Extinction Rebellion Sank a House to Ask the Government to Take Climate Change Actions

(Photo : Reuters)
This replica that floats in the River Thames is meant to "visually connect" with the people.

You will probably panic and cry if you see your house sank under the flood. That was what the Extinction Rebellion wants you to remember on the recent demonstration they staged.

In an attempt to "send an SOS to the government on climate action", the climate conservation group sent a replica of a suburban house to float on the River Thames in front of London's Tower Bridge on Sunday.

Unless actions were taken to control greenhouse gas emissions, homes, businesses, and people's lives are at risk, the group said in a statement.

Their protest was backed up by a recent scientific prediction that the sea level could rise up to five meters by the end of the 21st century. The same study also claimed that some coastal areas will become inhabitable and could displace millions of people.

READ: Experts Warn: Millions Might Go Homeless As Sea Level Rises

The sinking house was chosen for this demonstration because the group wanted something that can "visually connect" to people, said Katey Burak and Rob Higgs, who designed the props.

Extinction Rebellion also accused Boris Johnson, the prime minister of Britain, of slacking on widespread flooding. They even said Prime Minister Johnson does not even consider it as a national emergency.

We sympathize with those who have lost their homes and livelihood due to flood, the group claimed. They also warned the government that they will continue to demand until these problems will be considered as a "national and global emergency".

Ever since its foundation in 2018, the Extinction Rebellion has been conducting a series of demonstrations. This October, they tried to shut down the operation of an airport in London as a protest against its expansion. One Paralympic medalist even glued himself on top of a plane.

Then in the same month, its expansion in New York also commit public misconduct by blocking the traffic flow in Time Square with a huge boat.

The "Greta-shaming" Trend

Some workplaces in Israel were hanging the climate activist's picture near single-use plastic items like spoon and cup to discourage employees from using single-use plastics, according to Haaretz journalist Allison Kaplan Sommer.

Through her Twitter accounts, Sommer posted a thread containing the scowling image of the young conservationist. There was another one which appears to be meme with a caption of "How dare you?"

A trend in Tel Aviv workplace cafeterias - photos of a judgemental Greta Thunberg next to disposable utensils. Here is #1: pic.twitter.com/8Zk93RfZ5s — Allison K. Sommer (@AllisonKSommer) November 5, 2019

And in the AP office in Jerusalem, via @PattyNieberg pic.twitter.com/7igt2u8M6I — Allison K. Sommer (@AllisonKSommer) November 6, 2019

Ikea Israel's vision of eliminating single-use plastic as early as the first months of 2020 is said to have sparked the trend now dubbed as "Greta-shaming."

Twitter users found amusement and brilliance on this.

The Swedish activist became the flag bearer of youth climate activists after her dramatic speech at a UN climate change forum, where she accused the climate leaders of only talking about the "fairy tales of eternal economic growth".

Israel is the second biggest user of single-use plastic, according to the Times of Israel.

READ: Leonardo DiCarpio Tags Greta Thunberg as the "Leader of Our Time"