Extinction Rebellion
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Extinction Rebellion
Named after Anthropocene extinction
Motto Fight for life
Rebel for life
Formation 31 October 2018; 3 months ago
Type Civil society campaign
Purpose Climate change mitigation
Nature conservation
Environmental protection
Region International
Methods Nonviolent direct action
Fields Conservation movement
Environmental movement
Affiliations Rising Up![1]
The Climate Mobilization[2]
Website xrebellion.org
Extinction Rebellion(sometimes shortened as XR) is an international social movement that aims to drive radical change, through nonviolent resistance, in order to avert climate breakdown and minimise the risk of human extinction and ecological collapse.[1][3]
Extinction Rebellion was established in the United Kingdom in 2018 with about one hundred academics signing a call to action[4] and launched at the end of October by Roger Hallam, Gail Bradbrook, Simon Bramwell and other activists from the campaign group Rising Up!.[5] In November 2018, various acts of civil disobedience took place in London.[6] The movement is unusual in that a large number of activists have pledged to be arrested and are prepared to go to prison,[7] similar to the mass arrest tactics of the Committee of 100 in 1961.
Citing inspiration from grassroots movements such as Occupy, Gandhi’s independence movement, the Suffragettes, Martin Luther King and the civil rights movement, Extinction Rebellion intends to rally support worldwide around a common sense of urgency to tackle climate breakdown.[8][6]
Contents
1Manifesto
1.1Demands
1.2Principles and values
2Support
2.1First open letter
2.2Second open letter
2.3Other supporters
3Actions
4See also
5References
6Notes
7External links
Manifesto[edit]
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Extinction Rebellion placard
Demands[edit]
Extinction Rebellion's website states its aims as:[9][1][10]
"The Government must tell the truth about the climate and wider ecological emergency, reverse inconsistent policies and work alongside the media to communicate with citizens.
The Government must enact legally binding policy measures to reduce carbon emissions to net zero by 2025 and to reduce consumption levels.
A national Citizens' Assembly to oversee the changes, as part of creating a democracy fit for purpose."
Principles and values[edit]
As presented on the Extinction Rebellion website:
"We have a shared vision of change – creating a world that is fit for generations to come.
We set our mission on what is necessary – mobilising 3.5% of the population to achieve system change – using ideas such as “momentum-driven organising” to achieve this.
We need a regenerative culture – creating a culture which is healthy, resilient and adaptable.
We openly challenge ourselves and this toxic system – leaving our comfort zones to take action for change.
We value reflecting and learning – following a cycle of action, reflection, learning, and planning for more action. Learning from other movements and contexts as well as our own experiences.
We welcome everyone and every part of everyone – working actively to create safer and more accessible spaces.
We actively mitigate for power – breaking down hierarchies of power for more equitable participation.
We avoid blaming and shaming – we live in a toxic system, but no one individual is to blame.
We are a non-violent network – using non-violent strategy and tactics as the most effective way to bring about change.
We are based on autonomy and decentralization – we collectively create the structures we need to challenge power. Anyone who follows these core principles and values can take action in the name of RisingUp!"[11]
Support[edit]
First open letter[edit]
On 26 October 2018, about one hundred academics signed a call to action about the ecological crisis:[4]
[...] The science is clear, the facts are incontrovertible, and it is unconscionable to us that our children and grandchildren should have to bear the terrifying brunt of an unprecedented disaster of our own making. [...] Our government is complicit in ignoring the precautionary principle, and in failing to acknowledge that infinite economic growth on a planet with finite resources is non-viable. [...] When a government wilfully abrogates its responsibility to protect its citizens from harm and to secure the future for generations to come, it has failed in its most essential duty of stewardship. The “social contract” has been broken, and it is therefore not only our right, but our moral duty to bypass the government’s inaction and flagrant dereliction of duty, and to rebel to defend life itself. We therefore declare our support for Extinction Rebellion, launching on 31 October 2018. We fully stand behind the demands for the government to tell the hard truth to its citizens. We call for a Citizens’ Assembly to work with scientists on the basis of the extant evidence and in accordance with the precautionary principle, to urgently develop a credible plan for rapid total decarbonisation of the economy.
