Representatives from Extinction Rebellion Athlone joined several hundred protesters in Dublin this week calling for action on climate change.
The action is part of Rebellion Week, an international event organised by ExtinctionRebellion. Similar peaceful protests are taking place in capital cities around the world.
Protesters who came to Dublin by train from all over the country marched from Heuston Station to Leinster House. A mock funeral for the planet was held outside the gates of the Dáil and a campsite was set up in Merrion Square, which included a kitchen, a canteen and a play area for families with children. The event will conclude on Sunday, with each day having a different environmental theme.
Aisling and Darragh Connaughton of Extinction Rebellion Athlone travelled to Dublin with their four-month-old daughter Beth.
“I would encourage anyone that wants to get involved in Rebellion Week to head for Merrion Square any or every morning for 11am. The atmosphere at base camp is friendly and relaxed. Guards are there and are very helpful and respectful. Many people, including families, are attending. There will be a meeting each morning and people from Extinction Rebellion Ireland will give you information about what the plan is each day and how you can get involved. There’s something for everyone to do. The important thing is to get involved. The time for action is now!,” Darragh emphasised.
Another member, Julie O’ Donoghue, also attended the protest with her children. She was critical of the Irish Government’s response to date.
“Our Government is still granting gas exploration licenses and subsidising fossil fuels. They are pushing for Shannon LNG, a liquified natural gas terminal, to import fracked gas from the US, which would lock us into decades more of fossil fuels. They are also blocking environmental legislation, such as the Climate Emergency Measures Bill. Extinction Rebellion is calling on our government to tackle the climate and biodiversity emergencies and to ensure a just transition to a low-carbon economy,” Julie commented.
For more information or to get involved, contact 087 2640589 or contact Extinction Rebellion Athlone on Facebook.
