LONDON: Two environmental activists climbed onto the roof of a train in London’s Canary Wharf financial district on Wednesday as part of a third day of action to force Britain to take more radical measures to avert climate change, reports Reuters.
The Extinction Rebellion group has ratcheted up its protests in recent weeks, blocking Marble Arch, Oxford Circus and Waterloo Bridge, smashing a door at the Shell building and shocking lawmakers with a semi-nude protest in parliament.
Nearly 300 people have been arrested so far this week after campaigners blocked some of the capital’s most iconic locations, many camping in tents on the streets.
The group advocates non-violent civil disobedience to force governments to reduce carbon emissions and avert what it says is a global climate crisis that will bring starvation, floods, wildfires and social collapse.
A man dressed in a dark suit and a woman wearing a black jacket stood on the roof of a train at the Docklands Light Railway (DLR) station in Canary Wharf, holding a banner which read: “Climate Emergency. Act Now.”
Some passengers shouted at the pair to get off whilst police headed for the scene. Another activist glued himself to one of the trains.
Transport for London said there were minor delays on a branch of DLR services “due to a customer incident” at Canary Wharf. British Transport Police said they had arrested one man on suspicion of obstructing the railway.
Extinction Rebellion said such direct action was important to bring about change.
“As with a labor strike, economic disruption is key in forcing the government to come to the table and negotiate our demands,” they said on their website.London Mayor Sadiq Khan had urged protesters to avoid targeting the city’s public transit system.
“It is absolutely crucial to get more people using public transport, as well as walking and cycling, if we are to tackle this climate emergency,” Khan said. The protests have cost over 12 million pounds ($16 million)to businesses in London’s West End, famous for its theaters and shops, with some seeing a 25 percent drop in sales and footfall.