9 The Archer - www.the-archer.co.uk DECEMBER 2019 Climate change protests: what are they like from the inside? Protests by Extinction Rebellion (XR) activists have become a part of city life this year, most recently in October when a number of London locations were occupied. Augusta Hall is a receptionist at Muswell Health Centre and volunteered as an XR steward in Trafalgar Square. Here’s her diary of the event. Stewards are responsible while police tried but failed to for keeping rebels and the stop them. Rebels moved all public safe. We observe, around the scaffold. Two sat in listen and answer many the road alongside, each with questions. On site we famil- an arm locked into a long tube between them, soon decorated iarise ourselves with where with XR stickers. The rebels everything is: for example, at the top, were chanting and all exits, toilets, welcome waving XR flags. A banner was and wellbeing tents, and unrolled across the junction. where to access working I was reminded of the tre- groups such as de-esca- mendous power of non-violent lation, police liaison and direct action. Over the next 12 arrestee support. We help days and a night, I joined the keep cycle lanes open, and Rebellion daily. always assist emergency Stewards spend a lot of time vehicles through an action dealing with lost property, and or site. this wet October the property Safety is paramount. On the was sodden. Every piece is Massed ranks: Protesters in Trafalgar Square in October. Extinction March we spaced recorded, and crossed off when ourselves all along between reunited with its owner. With ing, due to the togetherness of traffic and people. Wearing high long hours on site, in the rain, it people around. People were vis, we are often the first point might have been miserable but kind, and took care of each of contact for the public, and are it wasn’t at all. It was inspir- other. Ricky Savage ... ready to explain the protest, as “The voice of social irresponsibility” well as showing understanding for the frustration of people’s …and what it’s like to be Pray for a power cut journeys being disrupted. Well, it’s that time of year again: time for the turkey, booze, We encouraged a sombre tantrums and overspending. And when it comes to turkeys tone to the march. After all, it arrested as a Rebel was about the extinction of all By Daphne Chamberlain I’m not just talking about the bird. Christmas is worse than creatures and nature. This isn’t East Finchley’s Hazel Mason was also in Trafalgar Square, that, especially when you’re talking music and movies. always adopted by the march- Once upon a time music meant carols and tuneless singing, where she was arrested on the first day. It was a difficult until the wonderful world of pop music got in on the act and made ers, as people like to be loud, personal journey for Hazel, a retired actor, making her singing and chanting. it worse. Back in 1964 Elvis gave you a Blue Christmas and all realise that she is essentially a law-abiding person. Dora Bryan wanted for Christmas was a Beatle, though who knows Trafalgar Square She told The Archer: “I Police lifted her up, and what she was going to do with him. But once you hit the 70s John On Monday 7 October my didn’t want to dissipate police drove her and her friend away Lennon got all sanctimonious and Mud showed how naff you could day began at 7.30am. Because resources or to hamper people’s from the Square. They found the get in 1974 with Lonely this Christmas, leaving everyone hoping we didn’t know how things movements, but sometimes police very pleasant, and they for a power cut. would play out, we stationed civil disobedience is the only were not charged. From there it went downhill all the way, particularly when Cliff ourselves in twos about the way to make an impact. I saw There is still a common was involved with such dross as Mistletoe and Wine and the awful square at different roads. younger people facing arrest, belief that Rebels are “just kids”, Millennium Prayer. The Darkness gave a heavy metal experience I was on the junction with the even though that could damage but Hazel told us that there is and, in 2004, Morrissey released I Have Forgiven Jesus. I wonder if Strand. The Mall was blocked, their careers or their immigra- a huge group of professional Jesus has forgiven Morrissey. I haven’t. And I still haven’t mentioned due to building work, but cars, tion status.” people in their 30s, 40s and 50s Band Aid… buses, lorries and pedestrians Together with an elderly in the membership. Plans are So let’s hit the popcorn and go to the Christmas movies. You’ve were rolling through the rest friend with mobility problems, already afoot to contact schools, got the classics like It’s a Wonderful Life and Scrooge, the modern of the Square. When the action she lay down on the road along- particularly in the science field. greats like Trading Places and Carol, but they’re a few pearls scat- happened, it was so fast. side fellow-members who had Last month, Hazel herself tered amongst the swine. My junction was taken by glued themselves to the ground made headlines by launching a We’ve had Love Actually, with Hugh Grant doing his mutant cross five or more rebels running into or to scaffolding. She says: Facebook group for XR Grand- between Tony Blair and David Cameron and Kate Winslet going rom the middle of the road with a “They were brave. I wasn’t parents outside Buckingham com in The Holiday. And this year we don’t so much hit the bottom wheeled, free standing scaffold. prepared to do that.” Palace. of the barrel as come out through the other side. Yes, folks, Last They clambered up to the top Christmas, a movie that combines 80s pop and sentimentality, is here. For some reason George Michael’s sentimental 80s pop song has been bolted onto a film with the most sentimentally contrived plot twist in decades. It’s got the dragon mother from Game of Thrones, the bloke from Crazy Rich Asians and Emma Thompson proving she can cook up a turkey with the worst of them. Time to bring back the great British TV tradition of back-to-back Bond films and The Great Escape or, failing that, give me a proper 70s’ power cut. That will THE BEST IN PRIVATE GENERAL & COSMETIC DENTAL CARE switch everything off.

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