Extinction Rebellion Lewes organises protest in town centre

Members of two major environmentalist groups walked through Lewes to protest against the UK's continued dependence on fossil fuels.

On Saturday (March 26) approximately 60 people from Extinction Rebellion Lewes (XR) and Ouse Valley, along with other community members and groups, began at Westgate Street at 11:30am and walked down the high street to Cliffe Precinct.

A spokesperson for the group said: "We talked to lots of people who are very concerned about the danger oil and gas put us in, whether it’s fuel poverty, war, pollution or climate change

"It’s becoming increasingly clear to nearly everyone that we are not safe with the government’s current policy to continue business as usual while the world burns.

"The first thing Boris Johnson did when Putin invaded Russia was go running to the Saudis for oil supplies. We shouldn’t be playing with these people. We should be protecting ourselves with massive investment in insulation, renewable energy and reducing the energy costs of our industry and transport- and making sure that people are supported through this."

Following the walk, a drama performance demonstrating the entailed tug of war between fossil fuels and renewable energy, took place at the Cliffe Precinct.

The performers wore imaginative head dresses representing coal, oil and gas versus electricity, wind and sun. This 'tug of war' aimed to highlight the £13.6 billion in subsidy and tax breaks for fossil fuel providers between 2016 and 2020.

The tug of war was followed by a talk from XR group member Mark Engineer.

In his speech, Mark said: "While so much focus has understandably been on Ukraine, we mustn’t forget Yemen, which has been going on far longer and caused far more deaths. These are very different conflicts but there is one clear commonality. Both are being waged by repressive, hugely powerful regimes whose wealth and power comes chiefly from oil and gas.

"And both are products of the same system. A system that’s fundamentally sick. And that sickness is the sickness of addiction. Our addiction to fossil fuels. And that’s why Extinction Rebellion is demanding an end to the fossil fuel economy. The UK government need to stop investment in fossil fuels right now. Only in this way can we break this cycle of addiction and destruction. "

Mr Engineer went on to call on the community to join Extinction Rebellion in it’s upcoming mass action in London starting on April 9.

He said: "It’s easy to feel helpless in the face of this barrage, this storm I often feel that way. We all do. But taking action is the most empowering thing we can do.".

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