A day of Love and Rage

By Heather Worden

A crucible of overheated life, twelve  ‘redacted’ witnesses, and mourners in red formed the three main focuses of a major climate and nature event from the 12th to 14th September. People from Sheffield and as far afield as Inverness travelled to London to this event, organised by Extinction Rebellion, to demand that the HM Government National Security Assessment “Global biodiversity loss, ecosystem collapse and national security”, published in redacted form in January 2026 but not widely reported on, should be made public in its full unredacted version.

In “The Crucible” were plants including an extremely hot red chilli, insects, fish, amphibians, mammals and human hands outstretched, clearly overheating and at times on fire, complete with “flames” and “smoke”.  The Crucible “represented a heating planet from which life cannot escape,” in the words of the accompanying leaflet. 

The redacted witnesses held information boards carrying twelve messages taken from the National Security Assessment; an example statement is “All countries are exposed to risks of ecosystem collapse within and beyond their borders. Some are likely to act to secure their own interests, particularly food and water security. REDACTED”.  A large crowd followed behind carrying pots, pans, spoons, etc. – a  “Cacerolazo” (an insistent banging of pots and pans), and a fifty-strong samba-inspired band brought up the rear.

The Cacerolazo was performed in a pattern of alternating bursts of pan banging (rage) and silence (love/mourning) followed by singing. The procession visited key locations in central London associated with fossil fuel business and lobbyists, and media owners. 

Other performances over the weekend included the Planet Medics taking the vital signs of the Earth and finding it to be in a critical condition, and the Burning Ballroom as a metaphor for rich polluters pursuing business as usual while our world burns. 

Placards carried by participants demanded, for example, “Tell the truth – Nature security = National security” and “Stop Rosebank”, highly relevant to the focus of the weekend. 

Finally, there was singing and recorded birdsong, a sound which has been reducing throughout our lifetimes. Meanwhile, holding a calm and accessible space was the “Earth Love” part of the event, with Poets Corner, Art Printing and quiet forms of protest, in St James Park. 

Watch the People’s Emergency Briefing film (nebriefing.org/screening-map) for further details, and see https://xrsheffield.org and https://southyorkshireclimatealliance.org.uk if you would like to join with others to campaign on climate and nature.