Early this morning, rebels climbed the UK Welsh Office building in Cardiff, kicking off a week of Cardiff Rebellion. This follows on from our four days of action in Bristol, designed to highlight the role of the UK government in failing to take effective action on the climate crisis and protect the worst impacted areas of the UK.

The climbers have attached a banner calling for support for the Climate and Ecological Emergency Bill. This Bill has been drafted by an alliance of policy experts from Extinction Rebellion, the Big Ask campaign (which led to the Climate Change Act in 2008) and respected climate, energy and ecology academics. 

We’re calling on members of the public around the UK to lobby their Westminster MPs to support the swift introduction of the Bill, which will compel the UK government to ensure that the UK achieves specified objectives on climate change, ecosystems and biodiversity. The Bill sets out a framework for how this can be achieved, including establishing a Citizens’ Assembly to represent and actively involve people beyond Westminster.

From midday today, everyone is invited to join in the five days of Cardiff action, with a COVID-safe, socially-distanced gathering at Bute Park, followed by a march from Bute Park to the Welsh Office starting at 1pm.

From 3pm, rebels will target the offices of Cardiff’s four MPs to deliver letters calling on them to support the CEE Bill. The MPs have been contacted in advance and if an MP refuses the invitation to come out and discuss their level of commitment to policy change on climate crisis, “creative actions” will be taken to highlight their duty to clean up their act on environment issues. 

One of the Cardiff Rebellion coordinators, Macey Gray from Bethesda in North Wales says:

“The future starts now. As we emerge from lockdown the UK government should lead the world with a radical green recovery plan. Their current plans are failing lamentably to do that. They are failing UK citizens. 

“The Climate and Ecological Bill, if passed, would give the people of the UK the power to shape a future that looks beyond short-termist and tribal politics to create a future in which all life can thrive.” 

Today’s events

• 10am: Meet at Gorsedd Stone Circle, Bute Park
• 10am – 12pm: Set up camp in front of Cardiff City Hall
• 12pm – 1pm: Opening speeches / action briefing at Gorsedd Stone Circle, Bute Park
• 1pm – 5pm: ACTION! March To The Future: march from Bute Park to the Office of the Secretary of State for Wales. Mass letter writing and delivering to MPs. This will also include an Affinity Group Formation Workshop to get rebels into groups.
• 6pm – 7pm: Daily People’s Assembly
• 8pm – 9pm: Daily action briefing

COVID-19 and public safety

All of XR Bristol’s actions are designed to be inclusive, safe and family-friendly, with the movement taking every precaution to ensure the protests adhere to COVID-19 guidelines.

All supporters have been asked to come with masks and hand sanitiser, and to observe social distancing at all times. There will also be on-site sanitation stations, extra face masks available, and markings for safe distancing in the main stage area. All gatherings will take place outdoors with safety stewards onsite to support and promote COVID-safety around the clock.

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