Indian eco campaigner climbs UK Parliament roof

At least 55 environmental campaigners, including an Indian, climbed on to the roof of the British Parliament, demanding action from the UK and other developed countries to save climate.

Brikesh Singh, a representative from Greenpeace India, and other campaigners occupied the roof of the building in the shadow of the clock tower on Sunday. Singh said that 20 campaigners, including himself, went up to the roof top to demand that developed countries show leadership to tackle climate change.

"I came here to join this protest because the actions of the UK government have huge significance for the people of India," he told PTI.

"Unless the developed nations shoulder their responsibilities and make the necessary commitments to cut emissions, the developing world will never join the process. Our government wants a deal at Copenhagen (climate meet in December), but climate change was caused by the industrialised nations, and they need to show leadership in solving it." Singh, 30, said climate change is a global issue and needs global action to be resolved.

He said the UK Government could set an example to the world and take steps they knew are necessary and that could go a long way to breaking the deadlock in the international negotiations. "I urge all UK politicians to sign up to Greenpeace's manifesto, for the sake of the people of Britain, India and the world."

Greenpeace executive director John Sauven said: "We've got to raise the temperature of the debate because we are really running out of time. We are at a minute to midnight and there is so little time left but so much to do." A giant banner was waved from a turret and 15 smaller flags were unfurled by activists even as a police helicopter circled overhead in the drizzle.

Sauven said the activists planned to stay on the roof surrounding Westminster Hall overnight and in the morning MPs arriving for the start of Parliament would be asked to sign up a 12-point manifesto.As the protesters occupied Parliament's roof, police cleared the pavement directly in front of the building on St Margaret Street and a fire engine entered its grounds.

Sauven said the idea behind campaign "is that we've been through three-party political conferences but when you look at what needs to happen in terms of building a low carbon economy, creating green jobs and helping to save the world from climate change, the fact is that George Osborne, Shadow Chancellor, didn't spend one word talking about it and Alistair Darling, the Chancellor, spent just one sentence."This should be at the core of what they are talking about. If we want to get people back to work and fill new industries that can be competitive and solve the problems of climate change, political parties have got to get on message not just in terms of their words but also with their deeds."

Greenpeace UK said in 56 days the world would gather for the key climate change conference in Copenhagen but as things stand "there is a very real risk of failure."


Image: A Greenpeace campaigner waves a flag near Westminster Hall in London.

Photograph: Cobbing/Greenpeace