By Laura Parnaby, PA
Stephen Fry has voiced support for the Extinction Rebellion protests which aim to occupy parts of central London from next week in the name of climate change.
In a video shared on Twitter, the actor and comedian praised the group for attempting to “make politicians really recalibrate, realign, revolutionise politics” through their “mucky” and “disruptive” demonstrations.
Extinction Rebellion activist Zoe Blackler said that this year’s protest will involve “occupations, targeted action and marching” in London, and the group’s main demand is that the UK government stops all new investment in fossil fuels.
"It's going to be a heck of a fight, but unless we get together it's a fight we'll lose. So here's to you XR" @stephenfry
From Monday let's pull together to demand the impossible and pressure those in power to #ActNow in the face of the #ClimateEmergency.#ExtinctionRebellion pic.twitter.com/uz9D2L71fD
— Extinction Rebellion UK 🌍 (@XRebellionUK) August 20, 2021
In the two-minute video shared by Extinction Rebellion, Mr Fry, 61, said: “I know Extinction Rebellion, XR, are mucky and they make a fuss, they’re loud, they’re disruptive, they sometimes throw paint and other such things and they block traffic.
“But what else is going to make politicians really recalibrate, realign, revolutionise politics so that it faces the horrors of climate change and all the damage we’re doing to our planet?
“It’s a very complex and very difficult situation, but unless we recognise that everything has to change then nothing will change, it seems to me.
“I know that you can point the finger of hypocrisy at everybody who owns an object and drives a car, but we’re all going to have to re-think the way we live our lives and the way we dispose of all the things we buy and the way society works.
“It’s much better if we think about it together and without enmity, but understanding a common purpose for the common good – is that so much to ask?
Extinction Rebellion will kick off demonstrations in central London from Monday, with their main demand this year being to ask the Government to stop new investments in fossil fuels (Luciana Guerra/PA).
London's Metropolitan Police force said it is engaging with Extinction Rebellion leaders on Friday, two days before the protests are due to begin in Trafalgar Square in central London.
They added that three similar demonstrations by the group in 2019 and 2020 cost more than £50 million (€58 million) to police in total, and that millions more will be spent in the response to this year’s demonstration.
