Extinction Rebellion and supporters set up tents on Parliament House lawns
Extinction Rebellion Australia, 25 Oct 2021
Extinction Rebellion are occupying the lawns at the front of Parliament House demanding politicians quit their #COPout on climate action. They plan to stay and are appealing to others to join them.
On Sunday night XR ACT and supporters set up tents on the lawns at Parliament House to sounding the emergency alarm. They plan to occupy until a political representative from each political party comes to speak with them about the climate and ecological emergency. The occupiers are grandparents, parents and youth, demanding meaningful political commitment to climate emergency action on the cusp of the COP26 international climate talks.
Net zero emissions by 2050 is too little too late, and the strongest possible climate action is needed by 2030. Net zero by 2050 while expanding gas and coal is a fraud. Our democracy is broken. A handful of climate-emergency denialist National Party parliamentarians are holding our future to ransom. The fate of humanity and the millions of animals we share the planet with hang in the balance while the politicians continue to deny and delay.
The occupation of the lawns in front of Parliament follows a successful week of creative actions in Canberra and around the country, focussed on the climate duty of care and code red for humanity. There were giant koalas pleading to be saved from extinction, 'Scomo' and 'Sussan Ley' were arrested, black 'anti fossil fuel frackers' performed with fake dead children buried in coal, and tent embassy elders led a parade of ghost prams.
There were about a dozen arrests during the week, including several ebels who had not risked arrest before. A walking empty pram vigil was held all day every day at the Parliamentary forecourt.
Others are invited to sign up for a vigil shift this week. Campers and visitors are also welcome (BYO camping gear). Contact xr-act-admin@protonmail.com to find out more. Follow XR ACT on Facebook for updates.