“I will be on the front line with my white stick creating as much disruption as I can” - former Paralympic athlete arrested in Extinction Rebellion Bristol blockade
Exeter Extinction Rebellion groups were among those conducting road blocks at a junction near the M32 in Bristol where 40 people have been arrested so far yesterday as part of the five day #ActNow climate protests in five UK cities.
Among them was James, 54, a former Paralympic athlete and Charity CEO from Exeter, who was glued to a pink bathtub near Cabot Circus when he was arrested.
James said “I was compelled to join the Rebellion after witnessing the extreme grief of my 25 year-old daughter who has been studying climate and ecological breakdown for a number of years. The intensity of her grief and her subsequent mental health challenges opened my eyes.”
Four other protesters locked on to the bathtub were also removed by police.
“I guess I’m a bit like Greta Thunberg” James said “as I definitely have autistic traits so I can’t see why those who lead us can’t see what’s going on. I’m also severely visually impaired (politically correct term for almost blind) but those who know me joke that I’m good at bypassing hurdles and barrier’s because I just don’t see them! I’ve been described as an indefatigable optimist but the prospect of mass extinction really challenges this mindset.”
“I’m a mathematician and probabilistic and I’ve worked through a decision-making process in my mind the result of which is that I’m prepared to go to prison, go on hunger strike and even give up my life if that would help to buy us some time to combat the horrors of what seems to be ahead of us.”
“I will be on the front line with my white stick creating as much disruption as I can because I believe this just might result in our Government starting to Act Now.”
Another Devonian, Dr Charlie Bishop, 39, Lecturer in University of Exeter Law Department, was with the Exeter group yesterday, having presented a talk on climate chaos at Exeter Central Library last week. She commented: “I have no choice but to be there rebelling against global governments’ inaction…, which means my 12 year old daughter might not even live to be as old as me…..”
Claire Richards of Crediton witnessed the road block at the junction close to the M32. Some motorists who were delayed were impatient and shouted, others beeped and tooted in support as they passed the Extinction Rebellion banners https://www.facebook.com/XRExeter/
Further actions are expected today.
