Extinction Rebellion’s popularity soars after two weeks of civil disobedience
Public support for climate change pressure group Extinction Rebellion has quadrupled since it began two weeks of coordinated civil disobedience.
It has raised £200,000 in that time thanks to a new wave of volunteers and donations, largely ranging from £10 to £50, totaling £365,000 since January.
Before protests Extinction Rebellion says 10,000 pledged support to demonstrations and that number has now risen to 40,000.
An Extinction Rebellion spokesperson said: “What this shows is that Extinction Rebellion has spoken to people who have been wanting to act on this for such a long time but haven’t known how.
“The debate on this is over – ordinary people are now saying it is time for politicians to act with real urgency.”
16-year-old Greta Thunberg became the figurehead of the climate strike movement after leading protests and school walkouts in her native Sweden.
On Tuesday she addressed the UK’s parliament. She said: “You lied to us. You gave us false hope. You told us that the future was something to look forward to. You don’t listen to the science because you are only interested in solutions that will enable you to carry on like before.”