Latest news with #ExtinctionRebellion
Daily Mail
2 days ago
- Business
- Daily Mail
Labour climate envoy 'living like a travel writer' after racking up 75,000 air miles in just nine months
Labour's climate envoy has been accused of living like a 'travel writer' after it emerged she has effectively circled the globe three times in her new role. Rachel Kyte has clocked up more than 75,000 air miles since her appointment in September – costing taxpayers almost £40,000. The majority of her flights were in business class, according to details released to The Telegraph via a Freedom of Information request. Ms Kyte, an academic and fan of environmental group Extinction Rebellion, was recruited by Ed Miliband in September as the UK's new 'special representative for climate'. She has previously admitted her carbon footprint was 'a source of deep discomfort', but she visited a foreign country every month between October and May. Her personal carbon footprint for the flights alone could be as high as 15 metric tonnes of CO2. The average carbon footprint per person in the UK is around 12.7 metric tonnes of CO2, for a whole year. Ms Kyte racked up the miles – costing a total of £38,769 – on trips to Dar es Salaam, Cape Town, Washington DC and Riyadh, among other far-flung destinations. According to the Government's website, her objectives are to 'build the UK's profile as a progressive climate leader' and 'drive for results in the clean energy transition and green and inclusive growth'. She told the New Statesman in 2021, while working at a university in Massachusetts: 'Having worked internationally for years, and with family on the other side of the Atlantic and friends spread across the world, the carbon footprint wrapped up in my social and professional identity is a source of deep discomfort.' The Foreign Office said all Ms Kyte's travel complied with internal travel policies, and her 'international diplomacy has supported efforts to unlock more private finance to tackle the climate crisis and taken forward our mission to be a clean energy superpower'. Richard Tice, deputy leader of Reform UK, said: 'The climate envoy is more like a travel writer travelling around the world to exotic locations.' Earlier this year, the Mail revealed that Ms Kyte was among a string of Extinction Rebellion cheerleaders recruited by Mr Miliband to government roles. She is one of a trio of advisers who have expressed public admiration for the radical direct action group that has repeatedly brought chaos to Britain's streets. Ms Kyte previously sported an Extinction Rebellion badge at an international climate summit and praised an eco-activist who glued herself to the pavement outside Shell's headquarters in London. The Mail also revealed this year that civil servants at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) spent more than £700,000 of taxpayer cash on luxury air travel last year, with staff flying business and premium economy 237 times in 12 months.
Daily Mail
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
The Attenborough you've never heard of ready to step into Sir David's shoes: Actor and eco-warrior Will is about to hit the big time in a major new TV series - but are his woke views a step too far for his great uncle?
He's a Cambridge graduate from a family of TV and film greats, so it would be easy to brand him as a typical nepo baby trading on his family connections. However, when your family has reached national treasure status, fans are more likely to breathe a sigh of relief that there's a new generation Attenborough in the world of TV and film to carry on the clan's legacy. You may not have heard of Will Attenborough, 33, but that's about to change when he bursts on to screens today in the TV series Outrageous, based on the lives of the Mitford sisters - the daughters of Lord and Lady Redesdale who became embroiled in fascism, communism, infamy and scandal in the 1930s. No stranger himself to coming from a well-connected family, he is the great nephew of the conservationist and broadcaster Sir David Attenborough and the grandson of movie giant, Sir Richard Attenborough, who starred in Jurassic Park and The Great Escape and directed Gandhi. But Will himself is an utterly modern member of the famous clan. He identifies as queer and told the Risk! live show in 2019 about his early experiences of gay sex after coming out. More recently, he's developed a close friendship with fellow actress Kira Moore and when he paid tribute to her on her birthday on Instagram last year, friends described them as a 'gorgeous couple'. Alongside his acting career, he has campaigned with Extinction Rebellion - a move that might put him at odds with Sir David, who previously warned that the group risk 'disenchanting an awful lot of people' by disrupting their lives with protests. However, in an impassioned speech in 2024, Will hit back at those who call the group 'eco zealots' and called on supporters to 'rise up, reject the deception, and demand truth and action for our planet'. His father Michael - once married to Jane Seymour - is a theatre director who has held a number of high profile artistic director roles, including the Almeida Theatre and The Young Vic, while his mother Karen Lewis is also an actress. He's quietly been building up an impressive portfolio, starring in BBC 's Our Girl as Olivier Hurst alongside Michelle Keegan and taking the lead role in Jeremy Herrin's production of Photograph 51 opposite Nicole Kidman in 2015. But while he's beginning to make his name for himself on screen, MailOnline can reveal that it is behind-the-scenes that Will has quietly been playing a leading role in the entertainment industry. And, on the face of it, it's a part that's closer to the heart of another illustrious relative - world-renowned naturalist and national treasure Sir David Attenborough. For Will is a leading light in a growing movement aimed at 'empowering artists and screen workers to create a cleaner, greener' industry. