Eco-protesters charged by police travelled 10,000 miles

Dozens of eco-activists arrested and charged by police over the week-long climate change protests in London journeyed almost 10,000 miles between them, to demand reductions in carbon emissions. 

The Extinction Rebellion demonstrations at five locations in London, centered on Marble Arch, caused disruption to half a million people a day throughout last week and cost businesses tens of millions in lost revenue.

Some 963 people were arrested over the protests, many for breaching public order notices which declared it illegal to continue to protest in certain areas due to the level of disruption being caused.

Hundreds were released almost immediately – and rejoined their comrades – but 40 people, aged between 19 to 77, have now been charged, police said.

The Metropolitan Police said of the 831 people arrested in connection with the demonstrations as of 10am Sunday, 40 had been charged for ‘various offences including breach of Section 14 Notice of the Public Order Act 1986, obstructing a highway and obstructing police’.

MailOnline has calculated the round-trip distance by road, between the home address each protestor gave the police, and Marble Arch which was the central London location authorised by the Met as a site of legal protest.

Protesters travelled from around the country, and from France, to bring London to a standstill

How just 35 eco-rebels charged over climate change protests clocked up nearly 10,000 miles getting to London and back to demand lower carbon emissions
Person charged, age, address Round trip to Marble Arch (miles)
Malika Rassikh, 41, of Gipcy, France. 960
Spencer Upton, 27, of Bodmin, Cornwall. 476
Sadie Stanton, 28, of Devon. 452
Barbara Cookson, 68, of Liverpool. 434
Joseph Hesmondhalgh, 20 of Bradford. 426
Mark Richards, 43, of Stockport. 414
Adam Haigh, 19, of Manchester. 414
Patrick Thelwell, 19, of York. 410
Stuart Frost, 39, of York. 402
Peter Scott, 65, of South Brent, Devon. 400
Mary Ellen Light, 74, of Dartington. 396
Sally Chapman, 56, of Devon. 394
Angela Zelter, 67, of Powys. 374
Jasmine Horsley Grassie, 77, of Kington, Powys. 358
Tamsyn Cowden, 55, of Kington, Powys. 358
Justin Lewis Preece, 49, of Treforest, Pontypridd. 314
Christopher Court-Dobson, 30, of Glastonbury. 274
Rebecca West, 39, of Shipman, Somerset. 268
Hayley Pinto, 51, of Marsham. 260
William Cooke, 36, of Bristol. 236
Steven Melia, 56, of Bristol. 232
Louise Treneman, 25, of Bristol. 232
Emily Cox, 33, of Eastville, Bristol. 232
Dave Hall, 66, of Frome. 222
Ellis Rachel Bowdler, 26, of Frome, Somerset. 222
Jason Pettitt, 44, of Colchester. 154
Alan Dixon, 53, of Cambridge. 120
Ruth Jarman, 55, of Hampshire. 82
Samuel Elmore, 26, of Hyde End. 60
Tim Speers, 33, of Beckenham. 26
Kathryn Shipp, 55, of Lewisham. 22
Jeremy David Parker, 51, of Ealing. 18
Genevieve Scherer, 72, of Lambeth. 12
Liam Norton, 34, of Lambeth. 12
Kathleen Carlson, 27, of Waltham Forest. 10
AVERAGE 276
TOTAL 9,722

One protester, Malika Rassikh, 41, travelled almost 500 miles from Gipcy in central France – and will have to travel the same home again – before she was arrested and charged in London. It is not known whether she traveled by road, rail, or air.

Others came from as far away as Cornwall, Devon, Liverpool, Manchester and Yorkshire.

The oldest person charged was Jasmine Horsley Grassie, 77, whose home in Powys in Wales would have necessitated a 358-mile round trip to central London and back. 

The youngest travelled even further: Patrick Thelwell, 19, of York, would have to clock up 410 miles to get to Marble Arch and back home.

