MEMBERS of the local Extinction Rebellion group took part in a nationwide event to encourage MPs and the public to back a crucial climate bill last week.

As part of a day of action last Friday (March 26), 10 members of the local group displayed banners and placards at various locations around the Forest, as well as recording speeches to encourage local MP Mark Harper to back the Climate and Ecological Emergency (CEE) Bill.

The bill, which is currently awaiting further progress through parliament, will require the government to give ‘absolute priority to implementing sufficiently strong measures’ in response to the climate and ecological emergency.

Over 100 MPs from eight political parties, none of which are from the Conservative party, are currently backing the bill.

The event was organised nationally by the CEE Bill Alliance, which is made up of climate and environmental groups and organisations from across the UK.

Last Friday’s action provided an opportunity for local people to voice their comments directly to Mr Harper.

“The CEE Bill is the only legislative plan before MPs that aims to tackle the climate and nature crisis at the speed and scale that science demands”, said Forest of Dean Extinction Rebellion (XR) member Jackie Dale.

“If we don’t avoid the critical rise in temperatures predicted by climate scientists by acting now, I fear what the world will look like by 2050. Never has there been a more pressing time to put partisan politics aside.”

Catherine Musk, commenting on the state of the River Wye, said: “The river is seriously polluted. Anglers I have spoken to say that it is dying from the effects of sewage, plastic and slurry which have destroyed natural cycles and life in the river.

“The Bill must be backed to restore ecosystems and insure life for future generations.”

Videos from local XR members were live streamed on Twitter and were watched by more than 10,000 people.

Andrew Worsley drew Mr Harper’s attention starkly to the current situation and the potential for future catastrophe.

“The period of the sixth mass extinction is well under way already”, he said.

“Fires, flooding and storms have been increasing exponentially. If we don’t act strongly and quickly enough, Lydney and the surrounds of Newnham will flood and our forests will burn.

“Arid ground will affect crops and lead to eventual mass starvation. A target of carbon neutrality by 2050 is much too late and gives us a 50/50 chance of halting unstoppable climate change and avoidance of extinction for most life on earth.”

Grandmother Diana Gash alluded to the effect that climate change has had during her lifetime: “Like I was able to, I would like my grandchildren to be able to swim in a clean river, eat food grown in nourishing soil, breathe in clean air and be able to travel on a bus on their own.

“We are not living sustainably on this planet and are ruining it for generations to come. You, Mr Harper, must back this Bill. You have the privilege of being the MP of this beautiful Forest of Dean.

“Listen to the scientists – they are telling the truth. Support the call for the setting up of Citizen’s Assemblies - there are many people here in this area who want to be part of this action.”

Richard Henson pointed to the failure of world governments to address the situation up to now and the fact that carbon emissions have continued to rise even under the conditions of the pandemic.

“Neither the Prime Minister’s bold statements or the Government’s reliance on the latest Environment Bill to get us out of trouble is going to be able to deal with the climate and ecology crisis robustly enough”, he said.

“We must introduce citizen’s assemblies to help make difficult decisions about the future and set up community resilience to manage what’s ahead.”

Estelle Watts, who unfurled a banner with her husband to passing morning commuters at Highnam roundabout, issued a direct challenge to Mr Harper: “Come on, Mr Harper, this Covid crisis is nothing compared to what climate change is bringing”.