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Extinction Rebellion UK (@xrebellionuk) As a climate campaigner he helped set up an organisation that hopes to provide a modern day twist on the theatrical rider - the set of requests or demands that an artist sets as criteria for their performance which are written into contracts. The concept has become notorious through the often outlandish and flamboyant requirements of artists. There's been rock band Van Halen's demands for bowls of M&Ms with all the brown ones removed for their live concerts. Hollywood star George Clooney reportedly once required a hot tub, beach hut and basketball court to be installed next to his trailer on a movie set.r Along with specific types of food, snacks, drinks and flowers other stars have insisted on private jets or police escorts to accompany their vehicles. Will's campaign is aimed at encouraging actors and performers to use their status to instead insist on making demands for more sustainable production practices when signing up for new projects. Rather than their own jets or chauffeur-driven cars, actors are encouraged to use alternative forms of transport such as train travel with producers being asked to support their requests through scheduling 'extra recovery time' and subsidising the artist if their quest to be green will cost them more. Other ideas include sets and costumes. It has reportedly led to a coat being used by Eddie Redmayne when he played the part of Stephen Hawking in the movie The Theory of Everything being used within a short time of 'filming wrapping' by a man living rough to keep warm. The initiative also involves adapting catering provided to prioritise reusable cutlery, reducing food waste and the amount of red meat served up and replaced by 'mainly plant-based and locally sourced meals'. More than 100 actors - including Bill Nighy, Ben Whishaw, Benedict Cumberbatch and Gemma Arterton - have backed Attenborough's Green Rider campaign. Actors' union Equity is on board with the scheme and has held discussions with production companies and studios including the BBC, ITV Studios and Sky Studios. Will also wants to change the 'luvvie' culture around the industry which his grandfather, known as 'Dickie' was famously lampooned for by Spitting Image. He has said: 'You start to see your status on set determined by how many perks you get, how big your trailer is, do you have your own private car, what class are they going to fly you on a plane. 'It's not very sustainable but it's also not very healthy. We're trying to change the culture to show actors don't necessarily want that. 'They want to see themselves as workers who are part of a team with the rest of the group. And they don't want to be separated off and lavished with these very wasteful perks.' Will also helped secure a commitment from London mayor Sadiq Khan to shift City Hall's £5 billion pension fund out of fossil fuel investments. And he launched a campaign with actors Leila Mimmack and Mark Rylance that successfully moved Equity's pension investments out of fossil fuels and into clean energy. Will was born in London to Michael, whose first wife was actress Jane Seymour, and Jewish actress Karen Lewis. His older brother Tom, 38, has also worked as a theatre director. One of Michael's two younger sisters, Jane Holland, was tragically killed in the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami along with her mother-in-law and Michael's 15-year-old niece, Lucy., Will - who has spoken of his 'privileged upbringing' - attended private St Paul's school before going on to read English at Cambridge University where he graduated in 2013. When he was once asked if he always dreamed of being an actor, Will said: 'I guess so. I don't know. It just always felt like the thing I was going to do, I don't think I ever thought of doing something else.' And he said of constantly being asked about his family dynasty: 'It's fine, people are interested and I think I'm lucky people like them! Haha. It's a nice thing.' A year before graduating, Will appeared in his first professional role in the BBC series The Hollow Crown, an adaptation of William Shakespeare's history plays produced by Sam Mendes which featured a star-studded cast. He went on to star alongside Nicole Kidman in the West End play Photograph 51 and appeared in Oscar-winning movie Dunkirk as well as the 2019 film The Outpost. TV roles have included the 2016 BBC adaptation of War & Peace as well as starring in the BBC drama Our Girl alongside Michelle Keegan. Among his friends is Kira Moore who he appeared alongside in a Mawaan Rizwan comedy music video. In an Instagram post to celebrate Kira's birthday last year he wrote: 'Happy birthday to my partner in crime, the most fabulous little weirdo this side of the Mississippi. I love you, you gorgeous freak ❤️'. In his new six-part series about the Mitfords, which premieres on Thursday on streaming platform U and U&DRAMA , Will plays Joss, a character amalgamated from several historical figures. Set in the 1930s, it is a tale of betrayal, scandal, heartache and even imprisonment. Speaking of his new part, Will said: 'It was originally going to be Evelyn Waugh, then writer Sarah Williams thought it'd be interesting to make him Jewish, but not very openly. 'He's also gay, but that's never really talked about in the show.'
