An open letter today has been signed by over 100 high-profile celebrities, some of which include actors Jude Law and Benedict Cumberbatch, musicians Mel B and Natalie Imbruglia, and comedians Steve Coogan and Ruby Wax.
The letter details their admission of hypocrisy, but that they are adamant about continuing to speak on the issue even with the criticism they are likely to receive. They further urge, in the letter, that the media draw their attention to the more pressing issue of the ‘Climate and Ecological Emergency’.
This comes after many celebrities have chosen to join the Extinction Rebellion protests, in recent weeks, and many others have publicly backed the cause. With many of these celebrities becoming headlines for the hypocrisy of them supporting the group.
The open letter starts by them addressing the “journalists who have called us hypocrites” and then the admission that they were “right”.
The letter continues: “We live high carbon lives and the industries that we are part of have huge carbon footprints. Like you – and everyone else – we are stuck in this fossil-fuel economy and without systemic change, our lifestyles will keep on causing climate and ecological harm.”
Quotes from the International Monetary Fund and Sir David Attenborough were used to highlight the threat of climate change to the planet.
“Climate change is happening faster and more furiously than was predicted; millions of people are suffering, leaving their homes and arriving on our borders as refugees”, outlined the public figures.
The celebrities said: “The stories that you write calling us climate hypocrites will not silence us.” Adding, “The media exists to tell the public the truth. Right now there has never been a more urgent need for you to educate yourselves on the CEE (Climate and Ecological Emergency) and to use your voices to reach new audiences with the truth.”
In a separate statement, Steve Coogan said: “Extinction Rebellion is a grassroots movement that should be applauded for putting this issue at the top of the agenda where it belongs.”
“I stand in full support of these brave, determined activists who are making a statement on behalf of us all.”
Currently, two weeks of protests are being held in London by Extinction Rebellion, who are demanding that urgent action needs to be taken regarding climate change.
However, London has become the first city to ban Extinction Rebellion from protesting. The lawyers for the group have filed for there to be a judicial review over the section 14 order.
This comes following 1,642 arrests and 133 charged of protesters over the recent weeks.
