The Time Is Now!
- PlasticAintFantastic
- Aug 2, 2019
- 3 min read
Scientists from Harvard University suggest we have as little as five years before the climate crisis effects human life, yet the UK political bill wants to reach net zero by 2050? The time is now is not a movement but a fact. An observation that cannot be ignored. There is simply no more time.
Members of plastic ain't fantastic attended the time is now mass lobby outside UK parliament yesterday. 12,000 protestors managed to put the pressure on and 200 MPs came outside to discuss with their individual constituencies what they are going to do to push forward movement on the climate crisis.
The sun was shining, I ate way too much free vegan ice cream and groups of school children were chanting and dancing as they were applauded by passers by. As I looked around I felt positive for the first time, music in the background and the intensity of the artwork and passion. The public isn't going to slow down. The pressure is going to build and we will get what we deserve. Peoples voices were heard loud and clear. Everyone has a different reason and experience for them being their; animal welfare, banning plastic, stopping the expansion of Heathrow, lobbying big companies for transparency but we all have the common need to save our planet and the human race.
Whilst there we were interviewed for an undergraduate’s dissertation, of which is going to be amazing btw. She asked me why I think the climate movement has caught so much attention and momentum. It's because the time is now, and extinction rebellion are groups with decentralised power. There is no hierarchy and this means it is accessible for anyone to be politically involved. Far too often do people shine away from exerting their true political potential for fear of misunderstanding, judgement and intellect. It all boils down to class discrimination in the political sphere we have at the moment but extinction rebellion welcome anyone who cares enough to create peaceful change with open arms. The climate movement doesn't care about wealth, ethnicity, age or political stance because none of this matters if our food and water runs out? If you've ever seen mad max well that’s what we're all thinking and it isn’t pretty...
So, after walking around to talk to MP's and fellow protestors the buzz died down and we all began to move out. I was walking back to Victoria coach station with my homemade banner tied to my backpack and I started to realise that here, running around like crazy hungry rats in London rush hour, are the hundreds of thousands of people that didn't protest today. Some looked at me with confusion, blankness and others shoved past me because I didn't have my London speed walk on. I am 5'2 it’s never gonna happen, I'm sorry.
Anyway, all of a sudden, I felt anxiety and sadness because Starbucks and costa still use unrecyclable plastic lids and the circle square is in the middle of being built up in Manchester. Things might change but probably not quick enough and I understand why people think they have no political voice or they buy that coffee cup or plastic bag because our individual actions are no match for billion-dollar oil companies who are in fact the real culprit. Whoever is reading this lil blog I just want you to know that you have the power to make change. We live in a democracy for a reason. If you begin to make change the likely hood is that you will inspire your friends to join you, they will inspire their families and the cycle goes on. We will then have this sense of purpose and mass community that the government cannot simply ignore. If you don't like the way the system works then do something, I'll join you! And if you genuinely don't believe in climate change by now then you really really need to stop watching those conspiracy theories... the earth isn't a fucking pancake.
Extinction rebellion will be continuing the protests and bringing change up north for the northern rebellion August 30th. Click on the link below for your invitation to the northern rebellion.
See you there.
Comments