Extinction Rebellion march from Home Office to BAE Protesting militarism

Extinction Rebellion and XR Peace are marching from the Home Office to BAE Systems to highlight the links between the climate crisis, the UKs racist immigration policies, and the arms trade, in solidarity with climate and war refugees. 

Activists assembled at the Home Office, in Cessnock in Glasgow before marching to BAE Systems boatyard on Govan Road, in the Govan area of the city.

The event features speakers from Faslane Peace Camp, XR Peace, CND, and participants in Greenham Common Women’s Peace Camp.

Meanwhile in Worcestershire, Extinction Rebellion Midlands have blocked the arms fair at the Three Counties Showground in Malvern. Four gates have been blocked by protestors sitting on top of bamboo structures. Sixteen further protesters are locked into heavy concrete blocks in front of the entrances. Other activists are reported to have entered the showground compound.

World military spending rose to almost $2 trillion in 2020 (Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) [1] . Yet the world spent less, $501.3 billion in 2020, on renewable power, electric vehicles and other technologies to cut the global energy system’s dependence on fossil fuels [2].

Britain’s military-industrial sector annually emits more greenhouse gases [3] than 60 individual countries, such as Uganda, which has a population of 45 million people.

Poorer countries suffer a huge injustice in climate and conflict. Of the 20 countries deemed most vulnerable to climate change, 12 are mired in conflict [4].

Douglas Renshaw of XR Glasgow said, “Our governments have allowed spending on arms to outstrip spending on climate solutions. They’ve created a brutal world where many face conflict over ravaged resources. Their gross negligence is allowing climate chaos to create more war.

“Climate chaos will increase the risk of conflict, social instability and fighting over resources. Climate chaos creates conflict while arms companies and their shareholders benefit.”

Editors Notes

[1] World military spending rises to almost $2 trillion in 2020
https://sipri.org/media/press-release/2021/world-military-spending-rises-almost-2-trillion-2020

[2] Spending on Global Energy Transition Hits Record $500 Billion
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-01-19/spending-on-global-energy-transition-hits-record-500-billion

[3] UK military and arms companies produce more carbon emissions than 60 individual countries
https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2020-05-19-exclusive-uk-military-and-arms-companies-produce-more-carbon-emissions-than-60-individual-countries/

[4] Seven things you need to know about climate change and conflict
https://www.icrc.org/en/document/climate-change-and-conflict

Data on global CO2 Emissions: https://www.iea.org/articles/global-co2-emissions-in-2019

Info on threat of extinction: https://www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/blog/2019/05/nature-decline-unprecedented-report/

What we risk without change: https://extinctionrebellion.uk/the-truth/the-emergency/part-5/#What-will-our-world-look-like-by-the-end-of-the-century