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July 7, 2023

Climate Protesters Disrupt Wimbledon Tennis Matches, Shut Down Welsh Coal Mine
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In the United Kingdom, members of the climate action group Extinction
Rebellion shut down operations at the nation's largest coal mine
Wednesday in a nonviolent civil disobedience action. The open-pit mine
in South Wales had been operating without a license. Elsewhere in the
U.K., climate protesters disrupted play at the Wimbledon tennis
tournament twice on Wednesday, throwing orange confetti on the court and
displaying T-shirts reading "Just Stop Oil." On Thursday, youth climate
activists disrupted a speech by U.K. Labour Party leader Keir Starmer,
accusing him of U-turning on his pledge to fund a transition away from
fossil fuels.

Climate activist 1: "Young people want action."

Climate activist 2: "Which side are the Labour Party on?"

Keir Starmer: "We are on the side of economic growth."

Climate activist 2: [inaudible]

Keir Starmer: "Will you just let me" -

Climate activist 1: "We need a Green New Deal right now." 

Keir Starmer: - "please, get on with this? Thank you very much."

Climate activist 1: "Stop making U-turns, Keir. We need a Green New
Deal."

Keir Starmer: "We have already - will you just let me finish this, and
I'll come and talk to you about it? Thank you very much."

Climate activist 2: "We spoke" [inaudible] -

Climate activist 1: "We've tried to speak to you about it, but you
haven't replied to us, Keir."

Climate activist 2: "You haven't replied. Give us an opportunity."

Climate activist 1: "We need a Green New Deal right now."

In Sweden, Greta Thunberg and other youth climate activists have been
charged with "disobeying the police" for peacefully blocking oil tankers
at a port in Malmö last month. If convicted, the protesters face fines
and up to six months in prison. 


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