[Lauchenoiria]

Lauchenoirian Guardian

Two week environmental protest begins in Buttercity
8th September 2019

A group calling themselves the Climate Alliance have begun a series of environmental protests in the centre of Buttercity, which aim to draw attention to climate change. They intend to stage protests in the capital every day for two weeks, and have criticised the Lauchenoirian government for “not taking the climate issue seriously”, along with criticising various foreign governments, including those of Xiomera and Zamastan.

The group has also been behind two protests outside the Xiomeran embassy over the Manauia Island development, which are scheduled to take place every Wednesday until the Xiomerans scrap plans to allow development on the island, which was previously a protected nature reserve. The embassy protests were supported by Green Party leader Lucie Scott, who attended and asked the Xiomeran government to rethink their decision.

The group have announced plans to stage a two-week protest in the capital, followed by weekly action until the Lauchenoirian government sets new ambitious climate targets and “prioritises the environment over all other issues”. The group is an alliance of a number of environmental groups, including a group run by high-schoolers called Classrooms for Climate, the student wing of the Green Party, and direct-action group the Watchdogs of Our Earth.

A Zamastanian student, Mylon Sebasti, who is presently doing a year abroad at Buttercity University spoke to the protesters today, who held a minute’s silence for all the lives lost in the earthquake in Zamastan last week. Sebasti, a member of the Extinction Combatants of Zamah St’an who has frequently spoken at protests in Zamastan, called upon the Zamastanian government to prioritise the environment in their efforts to rebuild the areas devastated by the war.

“Zamastan must put the environment first, and focus their efforts on ensuring that the earthquake does not cause irreparable damage to biodiversity in the area,” Sebasti said to the crowd. “The oil spill from the Kelowna facility is just one of the things that need to be addressed in light of this tragedy. The lives lost are tragic, and we must make changes to ensure that more people don’t die from a knock-on effect of the damage caused.”

The protests are set to continue in the capital for two weeks, taking place primarily in Union Square in the centre of the city. Traffic is urged to avoid the vicinity, and those planning to travel through the area are urged to take the subway, which is unaffected, or plan an alternate route. Climate Alliance have stated that the protests will remain completely peaceful, and that they will be disbanded at the first sign of violence. So far, no violent acts have taken place, and there have been no arrests.