Islanders listen to prominent speakers on COP26 issues

The event, Don't Cop Out: A Plea for the Future, saw many Islanders who care about the world's climate and biodiversity emergency, protest in St Thomas's Square this afternoon (Saturday).

Protestors were encouraged to bring placards designed to increase awareness of anything from pollution in the sea to the burning of fossil fuels in the atmosphere.

The protest, organised by Ventnor resident Stephen Cockett, supported by Extinction Rebellion on the Isle of Wight, featured various speakers trying to drive home important messages about a range of issues from what should be done to achieve net zero emissions, to what is happening to the world's wildlife.   

Some spoke in the square and others spoke afterwards at the Isle of Wight Unitarians Meeting House in Newport High Street, where the public were able to chat to those who delivered their views.

Among the speakers was Vix Lowthion, the Isle of Wight's Green Party spokesperson, as well as the national Green Party spokesperson for education. 

She said: "There was upwards of 150 people there in the square. A reasonable turn-out.

"A lot of the stuff said at COP26 can unfortunately be seen as not going far enough.

"We shouldn't lose hope. We've already seen how on the Isle of Wight we can stop oil drilling here.

"Whether we get long-term, meaningful change from the leaders of the world, we should still remain hopeful.

"There were a lot of different groups there making their point."

The protest is one of many going on around the country today, the main event being a march in London.

Mr Cockett, the event brainchild, joked: "It has been quite a successful day. There was no gluing ourselves to the road, or anything like that."

He added: "I have little experience of organising things like this, so it was quite nerve-wracking in the lead up.

"But we saw a very nice bunch of people and it was a very positive event."

Island councillors, Richard Quigley, a former Labour Party candidate, and Jonathan Bacon, the Isle of Wight Council's environment member, were also among the high profile local speakers to give their views on the crisis.

"They both did a cracking job," said Mr Cockett, 47.

"Both were extremely sincere. I have no doubt in my mind whatsoever Cllr Bacon will do what's needed. He knows the situation, he knows how real it is, and I have no doubt that when he says that climate change is at the heart of operations, I have no doubt about his sincerity on that."

Professional diver, Garry Oates, of Island charity Blue Sea Protection, spoke about the problems with marine conservation zones, while Labour activist Maria Villa Vine spoke about children's mental health and how climate change issues have affected them adversely, according to Mr Cockett.

There was also Jean Bartram and Stephanie Elliot, of Extenction Rebellion on the Isle of Wight, there, who spoke of the need to not let the government off the hook with climate change and environmental issues and to emphasise how beautiful a planet it is we live on and how fragile it is.

Mr Cockett said he no plans to organise any other similar events.

"This event was a one-off, focused purely on COP26. There's no question there is a great gang of people on the Island who will be keeping a close eye on things like oil drilling," he added.