POLICE POUR COLD WATER ON PROTEST
A FIERY protest fizzled out on Wednesday when police dunked a bucket of water over a burning pram outside Parliament House.
Extinction Rebellion protesters dressed up as Scott Morrison, Barnaby Joyce, and Susan Ley gathered around the fire to “barbecue the future” of younger generations.
Police informed them it was illegal to light fires outside Parliament House, and when they refused to move on, officers doused the flames themselves.
Activist Lillian Brinken said the group were ramping up their protests in the lead-up to the Conference of Parties summit next week.
“We’re concerned about the net zero by 2050 targets the coalition has adopted,” Ms Brinken said. “It’s woefully inadequate. It is too little too late. Climate change is not happening in 30 years, it’s happening now.”
Meanwhile, two hunger strikers at Parliament Lawns have given in and broken their fasts, with two activists still holding steadfast for their seven-day protest.
The Extinction Rebellion environmentalists just need to hold out until 6pm on Thursday, which will mark the final day of their week-long hunger strike.
Jacqui McElwee managed to last four days without food, but threw in the towel on Tuesday.
“I’m a registered nurse and I have to go to work tomorrow, and I need to be responsible and functioning properly,” she said.
“That’s my reasoning for finishing my fast.”
Sharee McCammon said she was craving for some asparagus, but was determined to stick it out until the very end.
Some “keyboard warriors” said they were going to taunt the protesters with buckets of KFC, but Ms McCammon said none of them had actually followed through.
She said she was a little woozy, but was otherwise feeling good about the level of support they’d been getting from members of the public.
“Yesterday was really hard. I was feeling nauseous and weak, but feeling positive about the response we’re getting from people who understand just how serious our situation is,” she said.
Micah Landon-Lane said he was looking forward to Thursday afternoon, when they would be holding their celebratory picnic.