PEOPLE from across West Devon joined millions of others over the weekend in demonstrations around the world putting pressure on world leaders to show solidarity for a ‘cleaner planet’.

As representatives from 195 countries met in Paris earlier this week for a critical UN climate summit to find a new global approach to climate change, demonstrations were held prior to the start of the two-week meeting, titled COP21, including a march up to the ancient Dartmoor Stannary Parliament site, Crockern Tor.

Nearly 150 people from across West Devon and the wider area assembled at the Two Bridges Hotel on Sunday to walk, along with an almost life-size papier maché polar bear, to Crockern Tor.?Once there, a photograph was taken to send to world leaders at the climate negotiations in Paris as part of a Shared Planet Parliament event.

Organiser of the Crocken Tor march Emily Fawcett said this was one of 2,300 marches across the world.

‘The recent terrorist attacks in Paris meant that the march planned there could not go ahead so it felt like the rest of the world was marching for them,’ she said. ‘It was really wonderful to have people from all sides of Dartmoor coming together to show their solidarity for a cleaner planet.

‘It was planned for the marches to start from each of the stannary towns — Chagford, Tavistock, Ashburton and Plympton — and finish at Two Bridges, but due to the bad weather we all met at Two Bridges and walked a short distance together. There was in the region of 150 people — we didn’t expect that many — it was amazing.’

Emily, whose daughter Lily made the model of the polar bear, the emblem for the day, said a shared planet parliament was what campaigners were calling for — a planet not just for humans but for all species.

‘We want to see an end to fossil fuels and a commitment to renewable energy. Britain is talking about stopping the use of coal but as yet the alternative is unknown.

‘As we further advance with technology we have become an ever more consumer society and our lives are completely entangled in car use. I believe we can live a life — a more basic and simple life — which impacts less on the planet.’

Lynne Roper, from Mary Tavy, who took part in the march, said: ‘I think a lot of people feel that environmental politics is out of their hands. A lot of it is bad news and the establishment poo-poos everything because in economic terms they think in the short-term. The focus on fracking while the Government cuts benefits for solar and wind energy is a really good example of that.

‘There are groups locally, such as Transition Tavistock, that look at ways of addressing local energy concerns. People can do things that can save them money and save the planet.

‘We’ve gone past the time where we should have stopped. Because we’ve apparently reduced our own carbon footprint, we can now “blame” it on the Far East and India, which is where we have exported our manufacturing and production, and their footprint has increased massively. We think we have made a big change but really we’ve just moved the problem elsewhere.’

Kate Royston, who was representing Transition Tavistock and the Tamar Energy Community on the march, said: ‘Participating in this event, walking up to Crockern Tor with the polar bear and so many people, was truly inspiring.

‘Climate change is such an important issue — we all wanted to make ourselves heard and get across the urgency needed to put in place solutions. Many of those taking part were young children, passionate about the need for change. It’s our actions that are impacting their future.

‘We’re seeing some of those impacts already for example, with heavier rainfalls, increasingly unpredictable weather and threats to agriculture as pests and diseases migrate north.’

A number of groups have organised an open meeting to discuss these issues further, tomorrow evening (Friday) at 7pm in the Parish Rooms, Plymouth Road, Tavistock.

More than 100 passionate people also lined up along the banks of the river by Abbey Bridge in Tavistock on Saturday as part of the #Tavy2Paris peaceful community gathering organised by Tavistock Area Christians Together (TACT).

The event was to mark the summit on climate change, to show that climate change matters to Tavistock, calling for ‘just and selfless action on climate change’ and the blessing of wisdom for world leaders at the summit.

To a trumpet fanfare, a banner sewn by a team from Tavistock Methodist Church was lowered over the river from the bridge, bearing the event’s hashtag.

James, a student who took part in the event, said: ‘Being part of the Tavy2Paris event to show the climate change summit we care was really significant. Given how climate change is affecting the poor and marginalised in the developing world, increasing problems such as war, food and water security and the refugee crisis, I think it is an essential step to come together to show solidarity.’

David Palmer, chair of TACT, who led the 15-minute ceremony, said: ‘I am pleased that the churches were able to put on this event to help the wider community show their concern for the earth.’

Handwritten messages collected for the event, saying why people care about climate change, will be passed to the Government.

Every year since 1992 the Conference of the Parties has taken place with negotiators trying to put together a practical plan of action to deal with the issue of climate change. This year’s COP21 is the last chance for this process. Negotiators agreed in 2011 that a deal had to be done by the end of 2015.