British Man Goes on Hunger Strike for 37 Days to Demand MPs Get Scientific Climate Briefing

Angus Rose went on a hunger strike for 37 days until the parliamentary group agreed to host a briefing by Sir Patrick Vallance, the Chief Scientific Adviser of the UK.

Source: Guardian News/Youtube

Sir Patrick Vallance, will present to MPs the climate crisis after the 52-year-olds hunger strike. Rose refused to eat for over a month and demanded the scientific adviser give a public address to MPs and ministers regarding the climate crisis. He lost nearly 40 pounds but is proud and happy with the outcome.

Originally, Rose wanted Vallance to do a televised briefing of the cabinet rather than address a parliament committee, but this is better than nothing.

Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Climate change, Caroline Lucas, called Rose and promised him that there would be a briefing between Vallance and the Cabinet and MPs. In a letter from the group, they said, “We will be happy to host a briefing on Climate change for MPs and cabinet members, from the government’s chief scientific adviser, Sir Patrick Vallance. This event would be held in the new parliamentary session, likely May-June … the briefing will also be recorded, sent to all MPs after the event and made publicly available.”

During the hunger strike, a group of leading scientists jumped on board and helped Rose out. The 79 members, including former government chief scientific adviser Sir David King, wrote a letter saying, “Briefing on the climate and ecological crises would help our leaders to enact the right policies to decarbonise our society at the required pace, while also preserving biodiversity.”

After the strike, nearly 40 pounds lighter, Rose was admitted to the hospital as a precaution as he was feeling weak and dizzy after standing for so long without food.

“It was surreal. It was an extraordinary time, it’s a bit of a blur,” Rose told iNews UK.

“I really didn’t know how long [the hunger strike] would go on, I thought I might only get [the Government’s] attention after many weeks had passed. With each passing week I had the idea that the pressure would increase to the point that they wouldn’t be able to avoid it as an issue.”

“Getting to a point of desperation is what led me to do the hunger strike and then risk my life.”

Rose said he was inspired by Guillermo Fernandez, a Swiss man who went on a hunger strike for 39 days until scientists said they would meet Swiss MPs to discuss climate science. Sign this petition to stand with Chicago’s hunger strikers against environmental racism.

Related Content:

• Petition: Stand with Chicago’s Hunger Strikers Against Environmental Racism 
• One World, Infinite Wonder: Netflix’s New Climate Change and Sustainability Collection
• JUST Egg Launches Campaign Calling Out Congressmen for Denying Climate Change
• New Minecraft Mode ‘Rivercraft’ Teaches Players About Impacts of Climate Change and Floods
• French Artist Creates an Eye-Opening Depiction of What The World Will Look Like Post Climate Change

For more Animal, Earth, Life, Vegan Food, Health, and Recipe content published daily, subscribe to the One Green Planet Newsletter! Lastly, being publicly-funded gives us a greater chance to continue providing you with high-quality content. Please consider supporting us by donating!