The Bangor Extinction Rebellion (XR) group welcomed the Change is Now Bus Tour to Bangor on Friday 30 September.
The bus, run on recycled biofuel, has been touring across the UK and through Wales, raising awareness about the climate and ecological crisis, and how it connects to the cost-of-living crisis. Local people were offered ways to get involved in the movement to demand action on the climate and ecological crises, and to join with thousands of others taking action in Spring 2023.
Bangor is one of over 60 towns and cities in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland that Extinction Rebellion members visited, met by local XR supporters.
Ayeisha, a Disability Assessor from Llanberis, who took part, said: “When you become aware of the seriousness and urgency of the climate emergency and how our government is doing nothing about it, it can feel really despairing. For me, the antidote to despair is hope, and nothing brings me more hope than to see my community working and taking action together to protect our futures”
Francis Taylor, a counsellor from Groeslon, said: “Despite the awful weather many Bangor residents responded positively to XR Bangor’s outreach actions on Friday. There was a lot of good feedback that they believe the UK Government need to do a lot more to combat the Climate Catastrophe engulfing the world.”
The bus group were welcomed at Storiel after a very stormy journey and joined the local Bangor group talking to local people about their concerns and hopes in relation to the climate and ecological crises. Many visitors to Storiel braved the high winds and rain to meet the local activists and find out how to support the Extinction Rebellion campaign for a safer and fairer future for all.
Alison Shaw, a retired geologist of Conwy, explained: “We can see how the cost-of-living crisis is a direct result of the climate and ecological crises. This summer the UK suffered temperatures up to 40 degrees, followed by flooding and sewage on our beaches, with a predicted crop failure of up to 50%. Oil and gas companies continue to rake in billions of pounds in profits, and the new government seems set on helping them do it. As ordinary people, we must do something before it’s too late.”
Recent polling by Ipsos found that 8 in 10 people in the UK are concerned about the climate crisis and over 52% percent think the government’s plan to get net zero by 2050 is too late, that’s around 35 million people who think the government’s plan is not good enough.
