DAVID WRIGHT PHOTOGRAPHY
DAVID WRIGHT
PHOTOGRAPHY
CLIMATE-CHANGE ACTIVISTS
A MODERN TRIBE OF ENGLAND
The people
Steam-Punk Climate Change Activists. Whitehall, London. May 2019
Climate Change family. Westminster, London. May 2019
The Military Gent amidst protestors.Green Park, London. May 2019
Boy and his family delivering letters to their MP. Westminster, London. April 2019
'Rebellion or carnival?. Westminster, London. April 2019
Climate change Goth girls. Hyde Park Corner, London. April 2019
Man in wig and gas mask at the International Youth Strike. London. May 2019
School-Strike girls at the Hyde Park encampment, London. April 2019
Protest
Fleet Street, London. April 2019
Boy with a poster. The Strand, London. September 2019
Westminster, London. May 2019
The Stock Exchange, London. April 2019
Whitehall, London. May 2019
Girl with a mask. The Strand, London. September 2019
Boy 'protesting'. Green Park, London. May 2019
Orchestra and Protestors. Albert Embankment, London. May 2019
Obesity hearse and Mcdonalds. The Strand, London. September 2019
Man with a megaphone. Broad Sanctuary, London. May 2019
Actors on Stilts. International Mothers' Day protest. Hyde Park, London. May 2019
Non-violent passive resistance
Westminster Bridge, London. October 2019
Children taking part in a 'die-In'. Hackney Town Hall, London. May 2019
Cutting protesters free. Fleet Street, London. April 2019
Five police officers taking notes. Westminster Bridge, London. October 2019
Padlocked and handcuffed! Westminster Bridge, London. October 2019
Disabled activist at a Die-in. Hackney Town Hall, London. May 2019
Stuck together. Fleet Street, London. April 2019
Protester chained under a van. Trafalgar Square, London. October 2019
Arrest
Arrested. Man being carried away. Fleet Street, London. April 2019
Arresting a blind man. Fleet Street, London. April 2019
Arrested. Fleet Street, London. April 2019
Arrested. Whitehall, London. October 2019
Aftermath. Westminster, London. April 2019
Climate-Change Activists
The English have a long history of standing up against injustice and voicing their beliefs. In many cases, their actions have resulted in serious, personal hardship, loss and even death. The Climate-Change Activists differ from many previous pressure groups who have take to the streets to protest. Firstly, the cause is one that requires austerity and reduced consumption in order to limit human impact on the environment. Secondly, for the majority of activists, it is based on faith. They rely upon media evidence of melting ice caps, plastic pollution in oceans, earthquakes caused by fracking, rising temperatures caused by felling forests and toxic diesel fumes in the air we breath. It is this faith that brings Climate-Change Activists together and fuels their passion. It gives them their identity and forms the ‘glue’ within the group. The Climate-Change ‘tribe’ is very similar to other modern English ‘tribes’ because its members are drawn from all walks of life. It is also a group that seeks to contribute to society something it believes to be a good, just as Morris dancers contribute culturally and Urban Agriculturalists endeavour to make towns and cities greener. However, Climate-Change Activists differ in that through their actions, they hope to change behaviour, policy and ultimately, economics. They attempt to do so through non-violent protest and civil disobedience. Climate-Change Activists are also different from other ‘tribes’ because they are connected globally to ‘tribes’ in other countries who are pursuing the same agenda for change. They communicate using social media, which enables rapid dissemination of information and provides support for orchestrated action. The significant demographic of this ‘tribe’ is one of gender. It appears that the majority of Climate-Change Activists out on the streets are white, ‘middle class’ women and teenage girls aged between 14 and 35 years old. What is significant is the almost complete absence of black and Asian representation in this group. The main mode of protest has involved Ghandi’s method of passive resistance. Climate-Change Activists use their bodies as means of obstruction. This may be by lying down (collectively called a’ Die-in’); living in trees; chaining themselves to railing and glueing themselves to roads, trains, doors and each other. Their aim is to be arrested for criminal damage so they can draw attention to what they describe as the much greater criminal damage mankind is doing to the environment. It is interesting to note that the protests during 2019 are becoming increasingly more visual. Costumes, oversized props, gardens on London bridges, actors on stilts and classically trained orchestras are featuring in their actions. These together with the use of their bodies ensures they will gain media attention. A vital aspect of their protest.
More coming later in 2020
