Local resident Peter Martin, who has excellent green credentials and has been at the forefront of looking for new uses for items so they can be reused, rather than get sent to landfill, has raised some concerns about the group called Extinction Rebellion.

The group is behind several high profile marches and other events drawing attention to the dangers of ignoring climate change. They are particularly known for encouraging youngsters, incldung schoolchilden to get involved.

Mr Martin said: “In response to a letter from B Jamieson published last week, I can only endorse what has been suggested; go to the Extinction Rebellion site, read the manifesto, watch the videos, and decide for yourselves, as have I.”

He said there are some very interesting comments from the organisers of school pupils protests, one is “And I’m here to say that XR isn’t about the climate.”

He asks if it not about climate change then what is their agenda.

And he is worried that other comments on their website include: “We do not intend to hand further power to our politicians,” “Instead we demand a Citizens’ Assembly to oversee the changes,” “We are prepared to be arrested and go to prison”.

He said: “Martyrs are awesome, are they not? Just leave impressionable kids out of it please, especially if sticking them at the front.”

On the issue of a Citizen’s Assembly he asked what would happen if we replaced politicians with randomly-selected people. And he quotes from an ‘instructional’ video: “Act AS IF the information presented is real,” “ER is planning an uprising against the British Government,” “50 people in jail gets you a front cover,” “Not everyone has to go to jail, but that is useful.”

Mr Martin concluded by saying: “I know which future I would prefer for my children and grandchildren, and have, do and will work towards it, whilst being alert to whom presumes to guide them there.”See this week’s paper for more stories like this, available in shops and as a Digital Edition now.