VISITORS to Bradford’s National Science and Media Museum witnessed a peaceful, yet dramatic protest by the city’s Extinction Rebellion group whose members feigned death to get the message across.

The group staged a ‘die-in’ on Thursday afternoon.

Ruth Simpson from Extinction Rebellion said: “We decided to stage this action because we are so proud of our wonderful National Science and Media Museum, but we were disappointed to discover that the climate crisis is not addressed at the museum.

"In particular, the temporary Gaia exhibition with an impressive model of the Earth did not educate the public of the urgency required in the current climate emergency whereas other museums have made use of this opportunity.

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“We value that members of the public at the museum this afternoon have expressed their gratitude for this action, saying the issue is very important.”

Co-member Lucy Ed added: “We are asking our National Science and Media Museum to recognise the climate and ecological emergency declared by central and local government. As part of this we ask that the museum curates an exhibition on the climate emergency as a matter of urgency. We believe museums play a significant part in educating the public. We welcome the fact that staff have been receptive.

Paul McHugh said, "The large majority of people who have died from climate related causes are in the global south, which historically has emitted a tiny percentage of carbon emissions compared to the UK. We are also demonstrating today to highlight that over 60 per cent of wild animals, fish and amphibians have been wiped out since 1970.

“We are asking our National Science and Media Museum to recognise the climate and ecological emergency declared by central and local government. As part of this we ask that the museum curates an exhibition on the climate emergency as a matter of urgency" - Extinction Rebellion member Lucy Ed

“We must do whatever we can to prevent the world tipping us into civilisational collapse and potential extinction. As Sir David Attenborough has warned: ‘We are running out of time, but there is still hope’. This is where museums like this one can play a vital role.

“We have invited the museum’s senior staff to meet us to discuss this vital subject.”

A spokesman from The National Science and Media Museum said: “We welcomed a short, peaceful protest from Extinction Rebellion Bradford yesterday.

“The action took place directly underneath Luke Jerram’s spectacular artwork, Gaia, a detailed sculpture of Earth measuring seven metres in diameter and the star exhibit of our major summer exhibition, Hello Universe.

“Gaia encourages a profound understanding of the interconnection of all life, and a renewed sense of responsibility for taking care of the environment, and it’s a work that has really resonated with many of our visitors since it was installed.

“We are pleased to present the work so prominently in the museum and we hope that it will encourage our visitors to personally engage with this urgent topic.”

It is understood the museum us to respond to a letter received from the group.