EUSA announce official support of climate group Extinction Rebellion

At a EUSA Student Council meeting in March this year, attendees overwhelmingly voted in favour of a resolution to "Support the Extinction Rebellion and Declare a Climate Emergency".

23 students voted against the motion, while 69 voted in favour, meaning it immediately passed and was confirmed as official policy.

The motion states EUSA's proposed actions:

"1. The Students’ Association should officially support the aims of Extinction Rebellion and declare a climate emergency, to communicate this by publishing a statement publicly.

"2. To support the Extinction Rebellion and the student group already on campus where possible."

Extinction Rebellion are an environmentalist movement seeking strong and immediate action on climate change.

The grassroots movement have been causing a stir across the UK this week, with protests taking place across major cities, causing mass disruptions.

Last Tuesday, around 300 activists took to the streets of Edinburgh, completely blocking off North Bridge and areas of Princes Street. Police made 29 arrests on the day.

Videos and images from the march can be seen of The Edinburgh Tab Instagram highlights.

Meanwhile, in London, Extinction Rebellion protestors have blocked traffic at Marble Arch, Parliament Square, Oxford Circus and Waterloo Bridge. Activists have also obstructed trains on the London railway, with one man gluing himself to a DLR carriage at Canary Wharf last Wednesday, as another man and woman stood holding a protest banner on the carriage roof.

EUSA's Vice President, Georgie Harris, told The Tab Edinburgh: "There is a climate emergency and national governments need to take action to stop the effects of climate change, which will particularly harm younger generations.

"There have been youth protests just outside Heathrow airport so far – whatever some people think of the group itself, it’s really great that young people and students are standing up for something they believe strongly in, using XR as a platform, and are trying to put climate justice firmly on the national agenda."