Dame Emma Thompson travelled considerably further than any of those charged when she came to join the protests from 5400 miles away in Los Angeles

Dame Emma Thompson travelled considerably further than any of those charged when she came to join the protests from 5400 miles away in Los Angeles

None of those charged travelled nearly as far as the protest’s most high-profile participant, actress Dame Emma Thompson, who flew 5,400 miles in business class from LA to Heathrow before delivering a love poem to the earth from the deck of a pink boat ‘moored’ in Oxford Circus. 

According to the Environmental Protection Agency in the US, the average passenger vehicle emits about 404 grams of CO2 per mile.

So if all these people travelled separately and all drove a car emitting average emissions, they would have generated approximately 3.9 tonnes of carbon.

According to analysis by Eurostar the train journey of around 285 miles from London to Paris produces 22kg of CO2 per passenger.

So if every mile of every passengers journey were so fuel-efficient, they would still have generated three-quarters of a tonne of carbon.

Protestors previously faced criticism when they were pictured using single-use plastic bottles and non-recyclable coffee cups. 

Police have begun removing the chains which Extinction Rebellion activists used to strap themselves to Waterloo Bridge

Police have begun removing the chains which Extinction Rebellion activists used to strap themselves to Waterloo Bridge

The protesters have been camped on the bridge for the past week but today officers started clearing the road of their tents

The protesters have been camped on the bridge for the past week but today officers started clearing the road of their tents

Many eco-activists are still lining London's Waterloo Bridge, with photographs of the scene showing police officers forcefully removing them

Many eco-activists are still lining London's Waterloo Bridge, with photographs of the scene showing police officers forcefully removing them

Some eco-activists are still lining London’s Waterloo Bridge, with photographs of the scene showing police officers forcefully removing them

Protesters sit on Waterloo Bridge on the seventh day of an environmental protest by the Extinction Rebellion group

Protesters sit on Waterloo Bridge on the seventh day of an environmental protest by the Extinction Rebellion group

Who are Extinction Rebellion and how are they funded? 

Extinction Rebellion grew out of the activist group ‘Rising Up!’ which unsuccessfully tried to stop the expansion of Heathrow Airport.

Established in Britain in May 2018, the group has been organised and partly financed by a private limited company called Compassionate Revolution.

Its financial support comes from philanthropic foundations and crowdfunding – with an online campaign having raised £166,000 since launching in October.

XR now has more than 100 groups across Britain alone, with up to 10,000 supporters drawn to the protests in London this week.

It has groups in dozens of countries including South Africa, India and even the Solomon Islands – with the latest campaign involving people in at least 80 cities in more than 33 countries.

Last November, the group held a protest which blocked bridges across London to bring chaos to the capital.

In February, they took part in a UK-wide school strike and on April 1, during one of the Brexit debates, a group of their protesters stripped off in the House of Commons.

As the seventh day of protests came to an end yesterday, Extinction Rebellion’s grip on London’s crippled transport system seemed to be loosening as police dismantled the camps set up during this week’s protests.

Officers cleared banners, tents and even a skate ramp from Waterloo Bridge where the eco-activists had been demonstrating.  

Their clear-up comes as the protest movement announced they are switching disruptive tactics for political negotiations as they enter a second week of campaigning to have the government declare a climate emergency. 

Farhana, the group’s political circle co-ordinator, said: ‘Today marks a transition from week one, which focused on actions that were vision-holding but also caused mass disruption across many dimensions (economic, cultural, emotional, social).

‘Week two marks a new phase of rebellion focused on negotiations where the focus will shift to our actual political demands.’

She added: ‘We want to show that XR is a cohesive long-term, global force, not some flash in the pan. 

‘Being able to “pause” a rebellion shows that we are organised and a long-term political force to be reckoned with. This will give XR leverage as we enter into negotiations with those in power to make headway on our three demands.’

The group has pledged to continue causing disruption until its demands are met.

It wants the Government to declare a climate emergency and take action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to net zero by 2025.

There are increasing fears that protests by XR, which boasts more than 100 regional groups, could spread nationwide. 

How the climate change protests have developed 

Sunday

Protesters begin to gather in London for a ‘festival’ of peaceful action. Their plans, announced by organisers in advance, involve converging on five busy locations in the city and blocking traffic.

Rowan Williams, the former archbishop of Canterbury, publicly lends his support to the cause. Some protesters camp at Hyde Park overnight.

