Hundreds of people from all over Herefordshire will gather at Castle Green on Saturday, December 1st to march to the Cathedral and through High Town to demand that the government recognises what Extinction Rebellion (XR) call a ‘climate emergency’. Marchers hope the government will take action appropriate to the scale of the threat we all face.

Cathy Monkley, who lives in Much Marcle, said: “I am marching with Extinction Rebellion because the emergency we face is threatening to rob my daughter of a safe world where she can bring up a family."

Thousands of people have taken action over the last three weeks since the declaration of Rebellion on October 31st, that was addressed by Caroline Lucas MP, Clive Lewis MP and George Monbiot. The XR rebellion has spread fast, showing that people feel the time to act is now. There have been actions in London, Oxford, Manchester, Bristol, Cardiff and now Hereford.

This week sees the tenth anniversary of the Climate Change Act. This was the world’s first law to cut greenhouse gas emissions, and over the past decade it’s helped us reduce emissions in the UK. It shows that when the UK government acts, we can change things for the better.

They would like this government to admit that there is a climate emergency and to act accordingly. It should focus on putting in place a plan that delivers zero net carbon emissions by 2025. The UK Committee on Climate Change is currently consulting on the UK’s transition to a net zero-carbon economy, asking when the UK should reach net zero emissions and how such reductions can be achieved? They say “2025 to stay alive!”

They have asked local MP, Jesse Norman, to respond to their demands and are seeking an urgent meeting with him to discuss what he can do personally. One of the organisers told the Ross Gazette: “As a Minister at the Department of Transport he has the power to act constructively on this immediately. For example, his government could declare an immediate end to fracking in the UK today. Fracking is a vile, dangerous activity that inflicts pointless damage to our countryside, causing earthquakes, and polluting water supplies.

“Fracking is only happening due to the financial and political support the Conservative government has given it. It distracts us from the steps the government should immediately take to put us on a more sustainable path.”

Members of XR declare that we are seeing the mass extinction of life on earth take place before our eyes.

In Herefordshire, 90% of the frogs have disappeared in the last 40 years. Entire species are disappearing at an ever-increasing rate. In spite of the dire implications for human life it is our own greed, carelessness and stupidity that is causing this destruction. This is the extinction we are rebelling against. Their march hopes to express their grief at this loss.

The march will end at Shire Hall where it will be addressed by various speakers including Diana Toynbee, Green Party candidate for Hereford South, who said: "Everyone loves nature, our beautiful fragile life support system. We shouldn’t have to protest to protect it, but we do. Government policies are attacking our countryside, destroying birds and animals and poisoning our air and water, and it’s all completely unnecessary. Please join us to demand a better future." See this week’s paper for more stories like this, available in shops and as a Digital Edition now.