The ten first signatories are:[4]
Alison Green
Joy Carter
Rowan Williams
Danny Dorling
Jem Bendell
Ian Gibson
Susie Orbach
David Drew
Molly Scott Cato
Shahrar Ali
Other signatories include:[4]
Meg-John Barker
Claire Callender
Harvey Goldstein
Wendy Hollway
Richard House
Calum Neill
Ann Phoenix
Rupert Read
Diane Reay
Lynne Segal
Prem Sikka
Andrew Simms
Guy Standing
Gail Bradbrook[6]
Second open letter[edit]
On 9 December 2018, a second open letter of support signed by another hundred academics was published, saying:[12]
[...] Political leaders worldwide are failing to address the environmental crisis. If global corporate capitalism continues to drive the international economy, global catastrophe is inevitable. [...] We further call on concerned global citizens to rise up and organise against current complacency in their particular contexts, including indigenous people’s rights advocacy, decolonisation and reparatory justice – so joining the global movement that’s now rebelling against extinction (e.g. Extinction Rebellion in the UK). We must collectively do whatever's necessary non-violently, to persuade politicians and business leaders to relinquish their complacency and denial. Their “business as usual” is no longer an option. Global citizens will no longer put up with this failure of our planetary duty. Every one of us, especially in the materially privileged world, must commit to accepting the need to live more lightly, consume far less, and to not only uphold human rights but also our stewardship responsibilities to the planet.
First signatories of the second letter include:[12]
Joy Carter
Noam Chomsky
A. C. Grayling
Naomi Klein
Bill McKibben
Susie Orbach
Chris Packham
Jonathon Porritt
Philip Pullman
Vandana Shiva
Rowan Williams
Other signatories of the second letter include:[12]
Julian Agyeman
Steve Biddulph
Molly Scott Cato
Danny Dorling
David Drew
David Elkind
David Graeber
Caroline Lucas
Guy McPherson
Simon Murray
Sunita Narain
Michel Odent
Kate Raworth
Rupert Read
William J. Ripple
Jim Salinger
Andrew Samuels
David Schlosberg
Arthur Waskow
Other supporters[edit]
Julia Bradbury[13]
Jack Harries[14]
Jenny Jones[6]
Caspar Lee[15]
Caroline Lucas[1]
George Monbiot[16]
Greta Thunberg
Actions[edit]
“ Organisers say they hope the campaign of “respectful disruption” will change the debate around climate breakdown and signal to those in power that the present course of action will lead to disaster. ”
— Damien Gayle, The Guardian[6][17]
Extinction Rebellion protest on Blackfriars Bridge (17 November 2018)
_Extinction_Rebellion_Protest_Tower_Hill.jpg)
'Swarming roadblocks' (23 November 2018)
On 17 October 2018, activists from Extinction Rebellion held a sit-in at the UK headquarters of Greenpeace, the direct actionenvironmental organisation, "to encourage their members to participate in mass civil disobedience as the only remaining alternative to avert the worst of the catastrophe" and join in future activities of Extinction Rebellion.[1][18]
An assembly took place at Parliament Squareon 31 October 2018, and drew more than a thousand people to hear the "Declaration of Rebellion"[19] against the UK government and speeches by Donnachadh McCarthy, 15-year-old Greta Thunberg, the Swedish schoolgirl "on strike" from school over her own government's climate inaction,[20] Julia Bradbury, and Green MEP Molly Scott Cato in the square.[19] After a motion was proposed and agreed, the assembly then moved to occupy the road, where Caroline Lucas, George Monbiot, and other speakers and singers, including Seize the Day, continued from the reclaimed street directly in front of the Houses of Parliament.[19][a] Following this, 15 campaigners were arrested for deliberately continuing the sit-in in the roadway.[19]
In the first two weeks of the movement in November 2018, more than 60 people were arrested for taking part in acts of civil disobedience organised by Extinction Rebellion.[6] People blockaded and spray-painted slogans on the UK's Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on 12 November.[21] Activists unveiled a "Climate Change... We're Fucked" banner over Westminster Bridge[22]and glued themselves to the gates of Downing Street on 14 November.[23][24]
