G7 Day 1: Sound the Alarm – road blocks, samba and indigenous groups
June 16, 2021
Day 1 where our XR Scotland rebels help Sound the Alarm for climate justice and highlighting the disastrous consequences of the G7’s broken promises for people.
Several buses full of Extinction Rebellion activists drove into St Ives town centre on the morning of Friday the 11th of June, the first day of the 2021 G7 summit. Roadblocking teams were the first to organise, and set out to repurpose road signs and redirect traffic. One organiser explained that roadblocks were needed to keep rebels safe during the procession from St Ives Leisure Centre car park to Carbis Bay beach, as well as to reduce inconvenience to the public by rerouting traffic away from the march.
Before setting off, rebels gathered to listen to speeches, reminders of Covid precautions and water safety, and invitations to pray and set intentions for the day ahead. Members of indigenous groups at the front lines of the climate disaster, who are also part of Extinction Rebellion’s G7 delegates, were among the speakers addressing the crowd.
The march began at 12.30pm, led by a team of samba drummers. These were followed by dancers, singers, a “shoal of fish”, a papier maché whale skeleton, a bathtub for “greenwashing”, one group carrying suitcases and dressed as climate refugees, Black Lives United, as well as individuals and families sporting homemade props and costumes.
Tourists relaxing in pubs and cafes around Carbis Bay, and a mixture of enthusiastic and disgruntled local residents watched and photographed as the procession wound its way through St Ives town centre. A moment of silent contemplation was held before the procession finally landed at Carbis Bay beach, and where they were greeted by the ominous sight of the HMS Tamar naval ship lurking in the distance.
Rebels carrying flags formed a path to send off the Extinction Rebellion delegates, who hoped to be welcomed into the Carbis Bay Hotel to discuss the future of their native lands with the G7 leaders.
More information about Sound the Alarm
Support from Scotland
Joe, XR Glasgow University: “I’m really inspired by the dedication of the activists travelling down to Cornwall to take part in the G7 protests. The leaders of wealthy countries still aren’t taking the climate and ecological emergency seriously and continue to put profit before people’s safety and wellbeing in their national policies and international diplomacy.
“I hope that the protests will send a clear message to the G7 leaders but, more importantly, to the citizens of G7 nations and the rest of the world about the catastrophic failure of the current system and the urgent need for radical climate action.”
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