Russell Brand and Vivienne Westwood lead climate change protest outside Parliament

 
Taking a stand: protesters in polar bear costumes outside the Houses of Parliament (Picture: Reuters)
Standard Reporter7 March 2015

Comedian Russell Brand and fashion designer Vivienne Westwood were among the celebrities who led a climate change protest outside the Houses of Parliament today.

About 5000 environmental activists cheered as a host of speakers attacked the Government for not taking action on environmental issues.

Protesters gathered at Lincoln's Inn Fields before marching across the capital, in what was dubbed the People's Climate March.

They were led by a man with green leaves attached to his head, who was riding a bicycle with large wings bearing the slogan: "Look after your mum."

At one stage about 100 marchers blocked traffic outside Charing Cross station after siting down in the middle of the road with their bicycles.

Others chanted "power to the people, power to the polar bear" as they marched towards Parliament.

March: a protester holds a placard (Picture: Reuters)

Many carried placards with messages such as "climate not trident" and "say no to fracking".

Speaking at the event via video link, Ms Westwood described the demonstration as "super important".

She said: "As you march my models will be walking down the catwalk.

"It's very important you are there. I believe this demo is super important for the whole world."

She continued: "At the moment we in the UK need to do two things to handle everything for the best, we need to demonstrate, we need to vote in the elections.

Prop: a dinosaur model at the protest (Picture: Reuters)

"The main parties just want power, they believe everything should be owned by a few people that don't want change.

"We must keep up the fight against climate change, the clock is ticking."

Climate change author Naomi Klein and Green Party MP Caroline Lucas also spoke at the event.

Costume: a protester wears an anti-fracking placard (Picture: Reuters)

The Brighton Pavilion MP told the crowd: "We are saying no to climate change and no to fossil firms.

"We know that what's lacking isn't the technology, isn't the money, what's lacking is simply the political will."

Last September thousands of people gathered for the 2014 People's Climate March in the capital, which was joined by actress Emma Thompson.

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