Almost 2000 concerned Glastonbury festival-goers have joined environmental advocates Extinction Rebellion and Greenpeace to protest global warming.
A procession across Glastonbury was staged on Thursday that aimed to pay respect to the Indigenous people who have worked so hard to avoid our current climate emergency.
“(Extinction Rebellion) is not a protest. It is not a campaign. It is a rebellion. We are in active rebellion against our government. The social contract is broken, the governments aren’t protecting us and it’s down to us now,” said Dr Gail Bradbrook from Extinction Rebellion.
Flags dressed with the extinction symbol were waved across the festival for an hour while the procession marched from the festival’s Park stage to its Stone Circle. Poignantly, the procession concluded with a human constructed representation of the Extinction Rebellion logo.
The 49th Glastonbury festival has made a conscious effort to push environmental issues to front and centre. Single-use plastics have been banned and 800 taps have been supplied for BYO drink bottles.
Greenpeace activist Rosie Rodgers passionately spoke to the Glastonbury protestors:
“I feel hopeful that all of us in all of our different movements and identities can come together and truly unite for what is the fight of our life to defend this planet,” she said. “And I also feel truly grateful for the brothers and sisters all over the world, especially those in the global south, the Amazon and other places, who have given so much to protect this planet.”
