Protesters Storm BBC Headquarters, Lock It Down, Then Make Their Demands Known
Bands of environmental protesters put BBC’s London headquarters on lockdown Friday, demanding the world’s largest news broadcaster make global warming its “top editorial issue.”
BBC, the world’s old national news broadcaster, has aired specials on global warming and environmental issues before, but that’s not enough for activists with the group Extinction Rebellion.
Hundreds of activists stormed eight BBC locations across the U.K. and Berlin, Germany, according to Extinction Rebellion.
The group sent a list of demands to BBC on Sunday, including a meeting with BBS director general Tony Hall “to discuss how the BBC can tell the full truth on the climate and ecological emergency.”
The group’s list of demands also included treating global warming “at the level of urgency placed on informing the public about the second world war.”
The letter demands BBC declare “a climate and ecological emergency.”
Extinction Rebellion protestors outside the BBC Bristol office, have chained themselves to the gates, making a list of demands & calling on the BBC to improve coverage of climate change. No arrests so far. pic.twitter.com/fNf7TUjSNz
— Alex Morss (@morss_alex) December 21, 2018
Extinction Rebellion made headlines recently after dozens of its members were arrested for blocking five London bridges over global warming.
The group plans on escalating its “direct action” campaigns across Europe.
“(W)e’re facing a potentially existential threat to both our nation and our species, but the BBC’s coverage is nowhere close to reflecting this,” Serena Schellenberg of Extinction Rebellion said in a statement.
BBC headquarters in London was locked down Friday afternoon, The Guardian reported. BBC staff were unable to enter or leave the building as protesters carried signs warning of a “climate crisis.”
Went with my 2yo daughter to #ExtinctionRebellion London #ReclaimtheBBC protest. Please BBC, for all our sakes, give #ClimateBreakdown the extensive coverage it deserves and don’t give a platform to deniers. #Tellthetruth pic.twitter.com/1vmH0FY8TB
— Anna Orange-on-the-Snowman’s-nose (@orridge_anna) December 21, 2018
#ExtinctionRebellion #London #BBC can you hear us?! pic.twitter.com/kUfPJ939HN
— Pullens Tribe (@pullensgardens) December 21, 2018
Environmentalists have targeted BBC in recent years for allowing global warming skeptics on air.
Increasingly, activists and left-wing pundits are calling on news outlets to exclude those who disagree with them on climate change from coverage.
The BBC defended its record on covering global warming and environmental issues.
“The BBC has a proud record of leading the way in sustainability in the media industry and we’ve set out further action including cutting energy use further, eradicating single-use plastic and minimising the impact of necessary travel,” a BBC spokesperson told The Guardian.
“In the last charter period, we reduced our carbon footprint by a third. People can also see the clear impact programmes like Blue Planet II and Dynasties have had on public debate about the impact of humankind on the planet,” the spokesperson said.
Indeed, BBC angered skeptics and those who disagree with the political left on global warming by directing its reporters in September not to include them in news coverage.
Extinction Rebellion’s BBC protests come after unidentified persons used drones to halt air traffic at one of Europe’s busiest airports — London’s Gatwick airport.
Environmental activists are among the list of suspects police say could have been behind the drone blockade.
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