Extinction Rebellion Mid Sussex highlight climate change and ecological collapse

They hosted a picnic in St John’s Park, Burgess Hill, on Sunday, August 30, and were joined by members from Sussex Green Living, Cycling UK, Burgess Hill Community Action Network (CAN), the Green Party and more.

A spokesman said: “We came together to demonstrate our unity and common concern in the face of climate and ecological collapse, and our hope that we can organise to do something about it.

“People gathered in St John’s Park from surrounding villages – even from East Grinstead and Crawley too.

“We organised to send photos and video messages to Mid Sussex District Council, which has scrapped its Sustainability and Climate Change Advisory Panel, after just two meetings, and to our local MPs, Mims Davies for Mid Sussex, Andrew Griffith for Arundel and South Downs, and Henry Smith for Crawley.

“We held discussion groups so that everyone present could use their voice to add to the chorus of environmental concern, and creative ideas for a hopeful future.”

Other activities on the day included a ‘pledge wall for commitment to personal action’, a spokesman said, clothes-printing with bees and butterflies, and a Tai Chi session from a local teacher.

Extinction Rebellion UK began a two-week programme of demonstrations on September 1, calling for MPs to agree to back the Climate and Ecological Emergency (CEE) Bill, which includes a roadmap to net zero carbon emissions by 2025.

There are more than 400 local XR groups in the UK. To get in touch with the Mid Sussex group, find them on Facebook or email [email protected].

Environment ‘is a priority’

Responding to the Extinction Rebellion activities in Mid Sussex, the district’s cabinet member for environment and service delivery John Belsey, said the environment remained a priority.

“Protecting our environment and tackling climate change is a priority for the district council and we always look to manage our processes, services and resources efficiently in order to minimise any environmental impacts of our work,” he said.

“To help the Mid Sussex economy recover from the coronavirus pandemic, we are looking to integrate our Economic Development and Sustainability strategies to enable us to provide support where it is most needed and to ensure we embrace a green recovery.”

Mid Sussex MP Mims Davies said: “It’s great to see so many people from Mid Sussex are passionate about protecting and enhancing our local environment. This came out in conversations I have had with constituents over the last few months, whether they are XR members or not.

“I have met with local groups including the Central Sussex Climate Network and lobbied ministers regarding fulfilling our manifesto commitments from the 2019 General Election which are ambitious and build on our world leading legislation to be a carbon neutral country by 2050.”

Crawley MP Henry Smith said: “It’s important to think globally and act locally and I am sure the Mid Sussex Extinction Rebellion demonstration was peaceful; however, I condemn the tactics deployed by Extinction Rebellion nationally which have sought to undermine vital press freedoms, disrupted environmentally sustainable mass transit systems in London and disrupted the life-saving work of our emergency services.”

A message from the Editor, Gary Shipton:

In order for us to continue to provide high quality and trusted local news, I am asking you to please purchase a copy of our newspapers.

With the coronavirus lockdown having a major impact on many of our local valued advertisers - and consequently the advertising that we receive - we are more reliant than ever on you helping us to provide you with news and information by buying a copy of our newspapers.

Our journalists are highly trained and our content is independently regulated by IPSO to some of the most rigorous standards in the world. But being your eyes and ears comes at a price. So we need your support more than ever to buy our newspapers during this crisis.

Stay safe, and best wishes.