Extinction Rebellion’s ‘Red Brigade’ marched through Falmouth and demonstrators occupied a McDonald’s as they called for action on climate change in a G7 protest today.
The group’s co-founder Dr Gail Bradbrook was among those who took part in the march that included figures wearing lifelike papier mache masks of the world leaders at the Cornwall summit.
More than 1,000 protestors dressed as the grim reaper, suffragettes and others hidden beneath the costume of a Chinese dragon made their way from Kimberley Park though the centre of the seaside town.
Seven figures dressed as the G7 leaders led the march with the Boris Johnson character enthusiastically copying his hand movements.
The Red Rebel Brigade, who walk silently with their hands upturned, followed. Six people carried a giant globe through the streets as protestors handed out leaflets to locals who had stood on the pavement to watch.
Six people also carried a giant globe through the streets as protestors handed out leaflets to locals who had stood on the pavement to watch.
It comes on day two of the G7 summit which will see leaders discuss building resilience to future crises, consider foreign policy and then decide on their response to Covid-19.
The only sign of disruption came with a splinter group called Animal Rebellion who occupied a McDonald’s branch on the outskirts of the town.
Police stood watch as the protestors, mostly teenage girls, occupied all the tables and prevented families from eating inside at the fast food restaurant.
The protestors, who were all vegan, demanded that the chain switch from serving meat hamburgers to plant based ones.
It follows demonstrators setting sail on a flotilla of paddleboards, boats and kayaks earlier today as they gathered in the shallow waters off Gyllyngvase Beach to protest the destruction of oceans by polluting nations.
Most of those taking part were from Cornwall but others have travelled from Devon and the west country.
The Red Rebel Brigade, who walk silently with their hands upturned, take part in an Extinction Rebellion protest in the town centre of Falmouth, Cornwall, during the G7 summit today
The only sign of disruption came with a splinter group called Animal Rebellion who occupied a McDonald’s branch (pictured above) on the outskirts of the town this afternoon
Protestors march during an Extinction Rebellion demonstration in Falmouth during the G7 summit in Cornwall on Saturday
Extinction Rebellion environmental activists wear papier mache masks depicting the G7 leaders as they demonstrate in Kimberley Park, Falmouth, Cornwall, during the G7 summit
More than 1,000 demonstrators gathered in the shallow waters off Gyllyngvase Beach in Falmouth to protest at the destruction of the oceans by polluting nations. Pictured: an inflatable shark with the words ‘eat people not plastic’
Some protesters took dogs with them, others swam through the water, while one had a cone on his head
The Red Rebel Brigade activists are pictured during an Extinction Rebellion demonstration in Falmouth town centre during the G7 summit in Cornwall
Shopkeepers peer out as Red Rebel Brigade activists attend an Extinction Rebellion demonstration in Falmouth today
Six people carried a giant globe through the streets of Falmouth as they walk past the Maritime Museum, with protestors handing out leaflets to locals who had stood on the pavement to watch
Demonstrators are seen wearing face masks and carrying a giant globe as they walk through the seaside town’s centre today
Protestors sit down in the sunshine as they attend an Extinction Rebellion demonstration in Falmouth during the G7 summit in Cornwall today
Extinction Rebellion protestors hold up a banner reading ‘G7 we’re watching’ during the demonstration in Falmouth on Saturday
Protestors are seen near the town’s Maritime Museum as they attend an Extinction Rebellion demonstration in Falmouth
Demonstrators gather by Trago Mills in Falmouth as they attend an Extinction Rebellion demonstration in Cornwall today
The McDonalds demonstration was peaceful with one of the group, a student from Brighton, saying their aim was to force the business to stop selling meat.
Waving an XR flag Dr Bradbrook said she was ‘pleased’ with the turnout of the protestors, adding: ‘We are here to show that enough is enough and that the world is dying.
‘We are colourful and noisy and that has been our intention. When the music stops that signifies people that are dying because of inaction on climate change.’
Among those taking part in the march were several NHS doctors. Andrew Stevenson, who works at a hospital in Somerset, said: ‘The climate emergency is a health emergency and has to be tackled.
And Angie Nicholas, also a doctor in Somerset, believes the pandemic is linked to the climate emergency, saying: ‘People have to sit up and take notice. The pandemic has its roots in climate change.’
Banners carried at the march warned of the impending catastrophe unless action was taken. Amy, 18, carried a ‘drowning in promises’ banner as she walked with four friends.
She said: ‘It is just a matter of making those in power listen to us. There has been no change for 30 to 40 year. I don’t know if they will ever listen, but we have to try and speak up.
