Activists glue themselves to London train on third day of climate protests

N1

Climate change activists have demonstrated in London for the third straight day, as two protesters glued themselves to the roof of a train, others shut down major traffic routes and police confirmed they have made more than 300 arrests since Monday.

The Extinction Rebellion group organized the protests, seeking to highlight “disastrous inaction” on climate change.

Demonstrators have blocked some of central London’s main traffic arteries since Monday – including at Marble Arch, Parliament Square, Oxford Circus, Piccadilly Circus and Waterloo Bridge – and on Wednesday began a day of “light” disruption of the city’s overground train network.

A pair of demonstrators at Canary Wharf station, in the heart of one of London’s financial districts, glued themselves to the roof of a train and also unfurled a banner reading “Climate Emergency.” Police officers then climbed up onto the train to unstick the protesters, who were put into harnesses and gently lowered by the police to the station floor. A third protestor, who had glued his hand on the side of a train, was also removed in a short-lived yet polite protest.

Extinction Rebellion said that Wednesday’s transport disruption is called “The Pause,” which aims to “create moments in time when humanity stops and fully considers the extent of the harm we have done and are doing to life on earth.” The Wi-Fi network at underground stations in London has been switched off in an effort to prevent climate change activists from coordinating their protests, Britain’s Press Association reported.

Over 300 arrests

London’s Metropolitan Police confirmed on Wednesday morning that they have made over 300 arrests in relation to the protests since Monday.

Extinction Rebellion was braced for further arrests on Wednesday, after police imposed an order for protestors on Waterloo Bridge and Oxford Circus to continue their demonstrations in the Marble Arch area.

“We are in the process of moving demonstrators on Waterloo Bridge. Those that do not comply may be arrested,” officers said in a statement before a handful of protestors were bundled into police vans at the bridge blockade.

Extinction Rebellion say this set of protests will take place in at least 80 cities and more than 33 countries, including Boston, Denmark and Australia. The organizers hope London’s protests will continue for two weeks.

The group, which is founded by British activists, has three aims: to get governments to declare a “climate emergency,” reduce net greenhouse gas emissions to zero by 2025, and for citizens’ assemblies to lead the government on climate and ecological justice.

It is supported by a slew of academics, scientists and celebrities – including the former Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams, British actress Emma Thompson and American actor Willem Dafoe – has claimed that more than 3,000 people will take part in Wednesday’s protests.

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