YES, WE ARE ECO-HYPOCRITES
... AND DON’T FORGET ALL THE OTHER ‘GREEN’ CELEBS HAVING THEIR CAKE AND EATING IT
100 luvvies who back Extinction Rebellion own up about jet-setting – but insist they MUST speak out
CELEBRITY supporters of Extinction Rebellion yesterday admitted they are hypocrites for flying around the world while also urging the public to radically alter their lifestyles.
More than 100 high- profile names, including many from the arts world, used an open letter to accept that their industries result in huge carbon emissions.
But the group – including actors Jude Law, Sienna Miller, Benedict Cumberbatch and Steve Coogan – said that criticism would not silence them from warning people that ‘life on Earth is dying’.
The intervention came as hundreds of Extinction Rebellion activists brought chaos to the streets of London for a tenth day running.
The letter defending the group was addressed to the media and was released amid a growing political row as activists defied a hardline police order banning all protests.
The letter says: ‘Dear journalists who have called us hypocrites, you’re right. We live high carbon lives and the industries that we are part of have huge carbon footprints.
‘Like you – and everyone else – we are stuck in this fossil-fuel economy and without systemic change, our lifestyles will keep on causing climate and ecological harm.
‘There is, however, a more urgent story that our profiles and platforms can draw attention to.’ As well as recognised supporters such as Spice Girl Mel B, musician Jarvis Cocker and Sir Mark Rylance, the letter included a number of new backers for the group.
Actors Ray Winstone and Peter Capaldi were among the signatories, as were models Poppy Delevingne, Lily Cole and Daisy Lowe. Oscarwinning director Alfonso Cuaron was also included, alongside Radiohead singer Thom Yorke, Natalie Imbruglia, Talking Heads frontman David Byrne and the U2 bassist Adam Clayton. The 385-word letter said that ‘we are living in the midst of the 6th mass extinction’ and pointed to environmental warnings issued by the IMF and Sir David Attenborough.
It added: ‘The stories that you write calling us climate hypocrites will not silence us.’
Referencing school protests inspired by teenager Greta Thunberg, the group added: ‘We cannot ignore their call. Even if by answering them we put ourselves in your firing line.’
Authors Ian McEwan and Nick Hornby signed the letter, as did former Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams.
It added: ‘Thousands of ordinary people are risking their freedom by taking part in nonviolent civil disobedience. We’ve been inspired by their courage to speak out and join them.’
It came as the Metropolitan Police struck back at criticism from Labour for enforcing a ban on climate protests across the capital.
Deputy Assistant Commissioner Laurence Taylor, who is leading the policing of the demonstrations, said that the revised Section 14 order was ‘entirely lawful’. London Mayor Sadiq Khan led criticism of the move earlier this week, suggesting it could be seen as a measure to quash peaceful protest. Miss Thunberg added her voice to complaints over the crackdown, declaring online: ‘If standing up against the climate and ecological breakdown and for humanity is against the rules then the rules must be broken.’
But Mr Taylor said: ‘We consider this to be entirely reasonable, entirely proportionate and certainty lawful response to what has been huge disruption to London.’
Lawyers for Extinction Rebellion yesterday began a bid for a judicial review of the ban, claiming that it may not be legal. A further hearing will be held today.
Police issued a stern warning about the group’s plans to bring further chaos to London today by targeting the Underground, saying the plan is ‘wholly unacceptable’.
‘The rules must be broken’