One of the XR posters currently around Hastings & St Leonards

XR demand climate action from HBC

Jane Loftin explains why XR are demanding immediate action on climate change from Hastings Borough Council.

Three years after declaring a climate emergency it’s clear that Hastings Borough Council is all talk, say the local chapter of Extinction Rebellion XRHSL, and when it comes to real action, they have simply ‘Sat on their hands’, citing, lack of funds. But once Climate Change crosses certain ‘tipping points’ we will not be able to do anything to stop it, time is running out.

Sir David King, former adviser to the government says ‘what we do over the next three to four years… will determine the future of humanity’. That means what we do NOW is vital.

So when councils and governments say we have no money to take action, XR say, we can’t afford not to take action. The council can borrow now, and pay back that debt over decades, but we will never be able to get back this short window of time, when what we do now can make a real difference.

In the words of Greta Thunberg ‘I want you to act as you would in a crisis.  I want you to act as if our house is on fire. Because it is.’ Davos, January 2019

3 opportunities to join XR actions in early February

• In order to highlight the seriousness of our collective futures, Extinction Rebellion will be staging an ‘action’ outside the old Debenhams, at midday on Saturday 5 February. Participants are asked to bring an old wooden chair to take part – it will be fun for all the family!
• On Monday 7 February HBC will be setting their budget for the next year. XR are concerned that if there is another budget without money allocated to reducing carbon, then there will be another year of ‘blah, blah, blah’, whilst the crisis deepens. They say serious initiatives are needed to tackle the Climate Crisis – whether that means setting up renewable energy schemes or insulating homes, these cost money. XR will be urging this council to ACT NOW and ask you to join them outside HBC, Muriel Matters House, near Iceland, on Monday 7 February at 5pm, prior to the council’s budget meeting.
• The full council will meet on Wednesday 9 February. XR are inviting anyone concerned about climate change to gather outside Muriel Matters house from 5pm to make their concerns heard.

Also in: Campaigns