[Lauchenoiria]

Lauchenoirian Guardian

Two arrests at environmental protests as banner draped across Xiomeran embassy
11th September 2019

Two protesters have been arrested after hanging a banner across the Xiomeran embassy during a weekly protest over the Xiomeran government’s proposed plans to develop the Manauia Island nature reserve. This takes place during two weeks of planned environmental protests in the capital of Buttercity, at which protesters are calling on both the Lauchenoirian and foreign governments to do more to protect the environment and halt climate change.

The banner, which read “Manauia Island: development means death” was hung from the outside of two upstairs windows on the embassy building by two individuals who climbed the side of the building. After ignoring requests by Lauchenoirian police to climb down of their own accord, the two were arrested. The crowd of protesters booed the police officers as the two were taken away.

Two weeks of environmental protests run by Climate Alliance Lauchenoiria – an umbrella group composed of a variety of environmental activist groups – are presently taking place in the capital of Buttercity, with shorter protests expected to take place in a number of other Lauchenoirian cities over the coming weeks. The protests have remained peaceful so far, with no arrests other than those outside the Xiomeran embassy.

A number of speakers from Classrooms for Climate, an organisation of high school students supporting greater environmental action, are set to speak today at the demonstration after school hours. The organisers of the protests are promising a “family-friendly” demonstration this evening in Union Square, and have invited families who support action on the climate to attend.

However, not all in Lauchenoiria are supportive of the protests. None are set to take place in either Costeno or Ecanta provinces, the two areas hardest hit by last year’s civil war. Residents of southern Lauchenoiria see the protests as a distraction from the efforts to rebuild the country, and potentially harmful to those in the south who need an economic boost in order to put their lives back together after losing their homes and livelihoods in the war.

“We need help and support to rebuild the cities that were harmed in the war,” says Dimas Bustillo, a resident of Summersea. “These people want more regulations that will do more damage to the economy. The protests are supported by rich students in the north whose families made it through the war untouched, and they give no consideration to the worst off in our society.”