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Climate protester arrested over approaching Sir David Attenborough at fine-dining restaurant-Ruth Lawes-Entertainment – Metro
The Planet Earth host was dining at Catch At The Old Fish Market in Weymouth.
Sir David fronts nature docs including Blue Planet (Picture: PA)
A climate change protester has been arrested after reportedly approaching Sir David Attenborough at a Michelin-star restaurant on the south coast.
The Planet Earth host was dining at Catch At The Old Fish Market in Weymouth when Emma Smart, 45, went up to him and allegedly caused a commotion.
Smart, an ecologist from Weymouth, said she wanted a five-minute conversation with the 96-year-old national treasure about the need to address climate change.
Animal Rebellion, the protest group behind Smart, said she was attempting to deliver a letter to The Blue Planet presenter, and shared images of her being dragged away by police at 8.45pm.
Dorset Police confirmed that Smart was arrested on Thursday evening after allegedly causing a disturbance and refusing to comply with officers after they asked her to leave
The group, which calls for a plant-based food system and a mass re-wilding programme, said Smart targeted his visit to the Catch restaurant because of its expensive seafood menu.
Smart said in a statement: ‘The Catch is a symbol of excess and inequality in today’s world, Weymouth has average wages amongst the lowest in the UK and is at huge risk of sea level rises.
Sir David has been a fixture on our screens for decades (Picture: BBC/Getty)
‘Yet this restaurant still continues business as usual amongst the worst cost-of-living crisis many will ever experience.
‘We don’t need another documentary series showing us that we are losing, some 150 species going extinct globally every single day. What we need is action.
She continued: ‘Sir David is in a unique position to tell the truth about the biodiversity crisis. He has the chance to leave a legacy of love, care, and of being the forerunner of a better world.’
Sir David was reportedly dining in a seafood restaurant (Picture: Getty Images)
Smart was previously imprisoned at HMP Bronzefield in Surrey over an Insulate Britain climate protest.
She was released in January, and during her time in the prison she was moved to the hospital wing after undertaking a hunger strike over her sentence.
Her letter to the climate documentary presenter read: ‘Dear David, I still want to meet you! I’m from Weymouth – my community will be devastated in the climate crisis.
Sir David is a national treasure (Picture: REX/Shutterstock)
‘Today is the one-year anniversary that I went to prison for peacefully protesting government inaction.
‘There are 35 ordinary people in prison right now for environmental protest. Please speak up for them. For all life on earth.
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‘I’m a scientist. A biologist. Please meet with me – just five min. Love and hope, Emma Smart.’
Smart was charged with failing to comply with a Section 35 direction and is due to appear at Weymouth Magistrates’ Court on December 21.
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