Climate protesters bring the streets of Europe to a standstill


Taylor Heyman
  • English
  • Arabic

Protesters blocked access to multinational corporations in France on Friday, while youth activists in London staged a peaceful protest outside Britain's busiest airport as part of a wave of demonstrations urging governments to act against climate change.

Activist group Extinction Rebellion started a fifth day of protests outside Heathrow airport. Campaigners, predominantly under the age of the 30, wept and sang on the roadside around a mile away from two of the terminals.

Around a dozen teenagers, some as young as 13, held a banner which read "Are we the last generation?"

British actress Emma Thompson told crowds "our planet is in trouble" at a gathering of protesters in Oxford Circus, central London.

The Nanny McPhee star spoke from a pink boat, which officials said had been locked to the ground by the activists.

Police officers later encircled the boat, which had "Tell the Truth" written on its side.

A protest organised by Greenpeace saw activists prevent hundreds of employees from getting to work at the headquarters of French bank Societe Generale, state-run utility EDF and oil giant Total in Paris.

The environmental organisation said the companies were contributing towards global warming.

Demonstrations, which began in London, had spread to the rest of Europe by Thursday. In Austria, activists blocked city trams while the streets of Sweden’s Gothenburg were closed.

In the Spanish city of Barcelona, protesters arranged themselves in the shape of Extinction Rebellion's egg-timer logo.

The protests spread as far as New York, where campaigners temporarily blocked the Brooklyn Bridge.

The campaigners are urging governments to declare a climate emergency, reduce greenhouse gas emissions to zero by 2025 and stop the loss of biodiversity.

They also demand the establishment of "citizens assemblies on climate and ecological justice".

All ages are represented on the protests, which bear striking similarity to the Cold War nuclear disarmament assemblies.

In London on Thursday, Extinction Rebellion disrupted transport in the main shopping areas of Oxford Circus and Marble Arch, and gathered in Parliament Square and across Waterloo and Vauxhall bridges.

Pupils joined their parents in yelling “We love you” at passers-by. Grandparents danced to musical performances.

People in their twenties through to their seventies stepped up to be arrested as police repeatedly attempted to clear the occupied areas.

Each area has an induction stand to welcome newcomers to the movement and instruct them in how they should behave.

Drugs and alcohol are banned as food and drinks are handed out.

Police officers detain a climate change activist at Waterloo Bridge during the Extinction Rebellion. Reuters
Police officers detain a climate change activist at Waterloo Bridge during the Extinction Rebellion. Reuters

London's Marble Arch hosted a family-friendly area, with therapy tents and a performance stage.

Hena, 35, brought her two children to join the protests. Her son asks for help in spelling as he writes “Too much pollution” on a wall in chalk.

The family is surrounded by others lazing in the sunshine among the tents filling the park, watching speeches on the stage or helping an older man spray-paint T-shirts with the Extinction Rebellion logo.

“I feel quite hopeless actually but it’s not my personality to sit at home and mope,” Hena said.

“My son watches documentaries and is quite aware that he doesn't see as many bees as he used to.

"I don't want him to just watch documentaries about how everything is being destroyed without feeling that there is a forum where he can at least say that he doesn't agree.”

Images of the protest are posted on Instagram and shared, encouraging more people to join in.

Sandy, 65, joined the protests on Thursday after seeing coverage online. Taylor Heyman / The National
Sandy, 65, joined the protests on Thursday after seeing coverage online. Taylor Heyman / The National

Sandy, a retired archaeologist, joined Thursday’s protest after seeing the demonstrations on television.

“I reached my breaking point yesterday and got on the train this morning feeling really quite nervous and frightened,” Sandy said.

“But this is a wonderful group of people and the best form of protest – peaceful, non-violent protest to make our point.

"We just have to pray it works.”

Extinction Rebellion burst on to TV screens in November 2018, when police arrested more than 70 people for blocking five bridges across London's River Thames.

Marion, 59, a magazine editor, praised the actions countries such as the UAE have taken to lessen climate damage but says it is not enough.

“The UAE has done fantastic adaptation and mitigation stuff, very innovative stuff to try to plan for the future, but we've got to do  more than just adapting and mitigating,” Marion said.

“We're calling on governments around the world to declare a climate emergency. I've got children in their twenties. I've got a grandchild. I can't bear the thought of what they are going to have to struggle with."

As of Thursday evening, police had arrested more than 480 people related to the protest.

But officers have been criticised for siding with the demonstrators after video emerged of some dancing in the street.

Police chiefs said that the behaviour was unacceptable.

"We expect our officers to engage with protesters but clearly their actions fall short of the tone of the policing operation," Cmdr Jane Connors said.

Sajid Javid, the Home Secretary, called on police commanders to use the full force of the law.

“I totally condemn any protesters who are stepping outside boundaries of law,” Mr Javid said.

“They have no right to cause misery for the millions who are trying to lead their daily lives. Unlawful behaviour will not be tolerated.”

Meanwhile, veteran broadcaster Sir David Attenborough warned: "If we have not taken dramatic action within the next decade, we could face irreversible damage to the natural world and the collapse of our societies."