BreakingNews.ie
3 days ago
- BreakingNews.ie
Kneecap's Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh to appear in London court on Wednesday
Kneecap member Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh will appear at Westminster Magistrates' Court on June 18th, charged with an alleged terror offence. Rapper Ó hAnnaidh, who performs under the name Mo Chara, is to be represented by a team that includes Gareth Peirce, solicitor for WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange during his fight against US extradition, and Rosalind Comyn, who has represented Extinction Rebellion protesters in court. Advertisement The 27-year-old was charged by postal requisition over the alleged display of a Hezbollah flag at a gig at the O2 Forum in Kentish Town, north London, in November last year. The court appearance is a day before the Kneecap's sold-out Fairview Park concert in Dublin. On Instagram this week, the trio's account posted a photo with the caption, "Wee update for all the legends headed to Fairview Park on Thursday. Flags are allowed but flag poles aren't. "Little court date before then but see yis soon x." Advertisement On Tuesday, the group revealed that they had "plastered London with a few messages" ahead of the court date. The messages, consisting of text saying "More Blacks, More Dogs, More Irish, Mo Chara", a reference to signs that showed up in some properties for rent in London in the 1950s. Ó hAnnaidh's legal team also includes Darragh Mackin from Phoenix Law, Brenda Campbell KC, Jude Bunting KC and Blinne Ní Ghralaigh KC. In an Instagram post last week, the group said: 'The British establishment is conducting a campaign against Kneecap, which is to be fought in Westminster Magistrates Court… We are ready for this fight. We are proud to have such a strong legal team with us.' Advertisement In May, the Metropolitan Police said Kneecap were being investigated by counter-terrorism police after videos emerged allegedly showing the band calling for the deaths of MPs and shouting 'up Hamas, up Hezbollah'. They apologised to the families of murdered MPs but said footage of the incident had been 'exploited and weaponised'. They also said they have 'never supported' Hamas or Hezbollah, which are banned in the UK. In 2024, the band released an eponymous film starring Oscar-nominated actor Michael Fassbender, which is a fictionalised retelling of how the band came together and follows the Belfast group on their mission to save their mother tongue through music. Formed in 2017, the group, made up of Ó hAnnaidh, Naoise Ó Cairealláin and JJ Ó Dochartaigh, is known for their provocative lyrics and merchandise as well as their championing of the Irish language.
