Extinction Rebellion Activists The Penitents, protest about the climate emergency on 11th August 2019 in St Ives, United Kingdom. The Penitents who were a Christian movement that goes back to the 4th century. Those who had committed serious sins confessed their sins to the Bishop or his representative and were assigned a penance that was to be carried out over a period of time. These protests are highlighting that the government is not doing enough to avoid catastrophic climate change and to demand the government take radical action to save the planet.