On 17 November 2018, in what was called "Rebellion Day", thousands of people took part in a coordinated action to block the five main bridges over the River Thames in London (Southwark, Blackfriars, Waterloo, Westminster, and Lambeth) for several hours, causing major traffic disruption.[6][25][26][27][28] The Guardian described it as "one of the biggest acts of peaceful civil disobedience in the UK in decades".[6][17]YBA artist Gavin Turk was one of the activists arrested for obstructing the public highway.[29][30] Internationally there was an action by the XR group in Stockholm,[31] as well as rallies in Dublin, Cork, Galway, Belfast. Copenhagen, Berlin, Madrid and New York City.[32]
From 21 November 2018, beginning a campaign known as 'swarming' roadblocks (repeated roadblocks of approximately 7 minutes each), small groups of Extinction Rebellion activists carried out protests by occupying road junctions at Lambeth and Vauxhall Bridges, Elephant and Castle, Tower Bridge and Earl's Court, causing serious disruption to rush-hour traffic and continuing throughout the day.[17][33][34][35][36][37]Similar actions continued for the next two days in London,[38] with one group moving to Oxford Street on Black Friday afternoon.[39]
On 23 November, in a first action outside London, an Extinction Rebellion group in York stopped traffic on Coppergate, Clifford Street, Pavement and Ouse Bridge, as well as holding a demo outside West Offices of the City of York Council.[40][41] An Oxford XR group also blocked traffic on Botley Road the same day.[42]
A week after the first, "Rebellion Day 2" saw Extinction Rebellion block the roads around Parliament Square, before a mock funeral march to Downing Street and then onto Buckingham Palace.[43] Gail Bradbrook read out a letter to the Queen and one activist superglued herself to the gates of the Palace, before the procession returned to Parliament Square.[44] On 24 November there were actions outside London by XR groups in Manchester,[45] Sheffield,[46] Machynlleth[47] and Edinburgh.[48]
On 15 December 2018, a professor of psychology was arrested for a "climate change graffiti attack" on the Bristol Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) building,[49][50][51] and a "die-in" was held at a local shopping center.[52]
On 21 December 2018, actions were staged at BBC locations across the UK calling for a change in editorial policy due to a "failure to report" on the "climate emergency." BBC headquarters in London was placed on lockdown.[53][54][55]
Extinction Rebellion events are planned in 27 other countries including Ireland, Australia, Canada, France, Sweden, Germany, Colombia, New Zealand[6][56][57] and in New York City for a national day of action for the United States.[58]
See also[edit]
Anthropocene
Committee of 100 (United Kingdom)
Ecological collapse
Environmental direct action in the United Kingdom
Fossil fuel phase-out
Global catastrophic risk
Individual and political action on climate change
Low-carbon economy
Overshoot (population)
Peak oil
Precautionary principle
School strike for climate
Social contract
The Limits to Growth
Ende Gelände 2018
Yellow vests movement
References[edit]
^ Jump up to:a b c d e Matthew Taylor (26 October 2018). "'We have a duty to act': hundreds ready to go to jail over climate crisis". The Guardian. Retrieved 17 November 2018.
^ Farand, Chloe (26 November 2018). "Extinction Rebellion goes global with call for net zero emission by 2025". The Energy Mix. Retrieved 30 January 2019.
^ "Extinction Rebellion". rebellion.earth. Retrieved 18 November 2018.
^ Jump up to:a b c d Alison Green; et al. (26 October 2018). "Facts about our ecological crisis are incontrovertible. We must take action". The Guardian. Retrieved 17 November 2018.
^ "Extinction Rebellion campaigners arrested in London". Green World. 19 November 2018. Retrieved 24 November 2018.
^ Jump up to:a b c d e f g h i Matthew Taylor and Damien Gayle (17 November 2018). "Thousands gather to block London bridges in climate rebellion". The Guardian. Retrieved 17 November 2018.
^ Rinvolucri, Bruno; Lamborn, Katie; Guardian, Source: The (22 November 2018). "'We can't get arrested quick enough': life inside Extinction Rebellion – video". The Guardian. Retrieved 22 November2018.
^ Farand, Chloe (23 November 2018). "Extinction Rebellion eyes global campaign". The Ecologist. Retrieved 23 November 2018.