South Wales Argus
13-06-2025
- Politics
- South Wales Argus
Kneecap's legal team for court battle to include Julian Assange lawyer
Rapper O hAnnaidh, who performs under the name Mo Chara, will be represented by a team that includes Gareth Peirce, solicitor for WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange during his fight against US extradition, and Rosalind Comyn, who has represented Extinction Rebellion protesters in court. The 27-year-old was charged by postal requisition over the alleged display of a Hezbollah flag at a gig at the O2 Forum in Kentish Town, north London, in November last year. His legal team also includes Darragh Mackin from Phoenix Law, Brenda Campbell KC, Jude Bunting KC and Blinne Ni Ghralaigh KC. Mr Mackin was the solicitor for Sarah Ewart, whose successful legal challenge helped to usher in the decriminalisation of abortion in Northern Ireland, while Ms Campbell was the defence barrister in the collapsed case against Seamus Daly, who was accused of murdering people in the IRA bomb attack of 1998 in Omagh. Mr Bunting acted for non-profit company Liberty in the Stansted 15's successful conviction appeal after they broke into Stansted Airport to stop a plane deporting people to Africa, which was a case Ms Ni Ghralaigh also worked on. In an Instagram post the group said: 'The British establishment is conducting a campaign against Kneecap which is to be fought in Westminster Magistrates Court… We are ready for this fight. We are proud to have such a strong legal team with us.' Mr Mackin told the PA news agency: 'It is difficult to comprehend a case of greater international importance in recent years. 'Kneecap has played an unrivalled role in standing up for those without a voice in Gaza. They speak truth to power when others shy away. 'It is a great privilege to be instructed alongside my colleagues to defend the important principle of freedom of expression, in the pending battle before the London Court.' In May, the Metropolitan Police said Kneecap were being investigated by counter-terrorism police after videos emerged allegedly showing the band calling for the deaths of MPs and shouting 'up Hamas, up Hezbollah'. Members of Kneecap, Liam Og O Hannaigh (Mo Chara), JJ O'Dochartaigh (DJ Provai) and Naoise O Caireallain (Moglai Bap) attending the Irish Film and Television Academy (IFTA) Awards Ceremony (Brian Lawless/PA) They apologised to the families of murdered MPs but said footage of the incident had been 'exploited and weaponised'. They also said they have 'never supported' Hamas or Hezbollah, which are banned in the UK. In 2024, the band released an eponymous film starring Oscar-nominated actor Michael Fassbender which is a fictionalised retelling of how the band came together and follows the Belfast group on their mission to save their mother tongue through music. Formed in 2017, the group, made up of O hAnnaidh, Naoise O Caireallain and JJ O Dochartaigh, are known for their provocative lyrics and merchandise as well as their championing of the Irish language. Their best-known tracks include Get Your Brits Out, Better Way To Live, featuring Grian Chatten from Fontaines DC, and 3Cag. O hAnnaidh is due to appear at Westminster Magistrates' Court on June 18. His lawyers have been approached for comment.
Glasgow Times
13-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Glasgow Times
Kneecap's legal team for court battle to include Julian Assange lawyer
Rapper O hAnnaidh, who performs under the name Mo Chara, will be represented by a team that includes Gareth Peirce, solicitor for WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange during his fight against US extradition, and Rosalind Comyn, who has represented Extinction Rebellion protesters in court. The 27-year-old was charged by postal requisition over the alleged display of a Hezbollah flag at a gig at the O2 Forum in Kentish Town, north London, in November last year. His legal team also includes Darragh Mackin from Phoenix Law, Brenda Campbell KC, Jude Bunting KC and Blinne Ni Ghralaigh KC. Mr Mackin was the solicitor for Sarah Ewart, whose successful legal challenge helped to usher in the decriminalisation of abortion in Northern Ireland, while Ms Campbell was the defence barrister in the collapsed case against Seamus Daly, who was accused of murdering people in the IRA bomb attack in Omagh in 1998. Mr Bunting acted for non-profit company Liberty in the Stansted 15's successful conviction appeal after they broke into Stansted Airport to stop a plane deporting people to Africa, which was a case Ms Ni Ghralaigh also worked on. In an Instagram post the group said: 'The British establishment is conducting a campaign against Kneecap which is to be fought in Westminster Magistrates Court… We are ready for this fight. We are proud to have such a strong legal team with us.' In May, the Metropolitan Police said Kneecap were being investigated by counter-terrorism police after videos emerged allegedly showing the band calling for the deaths of MPs and shouting 'up Hamas, up Hezbollah'. They apologised to the families of murdered MPs but said footage of the incident had been 'exploited and weaponised'. They also said they have 'never supported' Hamas or Hezbollah, which are banned in the UK. In 2024, the band released an eponymous film starring Oscar-nominated actor Michael Fassbender which is a fictionalised retelling of how the band came together and follows the Belfast group on their mission to save their mother tongue through music. Formed in 2017, the group, made up of O hAnnaidh, Naoise O Caireallain and JJ O Dochartaigh, are known for their provocative lyrics and merchandise as well as their championing of the Irish language. Their best-known tracks include Get Your Brits Out, Better Way To Live, featuring Grian Chatten from Fontaines DC, and 3Cag. O hAnnaidh is due to appear at Westminster Magistrates' Court on June 18. His lawyers have been approached for comment.
