Students protested against climate change today as part of global day of action.

Young people made their way through Bridport with placards showing support for the environment and calling for action against the climate change crisis. 

The students, from the Colfox School Strike 4 Climate group, says it is trying to raise awareness and make a 'small difference' to the lives of the people of Bridport.

A spokesman for the group said: "We were inspired by the Swedish teenager Greta Thunberg, and decided to participate in the Fridays For Future school climate strike campaign. We are also striking in co-ordination with the Bridport Friends of the Earth this time. We just want people to consider their actions with climate change and the environment in mind."

Edward Morello, Liberal Democrat Parliamentary candidate for West Dorset, joined students and residents in Bridport to show his support for the urgent need for radical action.

Mr Morello said: “As someone who works in the renewable energy sector, I am faced every day with the shocking lack of action by the people responsible for protecting our future. We are rapidly running out of time for us to avoid the worst effects of climate change, I’m here to say the time for action is now.

“Despite global ocean temperature increases, despite the increased frequency of extreme weather events, we continue to pump CO2 into the atmosphere at alarming rates, the government continues to pretend that it is business as usual. Business as usual will result in a climate crisis humanity is ill-equipped for.

“There is still time for us to avoid the worse effects of climate change but it will require radical action to decarbonise our economy and change habits."

Two days of action have been planned by climate change activists in Bridport, and today's protest forms part of it. 

 

Tonight (Friday), Extinction Rebellion is hosting a free public talk at Chapel in the Garden, East Street, about climate and ecology.

The talk starts at 7.15pm and guests should arrive by 7pm.

Extinction Rebellion is also planning demonstration against cuts to bus services tomorrow. 

Extinction Rebellion plans to 'green' Bridport bus depot with pots and plants before it holds a People's Assembly.

A ‘walking bus’ will pass through the town between 10am and 11am to collect ‘passengers’ and conduct them to the station.

The People’s Assembly will take place from 11.30am until 12.30pm, when a formal discussion will take place about how public transport might be managed better, for both people and the environment, and how climate change is already affecting local wildlife

Speakers from Dorset Council have been invited and veteran campaigner Bob Driscoll from the West Dorset Western Area Transport Action Group (WATAG) will speak.

The demonstration is in response to changes to First Wessex's winter bus timetable, particularly the X51 and X53 Jurassic Coast routes connecting Bridport, Lyme Regis and Axminster with Weymouth and Dorchester.

The changes, which come into force this Sunday, will see the withdrawal of Sunday services until Easter 2020 - although there will be a three-hourly X53 service between Weymouth and Bridport, via Chickerell, Abbotsbury, Burton Bradstock and West Bay until December 22. The X51 to Dorchester will become a two-hourly service and early morning and late evening services are to be withdrawn on both routes.

Extinction Rebellion Bridport said: "This action is to underline the need for a sustainable bus service in west Dorset and to encourage people to question the use of their vehicle. Idealistic and innovative ideas invited, as from few to many comes great change.