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The Independent UK
The Independent UK
Lifestyle
Sabrina Barr

Ellie Goulding and Daisy Lowe demand climate action in Extinction Rebellion video

Celebrities including singer Ellie Goulding, actor Imelda Staunton and model Daisy Lowe have appeared in a video for environmental movement Extinction Rebellion (XR) to demand that governments take action against climate change.

The video, which is titled: “Governments – where is your plan?” was developed by Love Actually film director Richard Curtis and produced by creative agency Rankin.

The short film features a variety of spokespeople aged between eight and 80, including children, XR activists and a selection of famous faces.

They explain that the “planet is in crisis”, stating that governments need to safeguard future generations by protecting the world’s forests, oceans and wildlife.

When Goulding appears in the video wearing an XR badge, she affirms that the organisation is demanding to be involved in the decision-making processes of governments, saying: “It’s our futures too.”

Actor ImeldaStaunton (Extinction Rebellion/PA Wire)

“We demand that our governments reduce global carbon emissions to zero within 10 years,” states social activist Nimco Ali.

Other celebrities featured in the short film include Downton Abbey star Jim Carter, comedian Simon Amstell and actor Jaime Winstone.

Speaking about the purpose of the video, television presenter and naturalist Chris Packham said that “time has run out.”

“It’s act now or face almost unimaginable consequences for life on Earth,” Packham stated.

Television presenter Chris Packham (Extinction Rebellion/PA Wire)

“So if the drivers of change are asleep at the wheel, it’s time to shake and wake them with one hand and to empower ourselves to make our own differences with the other.”

Winstone added: ”This film must reach governments and ring the alarm bell to act now on the climate crisis we are all living in. We must all ask of them #WhereIsYourPlan.” 

Extinction Rebellion recently partook in an “autumn uprising”, which resulted in areas around Parliament, the Bank of England and London City Airport being targeted by protesters.

The demonstrations led to the Metropolitan Police enforcing a London-wide ban on Extinction Rebellion activity, which made the assembly of more than two people linked to the action illegal.

However, High Court judges later heard that the ban on Extinction Rebellion protests was unlawful.

“The condition imposed was wholly uncertain, an abuse of power and irrational because it purported to apply to future assemblies, when there is no power to impose such a condition,” said Phillippa Kaufmann QC.

Celebrity supporters of XR recently signed an open letter describing themselves as “hypocrites” for leading “high carbon lives”.

The letter featured the signatures of more than 100 well-known individuals, including Avengers: Endgame star Benedict Cumberbatch, actor Sienna Miller and musician Sir Bob Geldof.

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