors:
About Extinction Rebellion
Time has almost entirely run out to address the ecological crisis which is upon us, including the 6th mass species extinction and abrupt, runaway climate change. Societal collapse and mass death are seen as inevitable by scientists and other credible voices, with human extinction also a possibility, if rapid action is not taken.
Extinction Rebellion believes it is a citizen’s duty to rebel, using peaceful civil disobedience, when faced with criminal inactivity by its Government.
Extinction Rebellion’s topline demands:
- The Government must admit the truth about the ecological emergency, reverse all policies inconsistent with addressing climate change, and work alongside the media to communicate with citizens
- The Government must enact policy measures to reduce carbon emissions to net zero by 2025 and to reduce consumption levels
- A national Citizen’s Assembly must be created, to oversee the changes, as part of creating a democracy fit for purpose.
Get involved in Extinction Rebellion’s other events
- In the UK, come to one of our events, join the Rebellion Network and let us know how you can help out
- Start a group where you are – locally in the UK or in your country around the world
- Find your local group: https://www.google.com/maps/d/viewer?mid=11jUqqjTHMThksd4KbvGGzb3I3Cr3PkBl&usp=sharing
- Check out the International XR website, with links to the French, German, Italian and UK websites
- We are holding Collaborative Leadership Calls to help coach people to improve their leadership skills and capacities
- And while your time and energy are the most important things, if you are financially able to donate money, see our Fundrazr crowdfunder.