Kettering Extinction Rebellion marks one year since council declared climate emergency

Extinction Rebellion members gathered outside Kettering Council and took part in a critical mass cycle to mark one year since councillors declared a climate emergency.

Kettering Council declared a climate emergency on July 24, 2019, but in the year since, Extinction Rebellion say they believe no progress has been made

April Wright, a climate and environment activist, said: "Members of Extinction Rebellion Kettering and other concerned individuals gathered outside the Kettering Council offices, chalking messages and pictures in the car park to highlight the fact that it is a year later and nothing meaningful has changed.

"Everyone who attended took turns to rate the progress of action of the council's promises offered in their October climate change report.

"The perception is that zero progress has been made on these and now appear to be empty promises."

Extinction Rebellion say they will not give up until the council respond and complete necessary actions.

The group said: "If action is not taken soon the climate emergency will be a catastrophic event that humanity will not survive."

After the demonstration, people took part in Kettering's first critical mass cycle ride, organised by Extinction Rebellion and the Northants Streets for All group.

A critical mass cycle is a form of direct action where a large number of riders cycle together. This brings safety in numbers and it is designed to attract more riders in the future.

Alison Holland from Northants Streets for All said: "It was wonderful to have so many people of different ages taking part and also to get such a good response from the people we passed.

"Some stood and watched, holding their children up to see or waved to us from their cars. We cycled up to and around the Pleasure Park from the town centre and must have looked quite a spectacle.”

Extinction Rebellion said transport is the biggest source of CO2 in the UK, so it was fitting to mark the climate emergency anniversary with a cycle event.

Elliott Sherbourne, 12, said: "I would love to see cycle-only lanes so it is safer and easier to get about everywhere."

His brother, George, 10, said: "It would be great if more poeple cycled."

The next Kettering Critical Mass cycling event will be on Friday, August 28 at 7pm. Anyone can join and can find out more at the Ketteing Critical Mass Facebook page.

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