Monday

11am – Protesters gather at Parliament Square, blocking traffic, unfurling banners, raising placards and waving flags as speakers address the crowd.

A human roadblock is formed on Waterloo Bridge, halting traffic in both directions. Roads at Oxford Circus and Marble Arch are also blocked.

6.55pm – Police impose a condition on the Extinction Rebellion demonstrations restricting protesters to Marble Arch.

Scotland Yard says more than 50 people were arrested during the day, the majority for breaching the order and five of them over damage to Shell’s headquarters on the South Bank.

Despite the police order, protesters remain at the four locations through the night.

Tuesday

7am – Police announce the number of arrests has passed 100.

1pm – Police remove dozens of protesters from Waterloo Bridge, although the bridge remains blocked.

4pm – A sister protest in Edinburgh sees the North Bridge in the capital blocked off.

4.50pm – London mayor Sadiq Khan says he is ‘extremely concerned’ about protesters’ plans to disrupt the London Underground network on Wednesday.

5.45pm – The total number of people arrested in London passes 200.

10pm – The total number of people arrested in London reaches 290.

Protesters remain at Parliament Square, Marble Arch, Oxford Circus and Waterloo Bridge overnight.

Wednesday

10.30am – Police disable wifi at Tube stations to prevent protesters coordinating planned disruption.

11am – Protesters climb on to the roof of a DLR train at Canary Wharf station. Another glues himself to it. He is later removed by police.

2pm – A group representing businesses in the West End warns the protests have caused a 25% drop in spending in the area, with £12 million less spent on Tuesday alone.

3pm – Police attempt to clear Waterloo Bridge again, carrying away protesters. Springwatch presenter Chris Packham joins the demonstration at Oxford Circus.

3.30pm – Four protesters glue themselves together outside Jeremy Corbyn’s north London home. One chains themselves to the garden fence with a bike lock.

4.40pm – The Labour leader leaves his home without speaking to the protesters.

6.30pm – Police say the total number of arrests has risen to 340.

6.50pm – Officers arrive in Parliament Square and begin to remove protesters, who are replaced later in the evening.

8pm – Environment Secretary Michael Gove comments, saying it is ‘appropriate for people to make their feelings known’ but ‘we’ve got the message’.

Thursday 

Protesters remain at Parliament Square, Marble Arch, Oxford Circus and Waterloo Bridge overnight.# 

Friday

Large numbers of police officers moved into Oxford Circus on Friday to remove the pink boat XR had installed there which had become a symbol for the ongoing disruption.

Earlier, about 20 activists, most of them under 17, had staged a brief demonstration on roads near Heathrow Airport.

The scenes unfolded as the Metropolitan Police said it had made 106 arrests by around 5.30pm on Friday, bringing the total since Monday to 682.

The Cotswold Conspirators: How four key players in the Extinction Rebellion eco-mob plotted chaos in London from vegetarian café in leafy market town 

By Paul Thompson and Mark Duell for MailOnline

The organisers of the eco protests which have brought chaos to London plotted their campaign in a small Cotswold market town which has become known as ‘Hippy Central.’

Four key players behind Extinction Rebellion (XR) come from Stroud in Gloucestershire, and they were regularly joined by activists from all over the country in a small vegetarian café where they plotted the mayhem.

Co-founders Dr Gail Bradbrook and her partner Simon Bramwell, 46, live there – and, nearby, two of the first to be arrested for damaging the Shell building, Jane Augsburger and Katerina Hasapopolous, have had homes on the same street.

Dr Gail Bradbrook, a co-founder of Extinction Rebellion, is pictured this morning at the protest on Waterloo Bridge in London

Dr Gail Bradbrook, a co-founder of Extinction Rebellion, is pictured this morning at the protest on Waterloo Bridge in London

The beautiful £400,000 Grade II-listed cottage in Stroud, Gloucestershire, where Extinction Rebellion protest co-founder Dr Gail Bradbrook used to live with her husband, former RAF fighter pilot John Fisher

The beautiful £400,000 Grade II-listed cottage in Stroud, Gloucestershire, where Extinction Rebellion protest co-founder Dr Gail Bradbrook used to live with her husband, former RAF fighter pilot John Fisher

They were joined by other protesters in the Star Anise café in the town centre in the weeks before they launched the campaign to plan their civil disobedience.

