Animal rights activists have been spotted clambering up the side of a government building this morning as part of a climate protest ahead of COP26.
Protesters from Animal Rebellion mounted the Westminster building for the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA), also shared by the Home Office, in the early hours calling for the country to adopt a plant-based lifestyle.
After scaling the building at around 6 am, the group then dropped a banner down from the roof that reads: “COP26: Invest in a plant-based future”.
The group intends to stay up there on the roof all day, suspended in hammocks until the Prime Minister agrees to cut taxpayer funding for animal agriculture, reports The Metro.
The protesters are calling on ministers to support a plant-based food system at the COP26 climate summit in Glasgow, claiming that “our food system is destroying our planet.”
ADVERTISEMENT
Connected to Extinction Rebellion, Animal Rebellion (AR) describes itself as “a mass volunteer movement using nonviolent civil disobedience to help the transition to a plant-based food system.”
The group says the government currently spends around £1.5billion per year subsidising livestock farming – ten times the country’s budget for planting trees and around half of the UK’s overall agricultural subsidies.
ADVERTISEMENT
This morning AR has tweeted that it will “take action until the government defunds meat and subsidises a plant-based transition”.
It added: “Meat and Dairy is one of the leading producers of greenhouse gases and causes 90% of Amazon deforestation.
“World leaders at [COP26] cannot talk about meeting the Paris Climate targets and securing global net zero without addressing that our food system is destroying our planet.”
ADVERTISEMENT
The activist group also posted that it will continue to post updates throughout the day as its take-over of the building unfolds.
Animal Rebellion spokesman Nathan McGovern told The Metro: ‘Our protesters climbed the building in the early hours of this morning to send a clear message that we want an end to support for animal agriculture which is killing our planet.
‘The four, who are around 10 to 20 metres high, have unveiled a banner saying “Cop26: Invest in a plant-based future”.
‘We will see what the situation with the police is, but the plan is to stay in place indefinitely and this will remain a peaceful protest.’
Feature image – Animal Rebellion via Twitter
News
BBC issues statement after UK forecast shows ‘hurricane force winds’ up to 14,000mph
Daisy Jackson
The BBC has issued a statement after alarming people across the UK with a weather forecast of hurricane force winds and temperatures of up to 400°C.
Mancs woke up this morning stunned to see predicted wind speeds of up to 14,000mph.
The alarming weather report hit the BBC Weather app today while Hurricane Milton batters Florida across the pond.
One person shared on X: “I guess we need to batten down the hatches with 26,898 mph winds today.”
Another asked: “Why isn’t this forecast making the news? 14,712mph wind sounds dangerous to me!! I’m going back to bed.”
But now the BBC has rushed to reassure people not to be ‘alarmed’ at the prospect of the entire island blowing away.
BBC presenter and meteorologist Simon King shared: “Oops, don’t be alarmed by some of our @bbcweather app data this morning.
— Barefoot Spooky Bartender 👣💀🍹 (@barefoottiki) October 10, 2024
“Be assured there won’t be 14408mph winds, hurricane force winds or overnight temperatures of 404°C.
“It is being looked at and hopefully sorted asap.”
BBC Weather shared: “You may have noticed some data issues on our app and website. We are working hard to fix it quickly. Sorry – please bear with us.
“In the meantime here are Thursday’s weather headlines: -Colder, clearer air moving in -Rain and drizzle in south -Blustery showers near east coast”
And national treasure Carol Kirkwood said live on air: “We are having a technical glitch at the moment. It’s showing wind speeds far too fast, in fact, hurricane strength and that is not the case at all.
“Please don’t be alarmed. We are aware of it and on it.”
At the time of writing, the BBC Weather forecast service is still predicting hurricane force winds for the UK. Eek.
BBC issues statement after UK forecast shows ‘hurricane force winds’ up to 14,000mph
New 44-storey skyscraper proposed that could change one of Manchester’s most famous views
Emily Sergeant
Plans for a massive new 44-storey residential skyscraper in the heart of the city centre have been revealed.
But does this mean it could change one Manchester‘s most famous views?
Located on what has been referred to as a “prominent site” adjacent to Deansgate train station and Deansgate-Castlefield tram stop at Whitworth Street West, these dramatic proposals would see the development of 364 apartments set over 44 storeys – with more 7,750 sq ft of active space on the ground, first, and second floor levels.
Developers Glenbrook say the building has been designed to “respond to the city’s heritage”, most-notably through its three-storey arched terracotta colonnade at street level.
Well-lit new green spaces, the enhancing of existing pedestrian routes, and seamless integration with the surrounding communities, all form part of the landscaping proposals for the bold new project.
“As a Manchester-based developer, we are excited about the prospect of embarking on a landmark development in the heart of our city, admitted Daniel Roberts, who is the Development Director at Glenbrook, as the proposals were unveiled this week.
“Whitworth Street West is undergoing a period of revitalisation, and Glenbrook are incredibly proud to be playing such an integral part in its future.”
A CGI of a proposed skyscraper on Whitworth Street West in Manchester / Credit: Glenbrook
A public consultation on the plans has now been launched, and will be live up until 28 October, as well as a dedicated in-person event, where representatives from Glenbrook and the design team will be on hand to answer questions and gather feedback, scheduled to take place at HOME MCR on First Street from 3:30-7:30pm on 15 October.
Residents, businesses, and interested stakeholders will have the opportunity to view the plans in detail, and provide their thoughts on the proposals.
The view of what Whitworth Street West currently looks like in October 2024 / Credit: The Manc Group
According to developers, the feedback gathered during the consultation will play a key role in shaping the final planning application – which will be submitted to the Manchester City Council in the coming months, and ultimately ensure the development meets the needs of the community.
Georgina Pellant -
26th October 2021 
