Siân Charnley
Sian Charnley photographed in Bristol, 3rd Nov, awaiting trial. She was arrested with 14 fellow protesters for blocking the traffic near Heathrow in protest against the Heathrow airport expansion. She pleaded not guilty and was subsequently sentenced 12months conditional discharge Feb 7th.
Sian represented herself in court and part of her statement in court went as follows: "I'm not going to speak for long because everyone in this room knows we are in trouble. So do the international conferences and 97% of scientists. When you are in a hole, you don't keep on digging. Which is precisely what we'll be doing as far climate change is concerned if we expand Heathrow.
I'm a mother and grandmother. I care about the social injustices that mean that people least responsible for climate change are the first to be suffering its effects, including the increased likelihood of conflict......
........ I've given birth and I've sat with someone while they died. I know that in both instances, the idea of continuity through future generations becomes extremely important. We are jeopardising this if we continue to go headlong into a changing climate.
I expect to be found guilty because I did lie in the road. But morally I need to withdraw my consent from the madness that protects the right to fly over the right to survive as a species. Breaking the law is not only a way to withdraw my consent but also a way to break the taboo on talking about climate change." Portrait is part of a long term.project on climate change, activism and civil disobedience in the UK.
