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==Criticism==
==Criticism==
The movement has been criticised for having 'unrealistic' demands<ref>https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/science-environment-46626582/extinction-rebellion-the-story-behind-the-activist-group</ref> and not presenting a plan on how to 'reduce emissions to net zero by 2025'.
The movement has been criticised for having 'unrealistic' demands<ref>https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/science-environment-46626582/extinction-rebellion-the-story-behind-the-activist-group</ref> and not presenting a plan on how to 'reduce emissions to net zero by 2025'.

Writing in the online [[Spiked (magazine)]] writer Ben Pile criticised Extinction Rebellion for promoting 'authoritarian regulation of other people's lives'.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.spiked-online.com/2018/11/28/the-sad-spectacle-of-climate-activism/ |title=The sad spectacle of climate activism |last=Pile |first=Ben |date=2018-11-28 |work=Spiked Magazine |access-date=2019-03-15 |language=en}}</ref>


== See also ==
== See also ==

Revision as of 13:58, 16 March 2019

Extinction Rebellion
Named afterAnthropocene extinction
Formation31 October 2018; 5 years ago (2018-10-31)
TypeCivil society campaign
PurposeClimate change mitigation
Nature conservation
Environmental protection
Region
International
MethodsNonviolent direct action
FieldsConservation movement
Environmental movement
AffiliationsRising Up![1]
The Climate Mobilization[2]
Websitexrebellion.org

Extinction Rebellion (abbreviated as XR) is a socio-political movement intending to utilise nonviolent resistance in order to avert climate breakdown, halt biodiversity loss, and minimise the risk of human extinction and ecological collapse.[1]

Extinction Rebellion was established in the United Kingdom in 2018 with about one hundred academics signing a call to action[3] and launched at the end of October by Roger Hallam, Gail Bradbrook, Simon Bramwell, and other activists from the campaign group Rising Up!.[4] In November 2018, various acts of civil disobedience took place in London.[5] The movement is unusual in that a large number of activists have pledged to be arrested and go to prison,[6] 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, and Martin Luther King and others in the civil rights movement, Extinction Rebellion intends to rally support worldwide around a common sense of urgency to tackle climate breakdown.[7][5]

Manifesto

Extinction Rebellion placard. Its logo is a circled hourglass.

Demands

Extinction Rebellion's website states its aims as:[8][1][9]

  • "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."

Stated principles

XR has given the following statement on its website:

  1. "We have a shared vision of change – creating a world that is fit for generations to come.
  2. 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.
  3. We need a regenerative culture – creating a culture which is healthy, resilient and adaptable.
  4. We openly challenge ourselves and this toxic system – leaving our comfort zones to take action for change.
  5. 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.
  6. We welcome everyone and every part of everyone – working actively to create safer and more accessible spaces.
  7. We actively mitigate for power – breaking down hierarchies of power for more equitable participation.
  8. We avoid blaming and shaming – we live in a toxic system, but no one individual is to blame.
  9. We are a non-violent network – using non-violent strategy and tactics as the most effective way to bring about change.
  10. 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!"[10]

Support

First open letter

On 26 October 2018, approximately one hundred academics signed a call to action about the ecological crisis:[3]

[...] 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.

Second open letter

On 9 December 2018, a second open letter of support signed by another hundred academics was published, saying:[11]

[...] 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.

Actions

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[5][12]
Extinction Rebellion protest on Blackfriars Bridge (17 November 2018)
'Swarming roadblocks' (23 November 2018)
Extinction Rebellion on Earth Strike in Warsaw (15 February 2019)

On 17 October 2018, activists from Extinction Rebellion held a sit-in at the UK headquarters of Greenpeace, the direct action environmental 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][13]

An assembly took place at Parliament Square on 31 October 2018, and drew more than a thousand people to hear the "Declaration of Rebellion"[14] 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,[15] Julia Bradbury, and Green MEP Molly Scott Cato in the square.[14] 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.[14][a] Following this, 15 campaigners were arrested for deliberately continuing the sit-in in the roadway.[14]

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.[5] People blockaded and spray-painted slogans on the UK's Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on 12 November.[16] Activists unveiled a "Climate Change... We're Fucked" banner over Westminster Bridge[17] and glued themselves to the gates of Downing Street on 14 November.[18][19]

