Extinction Rebellion Ireland will target polluters and not the public in its upcoming campaign of civil disobedience.
The group is taking the first step in its 2023 campaign holding a surprise protest later today.
On Newstalk Breakfast this morning, spokesperson Extinction Rebellion Ireland (XRI) spokesman Manuel Salazar gave a hint of what may be in store.
“Many people out there, the general public out there, don’t now that a lot of banks and vulture funds are investing in fossil fuels and they are all operating here in Ireland,” he said.
“A lot of people don’t know as well that the Government is complicit in allowing these companies to carry on, business as usual.
“The Government should be an entity to safeguard our environment and it is not happening.
“The Government themselves, they subsidise also fossil fuels so they are one of the main culprits of all of this.
“So, we have to highlight all of this. We want the people to take action as well and to put the pressure on.”
Extinction Rebellion Ireland will begin a campaign of civil disobedience today in the name of tackling climate change. They will hold surprise protests at places in the name of tackling climate change. Ciara and Shane discuss on @ntbreakfast pic.twitter.com/OBGCsjnIyi
— NewstalkFM (@NewstalkFM) February 27, 2023
Mr Salazar said XRI is not aiming to target the general public.
“We are going to target the polluters, and what I mean by that is the Government, because we think they are not effective enough to tackle climate change, but also companies and corporations that are investing actively in fossil fuels.
“That is basically our target. It is not the public. It is not what you have seen in other countries. The plan this year is attacking polluters.”
Protests
He said the group wants the public to join in the protests, noting, “we feel that the public is on our side”.
“It is not for Extinction Rebellion Ireland, the objective of blocking roads,” he said.
“We are going to have some awareness of course. Sometimes we have to make ourselves visible and explain the issues we want to raise about climate change but it is not what we have seen in other countries.”
Extinction Rebellion
He said Extinction Rebellion has different approaches in different countries.
“I have seen that people are concerned about the tactics we use to highlight the issues,” he said.
“In our case, we believe we should target the polluters and not the public itself. We feel that the public is on our side.”
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Main image is a file photo of Extinction Rebellion protesters outside Government Buildings, 08-10-2019. Image: REUTERS/Lorraine O'Sullivan