Attenborough issued the stark warning in a programme focusing on the facts of climate change, which was broadcast in the UK on Thursday night.

Teenage climate activist Greta Thunberg has become the voice of her generation. Speaking to the EU parliament on Tuesday, she chided leaders for focusing too heavily on Brexit.

Matilda, 18, protesting in the sunshine at Oxford Circus, agreed with Ms Thunberg’s sentiments.

"We don't really want to hear about Brexit," Matilda said. "We want to see the government addressing what we think is really critical right now."

Matilda, 18, joined the schools climate strike in February and decided to take more action on Thursday. Taylor Heyman / The National
Matilda, 18, joined the schools climate strike in February and decided to take more action on Thursday. Taylor Heyman / The National

Matilda is apologetic about the disruption caused to people's daily lives but said she felt the action was worth it.

“It's not personal towards people being disrupted, but it is necessary," she said. "We need to stop climate change by pretty much any means we can.”

Like Matilda, three young women excitedly striding from Marble Arch to Oxford Circus up Oxford Street began protesting at the school climate strikes in February.

Joany, 16,  says “The more we do about it, I feel like they are just getting angrier and I feel like it's getting a response that we do need,” said Joany, 16.

“It's really going to affect us the most, I think it’s fair to say. We are going to have to deal with the consequences the most.”

Francesca, 16, agrees: “Why get an education if you don’t listen to the educated?”

Origin
Dan Brown
Doubleday

Conflict, drought, famine

Estimates of the number of deaths caused by the famine range from 400,000 to 1 million, according to a document prepared for the UK House of Lords in 2024.
It has been claimed that the policies of the Ethiopian government, which took control after deposing Emperor Haile Selassie in a military-led revolution in 1974, contributed to the scale of the famine.
Dr Miriam Bradley, senior lecturer in humanitarian studies at the University of Manchester, has argued that, by the early 1980s, “several government policies combined to cause, rather than prevent, a famine which lasted from 1983 to 1985. Mengistu’s government imposed Stalinist-model agricultural policies involving forced collectivisation and villagisation [relocation of communities into planned villages].
The West became aware of the catastrophe through a series of BBC News reports by journalist Michael Buerk in October 1984 describing a “biblical famine” and containing graphic images of thousands of people, including children, facing starvation.

Band Aid

Bob Geldof, singer with the Irish rock group The Boomtown Rats, formed Band Aid in response to the horrific images shown in the news broadcasts.
With Midge Ure of the band Ultravox, he wrote the hit charity single Do They Know it’s Christmas in December 1984, featuring a string of high-profile musicians.
Following the single’s success, the idea to stage a rock concert evolved.
Live Aid was a series of simultaneous concerts that took place at Wembley Stadium in London, John F Kennedy Stadium in Philadelphia, the US, and at various other venues across the world.
The combined event was broadcast to an estimated worldwide audience of 1.5 billion.

Tearful appearance

Chancellor Rachel Reeves set markets on edge as she appeared visibly distraught in parliament on Wednesday. 

Legislative setbacks for the government have blown a new hole in the budgetary calculations at a time when the deficit is stubbornly large and the economy is struggling to grow. 

She appeared with Keir Starmer on Thursday and the pair embraced, but he had failed to give her his backing as she cried a day earlier.

A spokesman said her upset demeanour was due to a personal matter.

MATCH INFO

What: India v Afghanistan, first Test
When: Starts Thursday
Where: M Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengalaru

Specs

Engine: Dual-motor all-wheel-drive electric

Range: Up to 610km

Power: 905hp

Torque: 985Nm

Price: From Dh439,000

Available: Now

The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre flat-six
Power: 510hp at 9,000rpm
Torque: 450Nm at 6,100rpm
Transmission: 7-speed PDK auto or 6-speed manual
Fuel economy, combined: 13.8L/100km
On sale: Available to order now
Price: From Dh801,800
Sustainable Development Goals

1. End poverty in all its forms everywhere

2. End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture

3. Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages

4. Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all

5. Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls

6. Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all

7. Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all

8. Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all

9. Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialisation and foster innovation

10. Reduce inequality  within and among countries

11. Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable

12. Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns

13. Take urgent action to combat climate change and its effects

14. Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development

15. Protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, and halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss

16. Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all and build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels

17. Strengthen the means of implementation and revitalise the global partnership for sustainable development

Classification from Tour de France after Stage 17

1. Chris Froome (Britain / Team Sky) 73:27:26"

2. Rigoberto Uran (Colombia / Cannondale-Drapac) 27"

3. Romain Bardet (France / AG2R La Mondiale)

4. Fabio Aru (Italy / Astana Pro Team) 53"

5. Mikel Landa (Spain / Team Sky) 1:24"

The bio

Date of Birth: April 25, 1993
Place of Birth: Dubai, UAE
Marital Status: Single
School: Al Sufouh in Jumeirah, Dubai
University: Emirates Airline National Cadet Programme and Hamdan University
Job Title: Pilot, First Officer
Number of hours flying in a Boeing 777: 1,200
Number of flights: Approximately 300
Hobbies: Exercising
Nicest destination: Milan, New Zealand, Seattle for shopping
Least nice destination: Kabul, but someone has to do it. It’s not scary but at least you can tick the box that you’ve been
Favourite place to visit: Dubai, there’s no place like home

