This was my first in a life-time protest march. I know! Faint chuckles from you hardened activists! I hear them!
So, I found myself on the train to London. I headed for St James’s Park, turned a corner and found myself absorbed into a Caroline Lucus (Leader of the Green Party) love-in outside the building of HM Treasury. She was in full throttle. The consummate professional that she is, she paused after each pithy government critique and the crowd didn’t disappoint. Great cheers of approval as speaker and spectators became joined. “Wake up government!” Loud cheers. “Muddled, lacking leadership, incomplete plans” More cheers. It was seductive and I found myself drawn in to the outrage. I was sorry when it was all over. I trundled round the corner towards Parliament Square. A wall of noise hit me. Speakers, bands, drummers, singers. All competed for attention. I fell into conversation with a worthy representation of a walking octopus. All manner of unfamiliar costumes were on display. It was like I had fallen asleep and had woken up to find I was in a new country where the national dress included people wearing various fishes and birds on their heads. Dramatic, doom ridden banners were held aloft. It was all a bit crazy!
I fell alongside a lively jazz band. Loud but tricky to keep feet and body still. And then we were off. Marching. Well, in truth, a sort of hesitant shuffle. Stop, start, stop, start. High up on a balcony, Chris Packham was making a speech. I recognised his voice from Spring Watch but I couldn’t see him as my forward view was blocked by a substantial and credible version of Noah’s ark held aloft by some strong-armed activists. I am sure Chris was saying wise words but I couldn’t hear him for the jazz band on my right and a high energy drumming circle on my left.
What are my thoughts now I am safely returned home? I was expecting to experience palpable anger. After all, our national tardy and limp response to the climate emergency easily stokes up a sense of anger. But the atmosphere at te march was that of a family friendly carnival. Laughter, singing, chanting, smiling faces was the order of the day. But there was much energy on display. People cared. And it was heartening to experience a shared belief that our planet deserves greater respect. That we are not alone in our vexation about planet Earth. We are stronger when we come together. And we left a strong marker of concern at the seat of government.
What are my thoughts now I am safely returned home? I was expecting to experience palpable anger. After all, our national tardy and limp response to the climate emergency easily stokes up a sense of anger. But the atmosphere at te march was that of a family friendly carnival. Laughter, singing, chanting, smiling faces was the order of the day. But there was much energy on display. People cared. And it was heartening to experience a shared belief that our planet deserves greater respect. That we are not alone in our vexation about planet Earth. We are stronger when we come together. And we left a strong marker of concern at the seat of government.
But my thoughts quickly fell into disappointment when I discovered that BBC News had completely ignored the four-day protest event. “I do not believe it!” was my Victor Meldrew sentiment. It seems the climate emergency story is only newsworthy if accompanied by someone gluing themselves to a road, or causing mayhem by dangling off a gantry somewhere. Come-on BBC. You can and should do better! I had at last found the anger that had been missing during the march. And I wrote a (strong) letter of complaint. The activist within has been awakened!
