Extinction Rebellion joined by Guerns

Friday 26 April 2019

A mother living in Guernsey has travelled to the Extinction Rebellion protests in London with her six-year-old son to add their voices to the crowd hoping to see climate change taken more seriously.

Camilla Smillie, 41, and her husband became acutely aware of the need for more to be done to protect the environment after reading the 1.5 Degree Report last year. So when they became aware of the protests going on right now, they felt they had to get involved.

Mrs Smillie wanted to get her son, Sebastian, involved as well, as she thought it was important for children to start understanding the situation - although in moderation until they grow up.

"We have a duty to do as much as we can for our children." 

The two of them travelled to London this time last week on Friday, after booking their travel at the last minute. They first went to Waterloo Bridge early in the morning, and were there as the crowd got bigger and bigger.

The Extinction Rebellion is an international movement that uses non-violent civil disobedience to achieve radical change in order to minimise the risk of human extinction and ecological collapse. On the 15 April, it started an international rebellion to protest what it perceives as a lack of action. 

"I lived in London for a good chunk of my life, and I have really strong ties to the UK, so this whole thing was really close to my heart. We started at the Waterloo Bridge and it was simply amazing," Mrs Smillie said.

"I can't describe how different it was to any other kind of march or protest I have been to before, there were plants and trees all over the bridge and it was just so peaceful. Everyone was very friendly and made us both feel welcome."

Mrs Smillie described how after the crowd had swelled, one of the Rebellion's organisers stood up and spoke to everyone: "she asked us all to turn to the person next to us and 'check-in' with them. I was chatting to this lady called Cordelia about what had brought us here." 

Eventually, as police closed in on the protestors on the Bridge, Mrs Smillie and Sebastian left the area and walked to Parliament Square. There, they saw many more protestors from both the Rebellion and the Million Veterans' March - another event taking place that weekend. When they were in London, there were even more Rebellion protestors at the Marble Arch. 

For Sebastian, the whole experience had been a great one, Mrs Smillie added.

"I think from what we have been talking about since he understood why we were there - that we need to be good to the planet. They are really hot at school on recycling, so he has got a basic understanding. It was that balance of getting him involved but also keeping it light for him considering his age.

"We have a duty to do as much as we can for our children. We have to be able to look them in the eye in the future and say 'I did as much as I could'." 

Going forwards, Mrs Smillie is looking to introduce other islanders to the Extinction Rebellion. She has set up a Facebook page for locals interested, and is planning an introductory talk and discussion next month. To find out more about this, click here. 

In London, the Extinction Rebellion continues... 

Pictured top: Sebastian Smillie in London partaking in the protests.