'20 minutes at 20:00hrs on the 20th' vigil for climate change

The candlelit gatherings have been initiated by local resident and mum of two, Bev Exall. She says: “I came up with the idea of Candlelit Gatherings after listening to a young male physics graduate speaking about his dissertation work on Tipping Points and Feedback Loops on a climate-related zoom call. He was clearly suffering with anxiety and panic, and I just wanted him to ‘un-know’ what he now knew and was struggling to live with.

"The zoom group asked for more public action. I knew I didn’t want to do things that would get me arrested, that’s not me.

"The next morning, I awoke with the idea for the gatherings: they were something I could do and I felt they would be accessible to people who might otherwise have been put off by attending protests in big cities. They are my way of helping to raise more awareness of the links between climate breakdown and extreme weather events, and the impact of these human lives, and I’ve been heartened by the support I’ve received, including from the Climate Majority Project.

"The first vigil on Saturday 11th November saw groups standing publicly in Midhurst, Petersfield, Chichester, Haslemere and Bristol, plus individuals lit candles in their home. The second vigil on Saturday 16th December was particularly well attended after I was interviewed and featured on BBC South.

"In 2024, my intention is for people to come together at 8pm on the 20th of each month. Everyone is invited to light candles – either publicly with others or privately at home – to show concern and to help raise awareness of the link between the millions of human lives, homes and livelihoods being lost and the more frequent and extreme weather events caused by climate breakdown.

"My aim is to encourage people to take action on the climate crisis, and to pause and reflect on the impact of the crisis, especially on people’s lives.”