Extinction Rebellion disrupt Christchurch gas conference

Thursday, 31 October 2019

The Extinction Rebellion protest at Latimer Square in Christchurch in October 2019.

Environmental protesters are making their voices heard at a gas conference in central Christchurch.

About 50 members of the Extinction Rebellion group went to the Rydges in Latimer Square, where they banged drums, waved flags and chanted over megaphones.

They did not stop people from entering the New Zealand Gas Conference, but briefly blocked the road before police moved them on.

The Extinction Rebellion protest at Latimer Square in Christchurch on Thursday.

Extinction Rebellion media liaison Grace Stainthorpe said they were there to highlight the damage the use of fossil fuels causes the environment.

Protesters say we are on the path to extinction if we do not act to stop irreversable climate change.

'Extinction Rebellion is here today in Latimer Square to say gas is a dying industry and investing in it just prolongs the damaging industry and displaces clean and green energy projects. Gas does not have a future.'

She said the protesters would be using their bodies in a 'non-threatening way' throughout the day to cause 'civil disobedience' .

Extinction Rebellion says fossil fuels are the wrong path for New Zealand.

In August, 19 people were arrested and five train services were disrupted when Extinction Rebellion protesters sat on train tracks in Christchurch to send a message about the use of coal. All were released on pre-charge warnings.

Internationally, Extinction Rebellion has raised the profile of climate change issues, including controversially blocking the London tube at rush hour.