EXTINCTION Rebellion protesters have attached campaign placards to historical statues across the city. 

Members of the campaign group left the signs on the statues in Brighton city centre on Sunday as part of an international Debt for Climate campaign. 

One placard was placed on the George IV statue at the North Gate of the Royal Pavilion. 

It read: “G7 seem to be as empty-headed as a statue in the face of a climate emergency.”

The Argus:

Another was placed on the Regency Square War Memorial for soldiers who died in the Boer war.

It says: “No justice without debt cancellation. Africa emits two per cent of world emissions but is the most vulnerable continent to climate change caused by the most wealthy countries’ consumption levels.”

The Argus:

A spokesman for Extinction Rebellion said: “At Cop 26 environment summit in November 2021 the G7 richest countries promised to pay loss and damages to those poorer countries most affected, but in Bonn last week G7 withdrew this offer. 

“Wealthy countries could use the climate emergency to relieve poor countries of their crippling debts. 

“The new Police, Crime, Sentencing and Court Act 2022 now makes it a greater crime to interfere with a statue than it is to interfere with a human being. 

“For this reason, Extinction Rebellion has targeted statues across the country through this action today.”

The Argus:

Campaigner Lisa Gordon, 63, a care manager, said: “It is so important to call those in power to account for illogical and unfair decisions in the face of these serious issues. 

“If we don’t pay attention to the climate we will starve, migration levels will escalate, and there will be war. 

“It is scandalous that the Police Bill criminalises peaceful protest. 

“When you are driving a bus towards a cliff, it is our responsibility to shout out a warning. 

“It is not a crime to sound the alarm. That is why we are acting today.”