Of course I’m in favour of nature, and appalled at the incredible loss of species cuased by various human activities around the world, including the destruction of forests, pollution of the seas, rivers, air and land and the changes to climate caused by increasing levels of carbon dioxide making the world warmer.
So it was good to see people coming out to protest, even about the losses of some of the less fluffy of species like earwigs, but with a few exceptions there did seem to be a lack of the politics that is vital to actually do anything about the situation.
The event was planned to launch a new ‘People’s Manifesto for Wildlife’ drawn up by Packham with the aid of 17 independent experts and scientists aimed at halting the drastic decline in British wildlife. I have to admit not having studied this; perhaps it does call for the massive political change that would be needed to implement it, and perhaps it does (as did quite a few actually at the protest) see the UK’s problem as a relatively small part of a global problem.
I hope that all those who went on this march were also later in the year out on the streets supporting ‘Extinction Rebellion’, but there were not that many that I recognised, although that movement is based on the same kind of scientific evidence that was behind this event – and more.
It was certainly an event remarkable for the variety and inventiveness of so of the headgear and various giant (and smaller) animals on display, some very finely made and intricate, others rather less so. Bats seemed to attract a number of the protesters and there are photographs of these along with some very fine owls , rats and birds and some fine placards on My London Diary.
One of the speakers congratulated those present for coming out and taking part, telling the hundreds of anorak-wearers that “we are used to going out in the rain”, that we don’t mind it at all. I have friends who are bird watchers (I think they call themselves ‘birders), and while I have nothing against them, it isn’t an interest I greatly share. But now is a time when they would be better standing on the streets than in the marshes and calling for real change, not just on one day a year but keeping up the pressure. Let’s hope they do – and follow David Attenborough to the barricades.
As a photographer I was pretty annoyed by the rain, though as usual I got on with the job. But I minded very drop that got on my lens and spoilt a picture. When they left Hyde Park to march to Parliament Square, I was pleased to be able to get on the tube at Marble Arch, though not to avoid going with them, but to photograph another protest, which appeared not to be taking place, though I did find another as well as a large orange lion before I returned to meet the wildlife walk as it came up Pall Mall.
My account and more pictures: People’s Walk for Wildlife.
______________________________________________________
There are no adverts on this site and it receives no sponsorship, and I like to keep it that way. But it does take a considerable amount of my time and thought, and if you enjoy reading it, a small donation – perhaps the cost of a beer – would be appreciated.
My London Diary : London Photos : Hull : River Lea/Lee Valley : London’s Industrial Heritage
All photographs on this and my other sites, unless otherwise stated, are taken by and copyright of Peter Marshall, and are available for reproduction or can be bought as prints.
To order prints or reproduce images
________________________________________________________