Climate protesters Extinction Rebellion have set up a camp for four days from setting up a camp on Deansgate outside House of Fraser.
The group who brought the centre of London to a standstill back in April have declared a Northern Rebellion starting on the 30th August and are promising a peaceful, public uprising in the city centre which will include, talks, workshops, direct actions, big and small,as well as DJs, bands and performers.
The group have chosen Deansgate as it is one of the most polluted roads in Manchester with illegal levels of nitrogen dioxide and has been named as the city’s worst street for pedestrians.
Unlike other cities such as Edinburgh and Leeds, Manchester has not yet introduced car-free days nor will private cars be included in the forthcoming Greater Manchester Clean Air Zone say the group.
Claire, from Extinction Rebellion Manchester said:
“Most Greater Manchester boroughs and the GM Combined Authority have now declared a climate emergency. Every policy, including transport, is now supposed to consider its effects on our climate crisis and help cut carbon emissions.
Yet despite these statements little seems to change and we’re barely scratching the surface of the cuts we need to make. Manchester airport is still expanding(3), and millions are still being invested in major road developments that will increase car journeys, such as Great Ancoats Street in Manchester.” adding
We apologise in advance for any inconvenience, but this is a very small price to be paid in comparison to the threat to life we are facing. Unfortunately, years of polite campaigning and petitions have not worked, and we are left with no choice. We have been working with Greater Manchester Police to minimise disruption and they have been helping other agencies plan contingencies, and people plan alternative means to travel over this period.
The group have three demands The Government must tell the truth by declaring a climate and ecological emergency, working with other institutions to communicate the urgency for change and must act now to halt biodiversity loss and reduce greenhouse gas emissions to net zero by 2025.
The Governmentmust create and be led by the decisions of a Citizens’ Assembly on climate and ecological justice.
Manchester Council made the following statement
Manchester City Council respects people’s right to peaceful protest and has been working alongside Greater Manchester Police and other agencies to ensure they can demonstrate safely.
We declared a climate change emergency last month and we are determined to be at the forefront of tackling this critical issue. We have set an ambitious target of making Manchester a zero carbon city by 2038 or earlier – at least 12 years ahead of the national target – and we are working hard on a detailed action plan for how this will be achieved.
But in return for respecting the rights of protesters we expect that they respect the right of Manchester residents to go about their day-to-day business with minimal disruption. Manchester is used to events which bring an influx of people. We are working with GMP, Transport for Greater Manchester, CityCo and others to do all we can to minimise the impact on the city.
However, there is inevitably an element of unpredictably with potential for increases in some journey times and a dynamic situation. You can expect to see an increased police presence across the city centre and on public transport.
