Perth Voice Interactive

CLIMATE change activists Extinction Rebellion have vowed to take on Perth’s monopoly daily The West Australian during a week of disruption they’re expecting will lead to “dozens” of arrests.

On Tuesday representatives of the group delivered a letter to SevenWest Media with a list of three demands, which were that the company:

• Had to run stories about climate change and biodiversity every day;

• Ensure a broader range of opinions about the “climate emergency” were aired, including opinion pieces by activists; and,

• Disclose owner Kerry Stokes’ interests in the energy and resources sector in all articles about climate change.

XRWA spokesperson Jesse Noakes told the Voice they’d had three opinion pieces knocked back by The West, which also headlined a story about the group disrupting Parliament as “Laughing stock”.

“Ten thousand children marched through Perth last week to demand action, and the West barely noted it,” XRWA said in a release.

“Its editor claims to value free speech above all, but free speech is meaningless if only a few voices are amplified and the rest are suppressed.”

The Voice contacted West editor Anthony De Ceglie for comment, but he didn’t get back to us.

Mr Noakes said XRWA members would gather at SevenWest Media’s Osborne Park headquarters on Tuesday to consider its response.

It will be part of the group’s “spring rebellion”, which he says will involve action each day of the week.

“All through the CBD will be a rolling series of actions – artistic and disruptive,” Mr Noakes said.

The big event, “flood the city” will be on Friday October 11, highlighting the wetlands that once dominated the CBD area and how climate change predictions suggest the water will soon be coming back.

Mr Noakes said they’ve been training members in arrest techniques for several months.

by STEVE GRANT