‘It is my generation and future generations that will be affected.’
Police officers stand nearby as they monitor the Red Rebel Brigade group from Extinction Rebellion as they protest in the streets of Falmouth, Cornwall, during the G7 summit
The Red Rebel Brigade group are seen marching past the media centre as they protest in the streets of Falmouth, Cornwall
Police liaison officers monitor Extinction Rebellion environmental activists and supporters as they protest in the streets of Falmouth, Cornwall, today
Extinction Rebellion activists dressed in green stand near a tree as they protest in the streets of Falmouth, Cornwall
Extinction Rebellion activists dress in scrubs and carry a globe on a stretcher as they protest in Falmouth, Cornwall, today
One protestor is seen dressed as the grim reaper and wearing a Boris Johnson mask near Falmouth Moor on Saturday
Extinction Rebellion environmental activists and supporters protest in the streets of Falmouth, Cornwall, during the G7 summit today
A model skeleton holding an Extinction Rebellion flag lies in the street as environmental activists protest in the streets of Falmouth, Cornwall, on Saturday
The group’s co-founder Dr Gail Bradbrook was among those who took part in the march that included figures wearing lifelike papier mache masks of the world leaders (pictured above) at the Cornwall summit
People gather at an Extinction Rebellion demonstration in Kimberley Park, Falmouth, during the G7 summit in Cornwall
An Extinction Rebellion environmental activist lights a flare during a protest in the streets of Falmouth, Cornwall, today
Extinction Rebellion activists attend a demonstration at Kimberley Park in Falmouth during the G7 summit in Cornwall
Protestors marched to the sound of loud drums and whistles. Every few steps they would stop and stand in silence.
A life-sized elephant painted white with the words HS2 – the planned railway line from London to the Midlands – was among the more creative of the costumes.
Other costumes donned by demonstrators included blackbirds alongside seven women in funeral black pushing white wheelchairs bearing the slogan ‘Climate change kills children.’
Protesters earlier gathered around a banner that read ‘this is an ocean and climate emergency’ before thrashing the water with their paddles and calling out for change.
Organisers said they were thrilled by the turnout of the wet suit clad protestors as hundreds of people took to the water. A RNLI lifeboat kept watch over the group, but was not called into use during the event organised by the ‘Surfers Against Sewage’ protest group.
Organiser Amy Slack said the pumping of sewage into the ocean was a ‘huge problem’ and she ‘wants change’.
In nearby Falmouth, protesters gathered around a banner that read ‘this is an ocean and climate emergency’ before thrashing the water with their paddles and calling out for change
Organisers said they were thrilled by the turnout of the wet suit clad protestors as hundreds of people took to the water
Organiser Amy Slack said the pumping of sewage into the ocean was a ‘huge problem’ and she ‘wants change’
She added: ’This is our way of making our protest known. Every year 400,000 tons of sewage is poured into the seas off the coast of our country. It is a huge problem, particularly if you are a surfer or take part in a water sport.
‘We want change and this is our way of making our views known. The ocean must be integrated into climate action with bold commitments. The G7’s agenda as it stands falls short of that. It is all too easy to forget that the nature we need to protect is also blue.
‘We look to the G7 leaders to stand up for the ocean and make it priority to protect both biodiversity and the climate.’
This afternoon more than 1,000 protestors staged a noisy and colourful march through the centre of Falmouth as they held their biggest event of the G7 summit.
Extinction Rebellion co-founder Dr Gail Bradbrook was among those who took part in the march that included figures wearing lifelike paper mache masks of the world leaders at the Cornwall summit.
Protestors dressed as the grim reaper, suffragettes and others hidden beneath the costume of a Chinese dragon made their way from Kimberley Park though the centre of Falmouth.
The Surfers Against Sewage group have called on the G7 leaders to regulate ocean pollution and ban the destructive extraction of ocean resources
Hundreds or people on various modes of transport could be seen in the sea off the coast of Falmouth, Cornwall
Most of those at the protest were from Cornwall, but some had travelled from elsewhere in the west country
The only sign of disruption came with a splinter group called Animal Rebellion who occupied a McDonalds restaurant on the outskirts of the town.
Police stood watch as the protestors, mostly teen girls, occupied all the tables preventing families from eating inside the restaurant.
The protestors, who were all vegan, demanded McDonalds switch from serving meat hamburgers to plant-based meals.
The protest was peaceful and one of the group, a student from Brighton, said their aim was to force McDonalds to stop selling meat. Waving an XR flag Dr Bradbrook said she was ‘pleased’ with the turnout of the protestors.
