A national climate group will be showing its latest film in Winchester.

Extinction Rebellion have been working alongside Professor Robert Beckford, director of the institute of climate and social justice at the University of Winchester, to be part of his outreach in spreading the word about the climate crisis, and what local people as well as politicians can do to combat ‘the Oil Machine’.

The film includes young activists, scientists and investors speaking on the climate crisis issue and what they feel needs to be done.

Emma Davie, director of the film, said: “We have such a climate emergency, that we need to battle. It’s a public discussion that we need to have. That’s why we’ve made the film, to instigate discussion.

"We would never have thought the UK would have a summer like last summer. Houses were burning down because it was so hot. The climate emergency is only getting worse. Just because it’s happening in the sea, means we need to make it more visible; this film is a way of seeing what is right under our noses.”

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Ms Davie began the film in February 2021, prior to the COP26 event in Glasgow and the film has since been screened across Europe. Many of the screenings include discussions with activist speakers at the end of the film, and those viewing the film are encouraged to ask questions.

Mike Nell is a member of the Extinction Rebellion in Winchester and worked in the oil industry in the North Sea in the 1980s. The 62-year-old said: “I would have been taking climate action then if I’d known what I know now. It’s not too late to undo the damage my generation has caused but it’s close.”

Organiser of the screening Helen Gabrial-Mosley said: “The screening of the film is saying ‘Look at the enormous problem we have and look at the enormous opposition there is to solving that problem.’ No one in power seems to care, they just carry on as if nothing is wrong, business as usual.”

Extinction Rebellion Winchester have invited local politicians and councillors to the screening, and they encourage the public to come along, to watch the film and discuss the oil crisis. The screening is in the West Downs Auditorium at the University of Winchester on Wednesday January 11 from 6pm-8.30pm.