Extinction Rebellion: The Big One is here to stay!

On April 21st, 2023, Earth Day weekend, London saw one of the biggest climate change protests in its history. The Big One, organized by the global activist group Extinction Rebellion, brought together thousands of people from all walks of life to demand action on climate change. Extinction Rebellion’s three core demands remain the same: Tell The Truth, Act Now and Decide Together. 

A four- day event filled with exciting events, get-togethers and community hubs for all to enjoy, Extinction Rebellion not only held one of the most important peaceful climate protests of our time, it set out to educate and demonstrate for a world where regenerating our planet is both possible and imperative. The streets were filled with excited families, young people passionate about our planet, and wise elders sharing moving tales. With activities and talks held all day by talented activities, scientists and allies, the crowd was address by supporters such as TV presenter Chris Packham, Insect Apocalypse author Dave Goulson, Jyoti Fernandes from Land Workers’ Alliance and Delia Mattis from Black Lives Matter, speaking on the current climate and ecological crisis as well as possible solutions. 

Organizers of The Big One called for a range of measures to tackle climate change, from reducing carbon emissions to divesting from fossil fuels. However, the fight for our planet is bigger than simply asking the “powers” of the world to change their standards of behavior. We need to start finding obtainable solutions together. The forces that serve to deplete our planet include over consumption, the overuse of natural resources without a global plan for regeneration and restoration, water scarcity, severe fires, rising sea levels, flooding, melting of the caps, and the loss of biodiversity, all correlated with anthropocentric activity. 

As the protests came to an end at 16.30 of April 24th, the groups gathered for The Finale to Picket Parliament if the Government did not commence discussions on the Demand. It was clear the British Government did not have a plan to respond, and are not acknowledging the importance of tackling this issue, dismissing climate change as a problem separate from governmental policy. 

The Big One serves  as a powerful reminder that together, we can all make a difference. When it comes to the future of our planet and our species survival, we can’t afford to be complacent about the climate crisis or the overarching issues dictated by multinational corporations, corrupt leaders and imbalanced systems of power. Rest assured, these rallies do not stop here. Extinction Rebellion is creating a momentum with over 670k followers on instagram, and these peaceful protests having a magnetic pull and power that leads to our voices being heard. They will continue to be a driving force in creating a better, more equitable world for people and the planet.

If you’d like to volunteer or contribute to Extinction Rebellion, have a look at their website for more info.