Match info

Huddersfield Town 0

Chelsea 3
Kante (34'), Jorginho (45' pen), Pedro (80')

Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
  • Priority access to new homes from participating developers
  • Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
  • Flexible payment plans from developers
  • Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
  • DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
RESULTS - ELITE MEN

1. Henri Schoeman (RSA) 57:03
2. Mario Mola (ESP) 57:09
3. Vincent Luis (FRA) 57:25
4. Leo Bergere (FRA)57:34
5. Jacob Birtwhistle (AUS) 57:40    
6. Joao Silva (POR) 57:45   
7. Jonathan Brownlee (GBR) 57:56
8. Adrien Briffod (SUI) 57:57           
9. Gustav Iden (NOR) 57:58            
10. Richard Murray (RSA) 57:59       

The specs
  • Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
  • Power: 640hp
  • Torque: 760nm
  • On sale: 2026
  • Price: Not announced yet
Diriyah%20project%20at%20a%20glance
%3Cp%3E-%20Diriyah%E2%80%99s%201.9km%20King%20Salman%20Boulevard%2C%20a%20Parisian%20Champs-Elysees-inspired%20avenue%2C%20is%20scheduled%20for%20completion%20in%202028%0D%3Cbr%3E-%20The%20Royal%20Diriyah%20Opera%20House%20is%20expected%20to%20be%20completed%20in%20four%20years%0D%3Cbr%3E-%20Diriyah%E2%80%99s%20first%20of%2042%20hotels%2C%20the%20Bab%20Samhan%20hotel%2C%20will%20open%20in%20the%20first%20quarter%20of%202024%0D%3Cbr%3E-%20On%20completion%20in%202030%2C%20the%20Diriyah%20project%20is%20forecast%20to%20accommodate%20more%20than%20100%2C000%20people%0D%3Cbr%3E-%20The%20%2463.2%20billion%20Diriyah%20project%20will%20contribute%20%247.2%20billion%20to%20the%20kingdom%E2%80%99s%20GDP%0D%3Cbr%3E-%20It%20will%20create%20more%20than%20178%2C000%20jobs%20and%20aims%20to%20attract%20more%20than%2050%20million%20visits%20a%20year%0D%3Cbr%3E-%20About%202%2C000%20people%20work%20for%20the%20Diriyah%20Company%2C%20with%20more%20than%2086%20per%20cent%20being%20Saudi%20citizens%0D%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
'Gehraiyaan'
Director:Shakun Batra

Stars:Deepika Padukone, Siddhant Chaturvedi, Ananya Panday, Dhairya Karwa

Rating: 4/5

Specs

Engine: Duel electric motors
Power: 659hp
Torque: 1075Nm
On sale: Available for pre-order now
Price: On request

The burning issue

The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE. 

Read part four: an affection for classic cars lives on

Read part three: the age of the electric vehicle begins

Read part two: how climate change drove the race for an alternative 

ESSENTIALS

The flights

Emirates flies from Dubai to Phnom Penh via Yangon from Dh2,700 return including taxes. Cambodia Bayon Airlines and Cambodia Angkor Air offer return flights from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap from Dh250 return including taxes. The flight takes about 45 minutes.

The hotels

Rooms at the Raffles Le Royal in Phnom Penh cost from $225 (Dh826) per night including taxes. Rooms at the Grand Hotel d'Angkor cost from $261 (Dh960) per night including taxes.

The tours

A cyclo architecture tour of Phnom Penh costs from $20 (Dh75) per person for about three hours, with Khmer Architecture Tours. Tailor-made tours of all of Cambodia, or sites like Angkor alone, can be arranged by About Asia Travel. Emirates Holidays also offers packages. 

Tips to stay safe during hot weather
  • Stay hydrated: Drink plenty of fluids, especially water. Avoid alcohol and caffeine, which can increase dehydration.
  • Seek cool environments: Use air conditioning, fans, or visit community spaces with climate control.
  • Limit outdoor activities: Avoid strenuous activity during peak heat. If outside, seek shade and wear a wide-brimmed hat.
  • Dress appropriately: Wear lightweight, loose and light-coloured clothing to facilitate heat loss.
  • Check on vulnerable people: Regularly check in on elderly neighbours, young children and those with health conditions.
  • Home adaptations: Use blinds or curtains to block sunlight, avoid using ovens or stoves, and ventilate living spaces during cooler hours.
  • Recognise heat illness: Learn the signs of heat exhaustion and heat stroke (dizziness, confusion, rapid pulse, nausea), and seek medical attention if symptoms occur.

Director: Laxman Utekar

Cast: Vicky Kaushal, Akshaye Khanna, Diana Penty, Vineet Kumar Singh, Rashmika Mandanna

Rating: 1/5