Over 50 people attend a 'Heading for Extinction' talk by Victoria Valentine of Extinction Rebellion Stamford and Ben McCorty of Extinction Rebellion Grantham at the Scout Hut in Oakham
A town’s branch of the Extinction Rebellion movement say 20 new members have signed up to their group after a ‘Heading for Extinction’ talk.
The Stamford Extinction Rebellion group hosted the talk at the Scout Hut in Oakham on Saturday evening with Victoria Valentine, who set up the branch last August and Ben McCorty, from the Grantham branch.
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Over 50 people attended the meeting and heard about how this year is a crucial one for reductions in greenhouses gases otherwise it will become almost impossible to prevent global warming.
Ben McCorty said: “ The turnout for our Oakham ‘Heading for Extinction’ talk was superb indicating the increasing awareness of the public of the climate and ecological crisis.
“Lots of people signed up to Extinction Rebellion on the night which illustrated their concern and appreciation of the need for urgent action to protect the future of us, our children and everything living being on the planet.”
The new members have joined both Extinction Rebellion Stamford and the wider national group.
Victoria Valentine, a company director from Stamford, added: “Extinction Rebellion Stamford is one of thousands of groups springing up all over the country and the world.
“We are a non-violent, direct action protest group.
“We are committed to doing whatever we can to get the government to act now on the climate and ecological crisis before it is too late.”
Victoria had joined the Green Party 40 years ago and tried all of the usual routes to bring about a greener world.
She went on marches, held placards, signed petitions and wrote to MPs but felt none of this was making a difference so joined Extinction Rebellion and set up the Stamford Group.
Extinction Rebellion has three demands:
l The government must tell the truth by declaring a climate emergency.
1The government must act now to halt biodiversity loss and reduce greenhouse has emissions to bet zero by 2025.
l The government must create and lead a citizen’s assembly on climate change and ecological justice.
There are also plans to start an Oakham group of Extinction Rebellion if there is enough interest.
Anyone interested in setting up the Oakham group, to join the existing Stamford group or who wants to hear the talk by Victoria Valentine and Ben McCorty, should email xrstamford@protonmail.com.
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