‘We are here to show that enough is enough and that the world is dying. We are colourful and noisy and that has been our intention. When the music stops that signifies people that are dying because of inaction on climate change.’
Among those taking part in the march were several NHS doctors. Andrew Stevenson, who works at the hospital in Somerset, said:’ The climate emergency is a health emergency and has to be tackled.
Angie Nicholas, also a doctor in Somerset, said the pandemic was linked to the climate emergency. People have to sit up and take notice. The pandemic has its roots in climate change.’
Banners being carried at the march warned of the impending catastrophe unless action was taken.
Amy, 18, carried a ‘drowning in promises’ banner as she walked with four friends. She said: ’It is just a matter of making those in power listen to us. There has been no change for 30 to 40 year. I don’t know if they will ever listen, but we have to try and speak up. It is my generation and future generations that will be affected.’
Protestors marched to the sound of loud drums and whistles. Every few steps they would stop and stand in silence.
A life-sized elephant painted white with the words HS2 – the planned railway line from London to the Midlands – was among the more creative of the costumes.
Seven figures dressed as the G7 leaders led the march with the Boris character enthusiastically copying his hand movements.
Earlier, members of the climate change activists from Extinction Rebellion kicked off their protests with a football match between one team wearing masks of the G7 leaders against the rest of the world
The sand football match was deliberately rigged with the G7 team scoring into a large goal while the other team attempted to score in a mini goal
On what is expected to be the hottest day of the year Gyllyngvase was packed with protesters and other holidaymakers
The Red Rebel Brigade, who walk silently with their hands upturned followed. Others in costume included protestors dressed as blackbirds, seven women in funeral black pushing white wheelchairs bearing the slogan ‘Climate change kills children.’
Six people carried a giant globe through the streets as protestors handed out leaflets to locals who had stood on the pavement to watch.
The Surfers Against Sewage group have called on the G7 leaders to regulate ocean pollution and ban the destructive extraction of ocean resources.
Among those taking part was 26-year-old Jen from the village of Portreath. She said: ‘I think it is important that the G7 leaders understand that we want change.
‘I hope they will listen and by being here I feel that at least I am doing my bit to make our voice heard.’
Dan Russell, 42, arrived with his 12-year-old son to take part in the protest. He said: ’This is a once in a lifetime opportunity to protest when all the world’s leaders are so close. Will they listen? Probably not, but I am happy to take part.’
On what is expected to be the hottest day of the year Gyllyngvase was packed with protesters and other holidaymakers.
Earlier, members of the climate change activists from Extinction Rebellion kicked off their protests with a football match between one team wearing masks of the G7 leaders against the rest of the world.
The sand football match was deliberately rigged with the G7 team scoring into a large goal while the other team attempted to score in a mini goal.
Surfers, paddleboarders and kayakers take part in a protest in the water off Gyllyngvase beach in Falmouth
One sign read ‘and we could mute the blonde corrupt’ as people defied social distancing rules in the water
Two woman carried their paddleboards and cardboard signs as they stood in the water in Cornwall
The match referee was a former professional footballer Will Bamford who played for a team in Singapore.
One of the banners listed football clubs that the XR protestors said would disappear by the year 2050 due to rising water levels because of climate change.
Among those listed were Premier League teams Chelsea and Fulham as their stadium is close to the River Thames.
Hull City, Portsmouth and Blackpool from League One were also listed as being at risk from rising sea levels due to climate change. ‘All the clubs on the banner will cease to exist unless climate change is tackled,’ said one of the protesters.
‘With the Euros starting it was appropriate that we staged our our football match. Unlike the Euros ours was rigged with the G7 to win because they bully the rest of the world.’
Another banner took a swipe at Barclays Bank, one of the sponsors of the Premier League, as it labelled the firm ‘Sharklays’.
With thousands of police on security duty around the G7 hotel conference at the Carbis Bay hotel police chiefs are confident they will be able to stop any attempts to disrupt the meetings.
With the road leading to the hotel and G7 accommodation at the Treganna Castle Hotel sealed off by metal barriers it is unlikely any protester will get within a mile of the venue.
Extinction Rebellion have instead called for a ‘noisy protest’ at a public park in Falmouth – at least 20 miles from Carbis Bay.
Demonstrators are expected to walk through the town centre banging drums and making as much noise as possible.
Other activities taking place include street theatre and a crime scene investigation with hazmat wearing protesters investigating a ‘oil spill’ at Custom House Quay in Falmouth.