News / XR Bristol
Mothers gather in city centre to protest climate inaction
Mothers have gathered in the centre of Bristol to highlight climate inaction.
Sandwiched between International Women’s Day and Mother’s Day, demonstrators hope to raise awareness about the disproportionate impact of climate change on women and children.
The annual demonstration is part of the Global Mothers Rebellion for Climate Justice organised by Extinction Rebellion, and in Bristol, South Bristol Climate Hub and Parents for Future, Bath & Bristol.
is needed now More than ever
It is the fourth annual global Mothers Rebellion, with 62 groups in 26 countries taking part this year.
Lily Stevens, who was there with her daughter, said she was at the gathering “because it is really important to make sure that everybody listens to how much we need to do to protect everybody from the future, especially children as they are the ones that are the future.”
Lily Stevens has joined this year’s Mothers Rebellion to spread awareness about the impact of climate change – photo: Mia Vines Booth
A long-time member of XR, Lily – who volunteers with Avon Needs Trees and works in social care – is taking part in her first Mother’s Rebellion this year.
“I just really feel like in every possible way, we need to be getting the message out there more and more. I feel like there’s been a shift and more people are listening now.
“So the more we can do things like this, the more we can engage with people, and get people to understand and listen to why we need to have hope for the future, for children everywhere.
“As a mother, it feels worrying. There are times when you feel worried about what’s going to happen next. But I do also feel some level of hope. I’ve been thinking about this since I was 18/19.”
“I don’t think we are by any means anywhere we need to be, but it does feel more hopeful than I felt five years ago.”
The latest march comes after a report released by the United Nations found that women are disproportionately impacted by the climate crisis.
“This is because women are more likely to live in poverty than men, have less access to basic human rights like the ability to freely move and acquire land, and face systematic violence that escalates during periods of instability.”
Main photo: Rob Browne
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