‘They would often come in here and we would see Dr Gail,’ said Azra Sangster who works in the café where leaflets warning of ‘Ecocide’ adorn the walls.

‘They are all very nice and there is a big movement in the town over the awareness of climate change and what is happening to our Earth.’

Stroud is one of the ‘greenest’ towns in the country with its town council and district councillors fully signed up to tackling climate change and hoping it is ‘carbon neutral’ by 2030.

Many New Age supporters and other allied groups have moved into Stroud.

Jane Augsburger was among those arrested following a protest outside the Shell headquarters in London on Monday

Jane Augsburger was among those arrested following a protest outside the Shell headquarters in London on Monday

The home in Stroud of Jane Augsburger, who was arrested for criminal damage outside Shell's headquarters on Monday

The home in Stroud of Jane Augsburger, who was arrested for criminal damage outside Shell’s headquarters on Monday

One resident said: ‘If Stroud had a theme tune it would have to be ‘Shiny Happy People’ by REM.

Many New Age supporters and other allied groups have moved into Stroud

Many New Age supporters and other allied groups have moved into Stroud

Dr Bradbrook, 47, who has been described as the Godmother of XR, has lived in Stroud since 2006, having set up home in a Grade II-listed cottage with her husband a former RAF fighter pilot John Fisher.

But the marriage ended when the committed climate change warrior left the £400,000 home after returning from Costa Rica having taking a psychedelic drug which she said re-wired her brain and gave her the codes for ‘social change.’

Mr Fisher still lives in the cottage overlooking playing fields on the edge of the town and the couple share custody of their two young boys. He is looking after them while his ex-wife is leading protests in London.

When approached by MailOnline, he declined to comment.

Since the split, she lives in rented accommodation in the town with her partner former builder Bramwell, who also often stays at his 80-year-old mother’s home.

He was photographed being led away by police after his arrest outside The Shell building on Monday.

His mother Sheila said while she supported his demonstration and arrest, she wasn’t too happy about the disruption to public transport when activists climbed on the roof of a Docklands Light Railway train, causing huge disruption to commuters.

‘That was a bit self-defeating and I did not agree with that. The point of the demonstration was to get cars off the road and people to use public transport. If that can’t run what is the point.’

Police officers detain climate change activist Simon Bramwell, 46, outside the Shell building in London on Monday

Police officers detain climate change activist Simon Bramwell, 46, outside the Shell building in London on Monday

Bramwell, who was arrested earlier this week, often stays at his 80-year-old mother's home in Stroud, Gloucestershire

Bramwell, who was arrested earlier this week, often stays at his 80-year-old mother’s home in Stroud, Gloucestershire

Dr Bradbrook has been involved in other activists groups in Stroud and two years ago stripped to her underwear to protest the installation of an incinerator in town, which is about 90 miles from London.

She told MailOnline that her own green credentials were not the best as she drives a diesel car and added: ‘No one is perfect.’

Katerina Hasapopolous has also been involved in the protests

Katerina Hasapopolous has also been involved in the protests

She said the car was vital to get around in the rural community where she lives with her partner and two children.

‘I would like an electric car but I could not afford one. I am not perfect, I know that. But something has to be done or we are all ‘f***ed.’

She would have approved of the actions of near neighbour Jane Augsburger who was arrested for criminal damage outside Shell’s headquarters on Monday.

The 54-year-old mum lives in a cottage that overlooks a farm and open fields although the front of her property is hardly in keeping with her green beliefs with an old mattress and sofa dumped on a front patio area.

Katerina Hasapopoulous, a 40-year-old mother of three who was also arrested at the Shell building, lived in the same street but has recently moved.

Like her near neighbour Augsburger, who once owned a home in the Dordogne, she is an active member of the group in Stroud.

