A bloody good nuisance — this vegan life

The city of Bath had never been more glorious.

I've talked myself out of many a protest. It won't make a difference, I haven't got anyone to go with, I might get acid thrown in my face by a protest protester... Oh I've thought up all the excuses.

But I really wanted to be a part of Friday 20th September 2019’s Global Climate Strike. When we are all living in bunkers and surviving off weeds and rain water and tomorrow’s children ask us, what did you do to help try and change things before it all went tits up? I want to tell them I was part of the global demand for change. I walked on the streets and chanted and cheered and stood on the right side of history.

And then Sarah Wilson wrote something on Instagram which woke the fire within me and made me believe in the power of protesting.

“Activism works... The emergency is NOW. The UN has revised the deadline from 12 years to 17 months from now for EVERY COUNTRY to act.

….here’s where I find hope:

* Every solution to the climate crisis already exists. This is an astonishing truth.

* We ONLY have to convince governments, business and finance, to enact them.

...EVERY time 3.5% of any population has mobilised in activism, the change happened. This is an astonishing truth.

* And so ABSOLUTELY, 100 PER CENT if you are worried and want things to change, THIS FRIDAY is THE opportunity. * And ABSOLUTELY, 100 PER CENT your part will count.

I felt called to arms. I needed to be part of the 3.5%.

I rallied some troops, because saving the world is more fun when you've got your team. My husband joined me. So did my brother and his wife, one of my nephews, his girlfriend and a decent gang of his college mates. Holy moly, what a troop! One nervous little protester had become a double figures collective.

I made a placard. My brother said he knew I'd come up with something clever, seeing as words are my bag... I hope I did him proud. I was pretty, pretty smug about it every time someone came and took a photo.

There were many brilliant signs. People, a bit like the planet right now, were on fire.

And so we marched. There were drums, which really helped it feel like we were changing the world. Drums do that. There was warmth and sunshine. (In late September... how apt that the climate crisis herself made an appearance. Over in Bangkok, mad flooding on the day of the protests saw fish swimming in people's houses after the local river broke its banks. Nice timing.)

Our procession through the streets of Bath came to a standstill while some speeches were made. At this point, an elderly lady tried to get past, trailing a shopping bag-on-wheels behind her. She was clearly having trouble manoeuvring around thousands of people. ‘Bloody nuisance!’ she muttered. And then, in case we didn’t hear, she added: ‘Bloody nuisance!’ again. Yes we are a nuisance, but we’re protesting really peacefully, so that your grandchildren don’t have to grow up in an absolute shit show. You’re welcome!

Over in Bristol, my mate took her two young children to their fourth protest in as many months. While my goddaughter held her placard high and got into the spirit of things, her younger sister was less enthused. “Please Mummy, I don’t want to go on any more climbing frame protests today.” I utterly love that in her three year old mind, a shit ton of people really don't like climbing frames.

We may still be part of the problem because every human continues to consume and live and burden the planet, but we are part of the demand for change too. Amidst all the hopelessness of the bigger picture, I felt great hope that humankind does have the power to prevent catastrophe.

It’s pretty bonkers to think that Greta Thunberg cut a lonely figure when she started striking for the climate in just August 2018. A little over a year later, over 4 million people across 163 countries joined her. We are with you Greta - let’s keep banging the drum. My placard is at the ready.