CLIMATE protesters took to the streets of Herefordshire and Shropshire in a series of socially distanced demonstrations at the weekend.

The Extinction Rebellion demonstrators took their ‘Change Is Now – Decide Together’ message to the constituency offices of Herefordshire and Ludlow MPs, Jesse Norman, Bill Wiggin and Philip Dunne.

Ludlow Advertiser:

The group said change is urgent, that there can be no going back to previous harmful practices, and that recovery from Covid19 urgently requires critically important choices to be made, and are pressing MPs for a Citizens’ Assembly to decide on these.

It insists that recovery must prioritise people and planet over profit.

“We are at a turning point in history,” a group spokesperson said.

“The Government is driving a quick return to ‘normal’, but ‘normal’ was killing the planet and threatening all our futures. We now face a series of crucial choices going forward: will we choose to prioritise health and wellbeing, or continue to favour corporate profit? Make funds available to rescue people and planet, or bailout the destructive industries?

"To consider these choices it’s time to trust the people. We want mass participation, so as to avoid mass extinction! As a key to Covid19 recovery, we demand a binding Citizens’ Assembly on how to rebuild our economy, our democracy and our future.”

Ludlow Advertiser:

Local actions focused on constituency offices in Hereford's Broad Street, Leominster's Corn Square and Ludlow's Broad Street, with other events in Kington, Bishop’s Castle and Clun, with protestors stood silently outside each MP’s constituency office with placards.

A spokesperson said all actions were planned to comply with Covid-19 risk avoidance, with participants wearing masks and gloves and observing social distancing measures.