Hasapopoulous lived on the same street as Augsburger in the Gloucestershire town of Stroud but has recently moved

Hasapopoulous lived on the same street as Augsburger in the Gloucestershire town of Stroud but has recently moved

The fact that leaders of the Extinction Rebellion chose to make Stroud their home comes as no surprise to the leader of the Green Party on the district council.

Councillor Martin Whiteside said the town has always attracted people who care about social and environment issues.

He said he was proud they chose Stroud and to show his support joined the protestors for an overnight stay on Waterloo Bridge.

‘We are the only carbon neutral district council in Europe and that is something to be very proud of.

‘There could be many reasons many of the Extinction Rebellion protestors come from Stroud but it is also a very nice place to live and to bring up families’

A recent Sunday Times Guide to the best places to live in Britain described Stroud as ‘left-leaning both politically and spiritually, and happily catering for everyone from hippies to high-net-worthers.’

The protesters joined together in the Star Anise café in the town centre in the weeks before they launched the campaign to plan their civil disobedience

Leaflets warning of 'Ecocide' adorn the walls of the Star Anise café

The protesters joined together in the Star Anise café (left) in the town centre in the weeks before they launched the campaign to plan their civil disobedience. Leaflets warning of ‘Ecocide’ adorn the walls of the café (right)

Stroud is one of the 'greenest' towns in the country with its town council and district councillors fully signed up to tackling climate change and hoping it is 'carbon neutral' by 2030

Stroud is one of the ‘greenest’ towns in the country with its town council and district councillors fully signed up to tackling climate change and hoping it is ‘carbon neutral’ by 2030

Stroud is also home to the only vegan football team in the English Football League, Forest Green Rovers.

Dale Vince, a millionaire businessman who made his fortune supplying green energy to the National Grid, runs the League Two team.

A recent Sunday Times Guide described Stroud as 'left-leaning both politically and spiritually, and happily catering for everyone from hippies to high-net-worthers'

A recent Sunday Times Guide described Stroud as ‘left-leaning both politically and spiritually, and happily catering for everyone from hippies to high-net-worthers’

They became the first side to ban meat and even cow’s milk from their stadium. Not surprisingly Dr Bradbrook and her two sons are supporters of the team based in Nailsworth.

Another attraction for activists seeking a home in the Cotswolds is that Stroud, unlike some of its near neighbours, is still fairly affordable.

In Stroud a starter home costs £127,920, mid-market property £254,630 and a family home £413,950. But in neighbouring districts properties fetch millions.

Local residents were supportive of the action taken by Dr Bradbrook and others, but pleased the demonstration was causing chaos 100 miles away in London and not their town.

‘It would be a catastrophe if our business was affected like those in London,’ said one worker in a phone shop.

‘Something has to be done about climate change, but I do feel sorry for those businesses who have lost out. They are hardly going to be supportive of the cause when they are massively out of pocket.’

Dr Bradbrook, who holds a PhD in molecular biophysics and has studied in France and India, acknowledged she was probably the most hated woman in London for causing days of chaos for commuters and drivers.

‘I have to apologise to those people who have been affected, but civil disobedience on this scale is the only way the Government will take notice.

‘We cannot just sit back and do nothing as we are running out of time. Our species will be extinct if we do not do something. It is no good the Government saying they will be reduce emissions by 2,050. It will be too late then.’

Stroud is home to the only vegan football team in the English Football League, Forest Green Rovers. Dale Vince, a millionaire businessman who made his fortune supplying green energy to the National Grid, runs the League Two team

Stroud is home to the only vegan football team in the English Football League, Forest Green Rovers. Dale Vince, a millionaire businessman who made his fortune supplying green energy to the National Grid, runs the League Two team

She said she was separated from the father of her two children, aged 10 and 13, and he was caring for them while she was in London.

‘We are separated and although he supports what we are trying to achieve we are not necessarily on the same page.’

Dr Bradbrook said she grew up in South Yorkshire where her father was a coal miner.

In 2015 she formed an activist group called Compassionate Revolution and this later became Extinction Rebellion.

Dr Bradbrook said she became more involved in activism after flying to Costa Rica to take a psychedelic compound known as iboga which is derived from a west African tree bark.

 

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