^ "Extinction Rebellion". rebellion.earth. Retrieved 18 November 2018.
^ Roger Harrabin (12 November 2018). "Climate change protests leads to '22 arrests' over blockade". BBC News. Retrieved 17 November 2018.
^ "Who We Are | Extinction Rebellion". rebellion.earth. Retrieved 26 November 2018.
^ Jump up to:a b c Vandana Shiva; et al. (9 December 2018). "Act now to prevent an environmental catastrophe". The Guardian. Retrieved 11 December2018.
^ Will Humphries and Ben Webster (17 November 2018). "White collar eco-warriors to spread chaos". The Times. Retrieved 21 November 2018.
^ Damien Gayle (14 November 2018). "Social media influencer urges young people to protest over environment". The Guardian. Retrieved 21 November 2018.
^ Louise Griffin (18 November 2018). "Caspar Lee is all here for 'civil disobedience' as he attends climate change protest". Metro. Retrieved 24 November 2018.
^ George Monbiot (14 November 2018). "The Earth is in a death spiral. It will take radical action to save us". The Guardian. Retrieved 17 November 2018.
^ Jump up to:a b c Gayle, Damien (21 November 2018). "Avoid London for days, police warn motorists amid 'swarming' protests". The Guardian. Retrieved 21 November 2018.
^ Molitch-Hou, Michael (19 October 2018). "Climate Activists Occupy Greenpeace UK Headquarters—Wait, That Can't Be Right". Common Dreams. Retrieved 18 November 2018.
^ Jump up to:a b c d Taylor, Matthew (31 October 2018). "15 environmental protesters arrested at civil disobedience campaign in London". The Guardian. Retrieved 18 November 2018.
^ Germanos, Andrea (31 October 2018). "'This Is Our Darkest Hour': With Declaration of Rebellion, New Group Vows Mass Civil Disobedience to Save Planet". Common Dreams. Retrieved 18 November 2018.
^ Harrabin, Roger (12 November 2018). "Climate change protest sees '22 arrests'". BBC News. Retrieved 17 November 2018 – via www.bbc.co.uk.
^ "The 'new' climate politics of Extinction Rebellion?". openDemocracy. 27 November 2018. Retrieved 28 November 2018.
^ "Protesters glued to Downing Street gates". BBC News. 14 November 2018. Retrieved 17 November 2018 – via www.bbc.co.uk.
^ "Fifty arrests as climate change activists descend on London again". Evening Standard. 14 November 2018. Retrieved 17 November 2018.
^ Roger Harrabin (17 November 2018). "Extinction Rebellion protests block London bridges". BBC News. Retrieved 17 November 2018.
^ "Climate change protesters block London bridges on day of civil action". The Independent. Retrieved 17 November 2018.
^ "Hundreds block central London bridges in protest over climate change". Evening Standard. Retrieved 17 November 2018.
^ "'Rebellion Day' activists plan to block five London bridges". Sky News. Retrieved 17 November 2018.
^ Laville, Sandra (18 November 2018). "Artist Gavin Turk arrested in London climate change protest". The Guardian. Retrieved 21 November2018.
^ Turk, Gavin (20 November 2018). "I was arrested at a climate change protest – it was worth it". The Guardian. Retrieved 21 November 2018.
^ "Klimataktionsgrupp blockerade gator i Stockholm – DN.SE". DN.SE(in Swedish). 17 November 2018. Retrieved 29 November 2018.
^ O'Brien, Tim (17 November 2018). "Fine Gael criticised for 'self-congratulation' on climate change – Extinction Rebellion Dublin rally hears calls to 'stand up and fight' for the environment". Irish Times. Retrieved 29 November 2018.
^ Ebury-Jones, Tom; Sommerlad, Joe (21 November 2018). "Climate change protesters are 'swarming' major London roads to stop rush hour traffic". The Independent. Retrieved 21 November 2018.
^ Rose, Eleanor (21 November 2018). "'Swarming' protests by Extinction Rebellion stop London traffic". Evening Standard. Retrieved 21 November 2018.
^ "Nick Ferrari Grills Climate Change Protester Blocking Roads In London". LBC. 21 November 2018. Retrieved 21 November 2018.
