By Natalie Marchant, Community Newswire

Tens of thousands of people will flood the streets of central London next weekend in what is hoped to be the UK's biggest ever climate change march, organised by the Stop Climate Chaos Coalition.

Campaigners and people from all walks of life will be heading to the capital on Saturday, December 5, in support of urgent action on climate change ahead of crucial UN climate talks in Copenhagen.

Family-friendly event The Wave is encouraging people from across the country to send a message to Gordon Brown and all world leaders at the Cop15 summit, held from December 7 to 18.

The march will begin in Grosvenor Square, central London, at noon, where there will be entertainment compered by beatbox musician Beardyman, aka Darren Foreman.

It is due to finish at 3pm, when it circles the Houses of Parliament.

Participants are encouraged to follow The Wave theme, by painting their hands blue, wearing blue clothing and bringing blue fabric, banners and props.

In addition to the carnival-style street procession from Grosvenor Square to Westminster, a number of other events will be held.

Among them will be a 'splash dance' by the Stop Climate Chaos Youth Group, which has been rehearsed in universities around the UK and will be performed in front of the Canadian High Commission, in Grosvenor Square, at noon.

There will also be a photo call at the front of the march, where an open-topped double decker bus will provide a good vantage point. After the photo opportunity, the bus will set off along the march route.

Other Wave-related events will include a talk by Bolivian indigenous leaders who will discuss taking action on climate change at Darwin Lecture Theatre, University College London, Gower Street, WC1E 6BT at 6.30pm on Friday, December 4, before joining Cafod, Christian Aid and Oxfam for The Wave the following day.

Also on the eve of The Wave, young activists will be brought together for ActionAid's B*****ks to Poverty club night at Mother Bar, 333 Old Street, Shoreditch, EC1V 9LE, from 8pm. The event will also be an opportunity for participants to practice the 'splash dance'.

On the day of The Wave, the London Cycling Campaign is organising rides to it, and to the Climate Emergency bike ride, from nine pick-up points around the capital - starting at 930am.

The Climate Emergency bike ride will assemble at Lincolns Inn Fields at 10am and end at the Climate Emergency Rally at Speaker's Corner, Hyde Park, where speakers will include MPs Michael Meacher, Simon Hughes, John McDonnell, Lynn Jones and Andrew Stunell as well as Caroline Lucas MEP.

After The Wave, the National Union of Students (NUS) will hold an after-party at the LSE Union, East Building, Houghton Street, London, WC2 2AE.

The Stop Climate Chaos Coalition represents 11 million members in 100 organisations across the UK. For more information visit www.stopclimatechaos.org

For more information on The Wave go to www.the-wave.org.uk

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