Climate protesters attempt to turn up the heat with a nutbush traffic swarm
Adelaide’s small contingent of Extinction Rebellion climate protesters were out again today. This time with a peaceful song and dance on Flinders St.
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Despite climate protest group Extinction Rebellion’s best attempts to lure Premier Steven Marshall outside by performing a Nutbush City Limits dance near his office today, the Premier wasn’t digging the beat.
The Premier yesterday said he would be in Cabinet today, encouraging protesters to express their views but not to disrupt businesses and individuals.
But they didn’t deter just over 100 activists trying to draw him out to tune of the Tina Turner classic.
In the fourth day of the Spring Climate Rebellion week, about 50 people performed the classic dance at the Flinders St and Victoria Square intersection in four traffic swarms to disrupt traffic and draw attention to the climate crisis.
Indi Wishart, 26, who asked for the honorific Mx as a non-binary identification, said today’s message remained the same and called on Premier Steven Marshall to address the group.
“We don’t want to disrupt people and cause an inconvenience … and the things that we’ve done so far haven’t brought about change so we think despite the inconvenience, that we do need to do it,” Mx Wishart said.
“The Nutbush is a good time and we’ve known about the (climate) crisis since the Nutbush was invented.”
MORE EXTINCTION REBELLION NEWS:
‘Arrestable action’ incoming for SA climate rebels
Environment Minister David Speirs said yesterday his government was focussed on practical action to address climate change and that there were better ways of protesting than “endless empty gestures that whip up hysteria and do nothing to improve our environment”.
Today Mx Wishart disagreed.
“I say that they’re not doing enough, the science is pretty clear … absolutely not doing enough.”
Tom Giles from Goodwood attended the swarm and cheered from the side of the road with his daughter Hazel, 1.
He said he worried about the lack of government action against climate change and for the future of his family.
“It’s like, do you have another child?” Mr Giles said.
“Or will she (Hazel) be able to have a child?”
Crowds of 400 plus people are expected to gather tomorrow at peak hour for a street party traffic blockage to turn up the heat in climate protests for Adelaide.
Multiple members of Extinction Rebellion are prepared to be arrested, members of the group told The Advertiser.
SAPOL’s message remains unchanged though. A spokeswoman said officers would be on hand to maintain the peace.
“Sufficient police resources will be provided to ensure a peaceful protest is held, to minimise traffic disruptions and that the safety of all members of the community is maintained,” she said.
