Extinction Rebellion activists have descended on the steps of the Sydney Opera House to stage protests demanding immediate action on climate change.
Dozens of protesters, some clad in red robes with their faces painted white, arrived on Sunday afternoon to form a choir and sing as tourists looked on.
About 50 people travelled to the demonstration from the Blue Mountains, where nearby bushfires have been raging for weeks, Katoomba resident Nigel Glassey said.
‘Out in the mountains we’ve been copping a lot of smoke and ash from the bushfires,’ he said.
‘The fires just keep getting closer and closer. The least we can do is come here and raise our voices and get involved.’
Fighting for change: Members of the Red Rebels were seen during an Extinction Rebellion protest outside the steps of the Sydney Opera House on Sunday
Dozens of protesters, many clad in red robes with their faces painted white, formed a choir and sang as tourists looked on
The Extinction Rebellion, which originated in the UK last year, has since expanded into a global movement which urges politicians and people in power to take proper action to protect the environment
Sunday’s protest is one of several that have recently taken place across Australia, and the world, amid the country’s crisis with drought and raging bushfires
Footage of the event illustrates a huge turnout – with many tourists stopping to take video and photos of the performance.
Extinction Rebellion, which originated in the UK last year, has expanded into a global movement in which activists employ non-violent tactics and demonstrations to urging politicians and people in power to take action.
Sunday’s protest is one of several that have recently taken place across Australia, and the world, amid the country’s crisis with drought and raging bushfires.
It comes after nearly 100 Climate activists physically buried their heads in the sand as part of protest at Adelaide’s Glenelg beach.
The demonstration, advertised as a Facebook event, ‘Glenelg: Heads in the Sand’ encouraged activists to demand the government take urgent action and ‘tell the truth.’
‘At this action, we will come together to ask the leaders of our nation to get their heads OUT of the sand on the climate and ecological crisis.’
A man and woman are seen sporting red robes and veils during Sunday’s demonstration
Protesters on December 15 rallied in front of Sydney Opera House demanding urgent climate action from Australia’s government
The demonstration comes as bushfire smoke continues to choke the city
The post went on to detail how the activists would be ‘safely’ putting their heads in the sand in order to ‘dramatize’ their demands.
People were urged to attend in business wear, carrying a briefcase if possible.
A spokesperson for Extinction Rebellion SA told Daily Mail Australia the event was organised in hopes the Morrison Government will be compelled to take proper prevention measures.
‘As nearly 100 wildfires burn across Australia, worsened by climate-change-driven drought and increasing temperatures, the Government refuses to take meaningful action to protect its people, land, and wildlife.’
They said: ‘The crisis keeps escalating, as we have seen with the NSW bushfires.’
‘Australia’s response to the crisis is being criticized by at least 100 nations at the UN and yet there doesn’t seem to be any movement by those in positions of power whether that be the Prime Minister or the federal Opposition Leader.’
Earlier this week, thousands of protesters gathered in Sydney to demand immediate climate action as bushfires continue to burn across the state.
The activists donned smoke masks and displayed expletive-laden signs as they flocked to Town Hall for the climate emergency rally at 5.30pm on Wednesday.
The protesters declared a climate emergency in New South Wales, with unprecedented bushfires ravaging the state and Sydney being infiltrated by toxic smoke.
The group, who navigated around Sydney’s Light Rail test runs on George Street, marched down Park Street and to Hyde Park.
The Extinction Rebellion has organised protests across Sydney for the whole month of December
Sydney has endured weeks bathed in toxic smoke, with a thick haze gathering in the harbour city from the bushfires
The group sat on the steps of the Opera House while baffled tourists looked on
A number of placards were directed at Prime Minister Scott Morrison, calling on the leader to ‘do something’ about the bushfire crisis.
One protester changed the Prime Minister’s nickname from ‘ScoMo’ to ‘Smoko’ for their placard, while another decorated him as The Grinch, who ruins Christmas.
The Liberal leader was also labelled a ‘fossil fool’ for refusing to steer clear of fossil fuels.
Sydney has endured weeks bathed in toxic smoke, with a thick haze gathering in the harbour city from the bushfires.
A blanket of ‘unbreathable’ smoke shrouded NSW on Tuesday as temperatures soared past 40C and firefighters battled to control potentially lethal conditions before a southerly change saw the mercury plummet.
Authorities say Tuesday’s air quality in Sydney was among the worst recorded. Smoke across the region was so thick at one point it was 11 times poorer than typically hazardous levels in some suburbs.
Protesters wore P2 masks for the rally and used posters to comment on the lingering smoke haze and disappearance of blue skies.
Nearly 100 activists took the Glenelg Beach in Adelaide to literally bury their heads in the sand in a protest against the climate crisis on Saturday