^ "Environmental activists form human road blocks in effort to bring London to a standstill". Talkradio. 21 November 2018. Retrieved 21 November 2018.
^ "Climate protesters block London bridges". BBC News. 21 November 2018. Retrieved 21 November 2018.
^ Rose, Eleanor (23 November 2018). "Extinction Rebellion 'swarming' protests block traffic for third day running as angry commuters slam them as 'pests'". Evening Standard. Retrieved 23 November 2018.
^ Searles, Michael (23 November 2018). "Commuter chaos: Extinction Rebellion causes central London gridlock". Retrieved 23 November 2018.
^ "Extinction Rebellion protest blocks bridge in York". Minster FM. 23 November 2018. Retrieved 23 November 2018.
^ "Extinction Rebellion protesters block bridge in York city centre". York Press. 23 November 2018. Retrieved 23 November 2018.
^ "Protesters block traffic on Botley Road". Oxford Mail. 23 November 2018. Retrieved 23 November 2018.
^ Murphy, Simon (24 November 2018). "Environmental protesters block access to Parliament Square". The Guardian. Retrieved 26 November2018.
^ Clifton, Katy (24 November 2018). "Police make 14 arrests after thousands of activists descend on London". Evening Standard. Retrieved 26 November 2018.
^ "EXTINCTION REBELLION HITS MANCHESTER WITH CLIMATE CHANGE ROAD BLOCKS, DIE-IN, MARCH AND ARRESTS". www.salfordstar.com. Salford Star. 25 November 2018. Retrieved 26 November 2018.
^ "Extinction Rebellion put climate in a coffin for 'funeral' and parade it around Sheffield | Forge". forgetoday.com. Forge Press. 25 November 2018. Retrieved 26 November 2018.
^ Gedge, Antony (24 November 2018). "Action demanded to prevent climate change". Cambrian News. Retrieved 27 November 2018.
^ Spowart, Nan (25 November 2018). "Climate change rebel group rally in Edinburgh for Scottish launch". The National. Retrieved 26 November2018.
^ Cork, Tristan (17 December 2018). "University professor arrested for graffiti attack". bristolpost. Retrieved 27 January 2019.
^ "Bristol lecturer arrested during climate change protest". Epigram. 19 December 2018. Retrieved 27 January 2019.
^ Cork, Tristan (17 December 2018). "University professor arrested for graffiti attack". Bristol Post. Retrieved 27 January 2019.
^ Herbaux, Claire Violette (15 December 2018). "Why police were called to protest as dozens 'die' in shopping centre". somersetlive. Retrieved 27 January 2019.
^ Clifton, Katy (21 December 2018). "BBC in London put on lockdown over climate change protest". Evening Standard. Retrieved 27 January2019.
^ Waterson, Jim (21 December 2018). "BBC's London HQ put on lockdown over climate change protest". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 27 January 2019.
^ SagirFriday, Ceren; December 21; 2018 (21 December 2018). "Extinction Rebellion protest against the BBC's "failure to report" the true dangers of the climate crisis". Morning Star. Retrieved 27 January 2019.
^ Watts, Jonathan (10 December 2018). "Extinction Rebellion goes global in run-up to week of international civil disobedience". The Guardian. Retrieved 11 December 2018.
^ "Extinction Rebellion". Brightest. 13 January 2019. Retrieved 13 January 2019.
^ Lerner, Sharon (15 December 2018). "The Extinction Rebellion's Direct-Action Climate Activism Comes to New York". The Intercept. Retrieved 28 January 2019.
Notes[edit]
^ XR Declaration from 1.39.15 see External links[clarification needed]
External links[edit]
Wikiquote has quotations related to: Extinction RebellionOfficial website
XR Declaration – The Extinction Rebellion "Declaration of Rebellion" live from Parliament Square with Greta Thunberg, Donnachadh McCarthy, George Monbiot, Molly Scott and Dr Gail Bradbrook – 31 October 2018
Whilst being arrested, one rebel was asked "Do you have anything to say?" – They replied "This is for my nieces and nephews. So that we can work towards a greater planet for them to live on. A healthy planet, a sustainable future for my little 3-year-old niece. This is for you, Adeline."
