What is Make Them Pay?
Make Them Pay is an alliance representing millions of workers, citizens and communities across Britain. It has 3 key demands:
Tax the super-rich
Protect workers, not billionaires
Make polluters pay
More than 80 organisations are part of this alliance, ranging from Oxfam to the Fire Brigade Union, Patriotic Millionaires to Global Justice Now.
On Saturday 20 September, Friends of the Earth will take part in a massive Make Them Pay demonstration in central London.
Why is Friends of the Earth taking part?
We’re joining the Make Them Pay demonstration because climate justice and economic justice go hand-in-hand. For too long, the richest people and most polluting corporations have profited while fuelling the climate crisis – and ordinary people are being left to pay the price as climate impacts become more and more evident in our daily lives.
From oil and gas giants like Shell and BP locking us into an expensive, dirty energy system, to the richest 1% with their private jets and super yachts, who produce as much carbon as the poorest two-thirds of the world, the injustice is staggering.* Here in the UK, the wealthiest 10% produce 3 times the emissions of the poorest 10% of households.**
It’s time to make polluters and the millionaires investing in fossil fuels and high emission lifestyles pay for the damage they cause – and use that money to build a fairer, greener future: lower energy bills, warmer homes, cleaner air, affordable public transport, and well-paid green jobs. Many millionaires agree with us and support wealth taxes to fund public services. By joining the demonstration, Friends of the Earth is standing alongside climate justice, economic justice and social justice organisations to demand a fairer tax system, and real investment in people and the planet.
Read Friends of the Earth guide on how taxing polluters can help fund climate action.
Meeting point and time
Our local group, Merton Friends of the Earth, will meet in Wimbledon station by the Ticket Office at 10:15am . We will travel together to Central London to meet other Friends Of the Earth London Network Groups, we will march together as part of the environmental bloc. Look out for our Friends of the Earth banners and t-shirts.
What to bring and wear
Friends of the Earth t-shirt if you have one,
Comfortable shoes – we’ll be on our feet for a while.
Reusable water bottle and snacks.
Weather-appropriate gear: raincoat/umbrella if wet, hat/sunscreen if sunny.
Travel card/contactless payment for getting around London.
What to expect
The rally will bring together climate, economic justice, and anti-austerity campaigners from across the UK. More than 70 organisations have signed up in support, alongside hundreds of other campaign activities happening globally as part of a coordinated day of action leading to COP30.
The march starts at 1pm and is 1.7 miles/ 2.7km long, from Portland Place to Parliament Square. We expect this to take 1.5 hours. There are accessible routes for anyone who would like to march a shorter distance, find them here.
A rally will start at 2.30pm in Parliament square. Speakers include Friends of the Earth’s chief executive, Asad Rehman.
The rally will finish at 4pm and participants will make their own way home.
To find out more about the day and check out the route map, visit the Make Them Pay website.
Health and safety
While thousands of people take part in peaceful protest marches across the UK every year without incident, it is still important to know how to stay safe. Friends of the Earth guide to protest law is useful for anyone planning to take part in this demonstration, or any other marches. You should also make sure you’re familiar with the safeguarding guidance for local groups and know how to respond to incidents of violence and abuse. Additionally, all local action group activities should adhere to Friends of the Earths protest and non-violent action policy.
When attending on 20 September please ensure you:
Follow instructions from rally stewards or organisers.
Keep hydrated and take breaks if you need to step out of the crowd.
Be aware of your surroundings, especially near traffic or when moving through large groups.
Keep your belongings secure and leave valuables at home if possible. You are responsible for your own possessions.
If you feel unwell or unsafe, let a Friends of the Earth staff member know immediately.
In an emergency, call 999 and inform rally stewards or police nearby.