Extinction Rebellion (XR) Tyneside took to the streets of Newcastle today continue its Summer Uprising campaign and call for more action to be taken against the fossil fuel industry.
Campaigners took part in a fossil fuel march through the city centre, starting at Leazes Park. The march visited a number of sites in the city, including the Esso Garage near St James' Park and the construction site of the new HMRC office on Pilgrim Street, before concluding at the Quayside.
The group say they visited key locations in Newcastle, as well as companies they believe could do more to help end the fossil fuel industry. They added that the march will highlight these places and demand action is taken, whether that is action from the companies, people, or both, to help the environment.
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Andy, a campaigner who attended today's march, said: "We're told by Government that they're going to be net zero by 2050 but we're going to need to move quicker than that. Even today, the sun is out, the sun is shining, we've got all this beautiful weather. Emergencies coming next week with the weather, this is not something that's going to go away.
"This is a code red for humanity. We have got a very small window of opportunity to make changes to how we run the world to keep everybody safe.
"Today we're here to raise awareness of that and let everybody know, make some music, make some sound and identify some locations that really could do with some change."
The march forms part of Extinction Rebellion's Summer Uprising campaign, which started with an audacious banner drop on Angel of the North. The campaign is said to be a chance for local people to communicate clearly to people in the North East about the Climate and Ecological Emergency that threatens our very existence.
Amy from XR Tyneside said: "Time is running out. The UK Government is paralysed with a political upheaval.
"However, the level of carbon dioxide continues to rise. The United Nations said in its most recent IPCC report that we have 'a brief and rapidly closing window of opportunity to secure a livable future'. We need action now - not when our Government finally starts functioning again."
She added: "Communities in the North East have always come together in times of hardship to fight for what is right and our Government has shown time and again that they would rather put profit before people and planet.
"It is time for us all to stand together in the face of a Government that fails to do its job in protecting us. Until it does, I refuse to be a good citizen and ask the people of the North East to join us in rebellion."
XR say they will continue actions until the UK Government agrees to implement Extinction Rebellion's immediate demand: to end all new fossil fuel infrastructure immediately.
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