PICTURES: Inverness joins in with World Earth Day events
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Dozens of eco-conscious Highlanders flocked to the heart of Inverness to join in with global World Earth Day events.
A rally was held in the city to mark the occasion on Saturday, which saw millions of people worldwide take part in activities to raise awareness of the climate and other environmental issues.
Around 70 people attended the Inverness rally, which was addressed by speakers from a range of organisations and groups.
“We had a good vibe on the march despite the cold, with about 70 people there,” said Ruth Dunster, from Extinction Rebellion’s (XR) Highlands and Islands group.
“We had speakers from Moray Greens, Inverness Quakers, Highland Health Professionals, and Elaine, Inverness’s newly-elected bicycle mayor complete with mayoral bicycle chain.
“So XR provided a platform for different environmental groups to come together for Earth Day.”
A number of Highlanders and Moray residents also headed down to London at the weekend for a mass rally there, dubbed The Big One.
This event, which was also held to coincide with the Earth Day events at the weekend, aimed to get up to 100,000 people protesting outside parliament.
It was being held in the wake of the publication of a new UN report, which saw top scientists deliver a “final warning” on the climate crisis stating that the world needs to act now or it’s going to be too late.
Ruth said the Inverness rally’s success “wasn’t bad for XR operating on a skeleton crew while most of the Highland contingent are actually part of the protesters in London”.
She continued: “XR is rebuilding after Covid like many groups but with a new urgency as climate change is becoming more and more of an existential threat to humanity.
“We will be regrouping after the Big One protest and new members would be very welcome.
"Contact us at xrinverness@protonmail.com”
