DORSET Council is being asked to condemn the actions of Extinction Rebellion for displaying a climate change banner at the national Cenotaph.

Weymouth councillor Louie O’Leary (Con, Littlemoor and Preston) will propose a motion at the Thursday evening online meeting of the full council condemning “their total disregard of those who gave the ultimate sacrifice; and for their continued disregard of the law.”

His motion has won the support of a number of other councillors.

He declined an invitation to expand on his case prior to the meeting saying that he would make his case to councillors on Thursday evening.

The full text of his motion reads: “On Remembrance Day when as a nation we pause to recognise the sacrifice made by those who serve to defend our democratic freedoms and way of life activists from Extinction Rebellion hung a climate change banner in front of the Cenotaph. That Dorset Council condemns the behaviour and actions of Extinction Rebellion for their actions at the Cenotaph and their total disregard of those who gave the ultimate sacrifice; and for their continued disregard of the law.”

Local Extinction Rebellion campaigners say they are dismayed by Cllr O’Leary’s motion and describe the action at the Cenotaph as an act of desperation to persuade the world to focus on the dangers to the planet from climate change.

Former nurse, Penny Quilter who has a son serving in the forces said the situation does cause dilemma for many campaigners: “Those we remember, honour and commemorate on Remembrance Day are people who made the ultimate sacrifice to protect our futures. Whilst the action at the Cenotaph felt uncomfortable and I am sorry for the distress it caused to so many, I understand the need to raise awareness about the dangers of environmental collapse, so that we might prevent future suffering. We cannot silently watch it unfold and do nothing.”

Also included in the statement was the words of former soldier Robert Cheeseman from Weymouth:  “I agree with Boris Johnson when he says that the Cenotaph is a ‘memorial to those who fought and died to preserve all our freedoms’. However, with the freedoms we value, such as free speech, also comes the freedom to take responsibility. The responsibility to protect life, to be good stewards and good ancestors, to ensure what we pass on to the next generation is better, or at least no worse, than what we inherited and have enjoyed.

“Donald Bell, is a 64-year-old environmental campaigner and a British Army veteran who saw and suffered injury in action in Northern Ireland in the 1970s. He placed a wreath with the phrase ‘Act Now’ at the Cenotaph and stood for a 2-minute silence in front of a banner which read: Honour their sacrifice, Climate change means war. The decision to take this action was not an easy one for him, but I fully understand why he felt the need to do it.”

Extinction Rebellion say that the heatwaves during the past summer has been linked to the deaths of 2,556 people in England alone and air pollution now accounts for at least 36,000 deaths in the UK every year.

Cllr O’Leary’s proposal is seconded by Lytchett Matravers and Upton council Bill Pipe (Con) and supported by Cllr Cathy Lugg (Ferndown North,Con), Cllr John Worth (Chickerell, Alliance for Local Living Group), Cllr Susan Cocking (Portland, Alliance for Local Living Group), Cllr Andrew Kerby (Winterborne North, Con), Cllr Emma Parker (Puddletown and Lower Winterborne Con), Cllr Bill Trite (Swanage, Con), Cllr Simon Christopher (Marshwood Vale, Con) and Cllr Mike Parkes (Ferndown North,Con).