Protest: ‘Normal is killing us’
ENVIRONMENT campaigners will stage a socially-distanced protest at Halifax town hall this Saturday as part of a national protest.
Extinction Rebellion Calderdale will be joining groups throughout the country on May 30 in demanding a Citizens Assembly is instituted after the COVID-19 pandemic is over.
They are demanding that “normal” must not totally return if climate change issues are not tackled and argue “people and the planet” should be prioritised over profit in the recovery from the pandemic.
The Calderdale group will be staging their protest at Halifax Town Hall from noon at the same time as other events up and down the county including Parliament Square in London. Extinction Rebellion Calderdale member Bob - members do not give their surnames - who is from Todmorden said the protests have been carefully designed so that people are physically distanced at three metres apart, with everyone being asked to wear masks in order to take part and stand silently for one hour.
In their Facebook posting about the event, the group says: “We are at a turning point in human history.
“The Government is driving a return to ‘normal’ as quickly as possible. But ‘normal’ is killing us.
“Our Government has a choice; prioritise profit or prioritise health. Bailout destructive industries or bailout people and the planet. Mass extinction or mass participation. As part of coronavirus recovery, we demand a binding Citizens Assembly on how to rebuild our economy, our democracy and our future.”
Bob said: “Normal is destroying our eco-systems and our health. The coronavirus has shown us what’s possible when the “We know one thing for sure: There can be no going back to the way things were.”