Posted on 12/05/2009 1:10:25 PM PST by Libloather
Londoners turn blue for climate protest
Updated: 07:30, Sunday December 6, 2009
Thousands of people have painted themselves blue and marched through central London to call for action on climate change.
Two days before a crucial climate summit begins in Copenhagen, protesters decked themselves out in blue facepaint, eyeshadow, wigs and stockings and converged on Big Ben on a grey Saturday afternoon.
Organisers said 40,000 people took part while the Metropolitan Police put numbers at 20,000. Demand action until blue in the face,' one placard read, while others said quit dirty coal'.
The peaceful protest stopped traffic as it moved from Grosvenor Square past landmarks like Trafalgar Square and the houses of parliament at Westminster.
Cheering participants greeted the 3pm chimes of Big Ben with a communal wave of hands - many of them painted blue.
Mary Hallaway, a 77-year-old who travelled from Cumbria for the march, said the Copenhagen conference - and tackling climate change - are of 'enormous importance' to her.
I'm worried about Copenhagen but I'm not despairing, Dr Hallaway, dressed in a blue jumper and brooch, told AAP.
I think it will take time, it's too important to give up.
Some protesters told AAP they admired Australian PM Kevin Rudd's stance on climate change, while others berated Australia for not doing enough to reduce emissions and fostering the coal industry.
Marchers bore placards saying 'ban domestic flights' and jeered when planes flew overhead. But the mood was generally cheerful and family-friendly as marchers chatted, carried children on their shoulders, rode bicycles and dressed up as pandas and mother earth.
What do we want, climate justice, when do we want it, now, they chanted.
A police spokesman said he was not aware of any incidents or arrests.
The march was organised by Stop Climate Chaos, a coalition of non-government organisations including Oxfam and Greenpeace. The coalition called on rich countries to cut carbon emissions by 40 per cent by 2020 at Copenhagen - a more ambitious target than most leaders have accepted.
The Copenhagen summit, which runs for two weeks from Monday, is being held to forge a new agreement to tackle climate change.
That's proving a difficult task as countries struggle to agree on who should do what. The UK has taken a leading role in pushing for ambitious action on climate change, particularly on the hot topic of funding for poorer nations.
The EU has promised to cut emissions by 20 to 30 per cent by 2020, which is among the most ambitious pledges on the table for Copenhagen.
An environmental activist is in a white animal suit, as environmental campaigners gather in Glasgow, Scotland, Saturday Dec. 5, 2009, to call on the government to push for a meaningful deal at the upcoming UN climate change summit in Copenhagen. The protest entitled the Wave March was part of a series of events taking place around Europe today and was joined by political and environmental leaders. (AP Photo / Danny Lawson, PA)
I suggest that they hold their collective breaths until they are a permanent blue. That will save on CO2 and that awful paint pollution.
They are protesting the Earth and the Sun’s natural changes through the eons. It’s hard to relate to such an ignorant, small minded, self centered mentality.
In a perfect world? Cyanosis.
Oh, FFS. Get a grip, you loons!
"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find only things evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelogus
LOL.
Or that you’re “cold.” Meanwhile, they want Copenhagen to restrict activity to prevent AGW, allegedly.
When this started, according to Hillary: Gore's campaign is aimed at young people to get them active in politics.
We can see the result in this crowd of the indoctrination: Kids without minds of their own!!
Climate Change.
Thy end is Nigh!
Bwhahahahah!
Ni! Ni! Ni!
The older, smarter folks are sitting in front of a nice, warm **GASP** wood fire.
Here protestors paint yo face with
some of this here Gentian Violet
it’s all natural, and organic too.
Lord, I’ll have to remember that if they do something
like that here. I could have a stand with
Organic, all natural face painting,
$5.
I’d be rich and laughing all the way to
the gas station.
They need the young, inexperienced minds. Misdirecting youthful discontent in the population at large.
Attack of the Smurfs!
Notice how the signs are all professionally made? Someone is trying to protect their investment in this scam!
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