XR Bristol close down Filton Abbeywood MoD centre

At about 6.30am, before dawn, a coalition of XR groups blockaded the vast MoD centre in north Bristol. Around forty activists from XR Bristol, Christian Climate Action, XR Peace and others unloaded wooden towers and a tripod to seal off all three vehicle entrances. Banners were strung across the roads and people clipped their arms into lockon tubes.

The date chosen was the fifth anniversary of the Paris Agreement pledging to keep climate changebelow1.5 degrees Celsius.

The blockade drew attention to what the protestors describe as the government’s “dangerously inadequate response” to the climate emergency.  The Government has just committed £24 billion to military spending over the next 4 years, yet only £16 billion to their Climate Plan

Protester Reverend Sue Parfitt of Christian Climate Action, said “I don’t believe the answer to the ‘aggravated threats to international peace and security’ is to develop more sophisticated weapons. “We have to spend the money that’s needed on climate action. If we fail on this, the results will be unimaginable suffering.”

Sita Ruskin, of Bristol Extinction Rebellion, said “We’re here to say to our government: spend our money on combatting climate change – not on putting weapons into combat.  Failing to take action on climate change is what will fuel war. It’s predicted that conflicts could increase by 10% to 20% for every half degree Fahrenheit increase in global temperatures.”

Police moved in to clear protesters by late morning. Quaker Gaie Delap and Reverend Sue Parfitt were arrested for obstruction of the highway and released later in the day. There was traffic disruption around the site for the rest of the day.

https://xrbristol.org.uk/2020/12/11/bristol-mod-site-blockaded-spend-money-on-climate-action-not-on-weapons/

https://www.bristolpost.co.uk/news/bristol-news/extinction-rebellion-blockade-mod-abbey-4787780

Further information can be found at the new XR Peace Bristol facebook page www.facebook.com/xrpeacebristol/

Background information on the arms industry in north Bristol at https://bristolagainstarmstrade.wordpress.com/

Link to video of Interview about the shocking war machine in north Bristol https://www.facebook.com/rowland.dye/videos/10158574824296955