London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Sunday, May 11, 2025

Thousands pack central London in ‘The Big One’ environmental protests

Thousands pack central London in ‘The Big One’ environmental protests

Wildlife presenter Chris Packham was among those to join protesters from 200 organisations

Thousands of demonstrators descended on central London on day 2 of four days of environmental protests dubbed ‘The Big One’.

More than 200 groups including Extinction Rebellion are in the capital with a shared message calling for more action on climate change.

Many marched through the streets brandishing placards demanding governments across the globe step up their efforts to bring in policies to protect the planet.

Wildlife presenter Chris Packham made a rallying call for “every last person who cares” as he joined the demonstrators on Saturday.

The 61-year-old broadcaster spoke to the crowd from a stage close to Parliament Square, Westminster.

Around 50,000 people are expected to join the action between April 21-24, which has support from more organisations including Greenpeace and Friends of the Earth.

On Saturday, which is also the 53rd global Earth Day, Packham told protesters their “mission” was to “build as wide a community as possible”.

He said: “Our planet is in crisis and if we don’t take action then we will not protect that life, which includes us.

“One thing is clear and that is that we need to step up… We want every last person who cares to get involved, because caring is not enough.”

Packham commended two Just Stop Oil protesters who were jailed on Friday after scaling the Dartford Crossing bridge in Kent for “sacrificing” their freedom through the “enormous act of bravery”.

Morgan Trowland, 40, was imprisoned for three years over the stunt, while Marcus Decker, 34, was jailed for two years and seven months.

Extinction Rebellion demonstrators take part in a rally in London


By contrast to this protest, “The Big One” aims to cause minimal disruption so that it is accessible to all, and many activists attended with their children to inspire the next generation to join their ranks.

Edwina Lawson, 42, who was at Parliament Square with her children – aged three and six, said XR’s protests were “easier” for families to support than Just Stop Oil, but she felt more radical activists were “very very brave”.

The GP from Tottenham, north London, told the PA news agency: “Like everyone else, I’m really really concerned that the powers that be are not paying attention to the climate crisis and things are getting worse.”

Indicating to her children, she said: “They’re the ones who are going to inherit the lack of care that’s being taken now.

“I think there’s so much positive that could be done about the energy that we use, and you could create so many jobs through renewables and I think changing energy sources is the number one demand.”

Veteran XR protester Jo Clark, 39, also from Tottenham, said she felt “heartened to see so many people come out in support”.

Ms Clark, who works in the arts and was holding her one-year-old toddler, said schools were failing to teach children about climate change and she wanted the Government to “buck up and deal with it”.

She told PA: “There’s still plenty of opportunity to deal with the climate crisis and it’s not being done by central Government in any way, shape or form.

“We declared a climate emergency in legislation but there is nothing that’s being done to meet those targets.

“We’re continuing to licence new gas and oil which is going to continue to drive us over the edge… It is scary, but buck up and deal with it.”

Beyond Parliament Square, thousands more activists staged a “die-in” by laying on the pavement at The Mall – aiming to represent the potential future extinction of humanity due to global warming.

Many people also wore fancy dress, including the distinctive red-robed army of XR protesters who frequently turn up to the protests, while others wore masks depicting the King, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, and various animals.

London Mayor Sadiq Khan said he “passionately believes that this climate emergency has got to be tackled” and urged XR to “protest in a way that is peaceful, lawful and safe”.

On Sunday, protesters will share the capital’s streets with tens of thousands of runners taking part in the TCS London Marathon.

Mr Khan said he hopes the sporting event is “a huge success” and that “there is no disruption by XR or anybody else”.

XR has said it has worked with TCS organisers to ensure the marathon will not be disrupted.

Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
Trump fires director of U.S. Copyright Office, sources say
Retired British police officer arrested over ‘thought crime’ tweet
Cardinal Robert Prevost Elected as Pope Leo XIV, Marking a Historic Papacy
Newark Mayor Ras Baraka Arrested at ICE Facility Amid Congressional Visit
India-Pakistan conflict may be first test for Chinese military tech
Bill Gates Announces Plan to Wind Down Philanthropic Foundation and Disperse Wealth
Historic Papal Conclave Set to Commence in Rome
Huge Copper, Gold, and Silver Discovery in Argentina and Chile — But the Profits Go Abroad
Prince Harry is pleading for reconciliation — but the royals are just as sick of his victimhood as everyone else
The Road to Freedom: She Protested Putin, Escaped House Arrest, and Survived a 2,800-Kilometer Journey
OpenAI's Flip-Flop: No Longer Going Commercial, Back to Nonprofit, After Musk Lawsuit and Backlash
“Trump Supporter” Aims to Bring a MAGA-Style Shift to Romania
First From China: Zhao Xintong Wins the Snooker World Championship
Nvidia Faces Billion-Dollar Losses – Warns: China Is on Its Way to Becoming an AI Superpower
Trump Rules Out Third Term, Names JD Vance and Marco Rubio as Potential Successors
Mexico Says ‘No’ to U.S. Troops: President Sheinbaum Rejects Trump’s Offer to Fight Cartels
Nigel Farage’s Reform UK Storms the Map, Wrecking the Two-Party Monopoly
DOGE: Reimagining Government Operations with AI
Common Sense Returns to Britain's Legal System: UK Supreme Court Declares a Woman Is… a Woman
Beijing Says U.S. Is ‘Reaching Out’ for Tariff Talks Amid Soaring Trade Tensions
U.K. Court Rejects Prince Harry’s Final Appeal Over Police Security
Prince Harry’s Heartfelt Outburst Rocks the Royal Family
Trump Shares AI-Generated Image of Himself as… Pope, Prompting Outrage Reaction
Transgender Swimmer Secures Five Gold Medals at U.S. Masters Championship
Prince Harry: “I Want Reconciliation with My Family”
Germany's Alternative für Deutschland (AfD) party has now been officially labeled “right-wing extremist” by the federal office for the so-called “protection of the constitution.”
Amazon Launches Satellite Internet Service Amidst Competition with SpaceX
Transformative Changes in Women's Wrestling: The Rise of WWE Superstars
The Rush to the White Gold: Global Investment Surge in Natural Hydrogen Exploration
This is a day in Spain without electricity and internet
Reform UK Surprises in British Elections, Challenging Traditional Two-Party System
180-Year-Old Christian University in South Carolina Announces Closure Due to Unmet $6 Million Fundraising Goal
Brazilian Woman Jailed for Fourteen Years for Writing “You Lost, Idiot” on Statue During Protest
Trump Administration Removes National Security Adviser Mike Waltz Amid Signal Chat Controversy
Dutch Politician Eva Vlaardingerbroek Receives Spyware Threat Alert from Apple
Paramount Board Considers Settlement in Trump’s $20 Billion Lawsuit Over "60 Minutes" Interview
U.S. Economy Shrink in Trump’s First Quarter as Tariff Policy Raises Questions
Deadline Looms for RTS Meter Replacement: Hundreds of Thousands at Risk of Heating Disruption
Sweden Grapples with Deadly Gun Violence: Suspect Arrested After Three Young Men Killed in Uppsala Hair Salon
Walz Reveals Why Harris Chose Him as Her Running Mate and Reflects on Democratic Losses
Spain Restores Power After Unprecedented Nationwide Blackout
Carney Secures Liberal Mandate in Canada’s Federal Election
Death Penalty Sought as Luigi Manion Pleads Not Guilty in CEO Murder Case
President Trump contacts Jeff Bezos after reports of Amazon considering listing tariff surcharges; company clarifies no such plan for main platform
Spain and Portugal Recover from Massive Blackout
Liverpool Clinches Record-Equalling 20th English League Title Under Arne Slot
Singapore Politicians Warn Against Foreign Interference in Election
Driver Ploughs into Vancouver Festival Crowd, Killing Nine
Depression, Fear of Defamation, and a Tragic End: New Details on Virginia Giuffre’s Suicide
“Sharia for UK, Allah Akbar!”
×