AN OXFORD climate activist has revealed why she took part in protests in London earlier this month.
Teresa Garlake took annual leave from her work at a mental health charity to take part in Extinction Rebellion (XR) protests, including gluing herself outside the entrance to Shell’s London headquarters.
On April 12, Ms Garlake was one of more than 60 people who blocked the entrances to insurance marketplace, Lloyd’s of London.
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XR aimed to close the insurance giant for the day, using superglue, chains and bike locks, to block entrances to the building.
Staff already inside were allowed to exit.
Ms Garlake said: “We took this action, to call for an end to all new fossil fuel investments and insurance.
“Time has almost entirely run out to address the ecological crisis which is upon us right now.
“I feel that I had no choice but to do this, since those in power are not taking the drastic steps that are needed to avert the climate emergency that is staring us in the face.”
Ms Garlake then took part in action at Shell’s London headquarters the following day.
“We know that the use of fossil fuels is driving climate change, I don’t want to be a bystander while this happens,” she said.
Ms Garlake has been involved with XR since joining protests in London three years ago.
She said: “It was due to concerns at the time, the climate emergency was very much on the agenda with Greta Thunberg and the school strikes.
“I felt it was very important to be part of the numbers, and I was so inspired by the care people had for each other.
“Everyone was so committed to bringing about change, with the non-violent perspective which is a very important part of Extinction Rebellion.
“I know that protests can sometimes be disruptive, but I feel that this is the only way to bring about the change that is needed.
“Disruption is the only power that I have left to stop a much greater crime against humanity taking place.”
Ms Garlake highlighted the increase in the volume of the conversation surrounding climate change over the last 40 years.
She said: “The alarm was first raised in the 1980s and before then, there were concerns but it’s been consistently ignored – possibly because it’s such a monumental thing to grasp.
“It’s very real what we’re facing and we’re already seeing the consequences.
“People are raising the alarm calls now because it’s so urgent, we have a few years to turn this round, and the time to act is now.”
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