January 28 – British media reported that a group of environmentalists in the country spent nearly two months digging a 30-meter-long tunnel in London’s Euston Square Park in an attempt to stop the high-speed rail project HS2.
Local police cleared the scene on Wednesday (27th). In the operation, five men and one woman were arrested, and four other environmentalists insisted on refusing to leave the tunnel.
According to Reuters, BBC and other British media, an environmental organization called HS2 Rebellion has occupied the land near Euston railway station since August 2020 and built a stronghold with tents, wooden railings, etc.
to oppose the government’s construction of a high-speed railway.
They criticized HS2 as the most expensive, wasteful and destructive project in British history, which would destroy or destroy 108 ancient woodlands and 693 wildlife reserves.
Since two months ago, they have alternately excavated tunnels and depended on canned food for their livelihood. The operation has not been discovered.
Local police cleared the scene in the early morning of Wednesday (27th), during which members of environmental organizations used ropes to hang themselves between two big trees, and four others continued to stick to the tunnel, including 18-year-old member Blue Sandford. Sanford acknowledged the dangers of the above actions, but was willing to sacrifice anything to stop climate change, criticizing HS2 for wasting money.
An HS2 spokesman condemned the demonstrators for breaking into the company’s land and endangering their own safety, project employees and the public, and also burdening taxpayers.
The HS2 project aims to run through London, Birmingham, Manchester and Leeds, involving a total amount of £100.06 billion. It is expected to be completed in 2040.
