Two retired GPs have promised to continue their protests against climate change despite it giving them a criminal record.
We told in October how grandparents Cath and Richard Dyer, from Falkirk, had been arrested and released in London during Extinction Rebellion protests.
But the couple have now been convicted after taking part in another protest in Edinburgh.
Cath was found guilty of a charge of obstruction and fined £100 at Edinburgh Sheriff Court while her husband was last month convicted of breach of the peace and obstruction and fined £180.
Cath, 69, a grandmother of five, said: “We have never broken the law until now. We have worked tirelessly to contribute to society, both as parents and doctors.
“But when drastic climate changes threaten the lives and environment of your grandchildren and those of others, we are prepared to break the law. The impact is already apparent through extreme climates and rising temperatures.
“Our youngest grandchild, Hope, was born in November as I was appearing at Edinburgh Sheriff Court. It is a beautiful name and particularly poignant.”
Their son, a police officer in Queensland, Australia, has policed environmental protests.
Cath said: “He tells the protesters his parents are doing the same back home in Scotland and London. We understand everyone has a job to do and respect that.”
The couple were first arrested in London in October during the Extinction Rebellion protest at Parliament Square. They were detained in police cells but later released.
They then joined a protest against a finance company in Edinburgh. “Our last protest was an 11-hour blockade outside an Edinburgh-based finance company in January,” said Cath. “It invests in fossil fuels and we firmly believe this contributes to climate change.”
The couple say their next protests are in Edinburgh tomorrow and in April. They also speak to groups and clubs about their mission to halt global warming.
“Only the coronavirus will prevent us from demonstrating,” Cath adds.
“If protests are halted by advice not to be in crowds then we will adhere to this.
“As health professionals we will endorse this.”
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