On 17 November 2018, in what was called "Rebellion Day", roughly 6000 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 and resulting in over 70 arrests.[5][20][21][22][23] The Guardian described it as "one of the biggest acts of peaceful civil disobedience in the UK in decades".[5][12] YBA artist Gavin Turk was one of the activists arrested for obstructing the public highway.[24][25] Internationally there was an action by the XR group in Stockholm,[26] as well as rallies in Dublin, Cork, Galway, Belfast. Copenhagen, Berlin, Madrid and New York City.[27]

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.[12][28][29][30][31][32] Similar actions continued for the next two days in London,[33] with one group moving to Oxford Street on Black Friday afternoon.[34]

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.[35][36] An Oxford XR group also blocked traffic on Botley Road the same day.[37]

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.[38] 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.[39] On 24 November there were actions outside London by XR groups in Manchester,[40] Sheffield,[41] Machynlleth[42] and Edinburgh.[43]

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,[44][45][46] and a "die-in" was held at a local shopping center.[47]

On 21 December 2018, actions were staged at BBC locations across the UK by Extinction Rebellion calling for a change in editorial policy, perceiving a "failure to report" on the "climate emergency." BBC headquarters in London was placed on lockdown.[48][49][50]

2019

On 25 January 2019, about 40 members of Extinction Rebellion staged a peaceful one-hour occupation of the Scottish Parliament's debating chamber in Holyrood, Edinburgh.[51] Council chambers were also occupied by XR groups in Norwich on 11 February,[52] and Gloucestershire, on 13 February, which included a mock trial of the council's "criminal negligence".[53] A week later neighbouring Somerset County Council declared a climate emergency, citing school strikers and XR as having some input into the decision.[54] In late February, following an XR petition, Reading Borough Council also declared a climate emergency,[55] aiming to cut carbon emissions by 2030, a week after discussions with the XR Reading (XRR) group[56] and a day after the warmest winter day on record in the UK.[57]

During London Fashion Week, in February, Extinction Rebellion organised actions to disrupt events calling on the British Fashion Council organisers to declare a 'climate emergency' and for the industry to take a leading role in tackling climate change.[58] 'Swarming' roadblocks were held outside several venues, including a couple of rebels in living grass coats.[59] Later in the week, designer and XR co-founder Clare Farrell, was barred from a fashion show by a label in which she had been involved with production.[60]

On 9 March 2019, around 400 protesters staged a "Blood of Our Children" demonstration outside No. 10 Downing Street, in which they poured buckets of fake blood on the road to represent the threatened lives of children.[61]

International

Extinction Rebellion events are planned for the week starting 15 April 2019, in 27 other countries including the United Kingdom, Ireland, Australia, Canada, France, Sweden, Germany, Colombia, New Zealand[5][62][63] and in New York City for a national day of action for the United States.[64]

Criticism

The movement has been criticised for having 'unrealistic' demands[65] and not presenting a plan on how to 'reduce emissions to net zero by 2025'.

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d 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.
  2. ^ Farand, Chloe (26 November 2018). "Extinction Rebellion goes global with call for net zero emission by 2025". The Energy Mix. Retrieved 30 January 2019.
  3. ^ a b Alison Green; et al. (26 October 2018). "Facts about our ecological crisis are incontrovertible. We must take action". The Guardian. Retrieved 17 November 2018.
  4. ^ "Extinction Rebellion campaigners arrested in London". Green World. 19 November 2018. Retrieved 24 November 2018.
  5. ^ a b c d e f g Matthew Taylor and Damien Gayle (17 November 2018). "Thousands gather to block London bridges in climate rebellion". The Guardian. Retrieved 17 November 2018.
  6. ^ 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 November 2018.
  7. ^ Farand, Chloe (23 November 2018). "Extinction Rebellion eyes global campaign". The Ecologist. Retrieved 23 November 2018.
  8. ^ "Extinction Rebellion". rebellion.earth. Retrieved 18 November 2018.
  9. ^ Roger Harrabin (12 November 2018). "Climate change protests leads to '22 arrests' over blockade". BBC News. Retrieved 17 November 2018.
  10. ^ "Who We Are | Extinction Rebellion". rebellion.earth. Retrieved 26 November 2018.
  11. ^ Vandana Shiva; et al. (9 December 2018). "Act now to prevent an environmental catastrophe". The Guardian. Retrieved 11 December 2018.
  12. ^ a b c Gayle, Damien (21 November 2018). "Avoid London for days, police warn motorists amid 'swarming' protests". The Guardian. Retrieved 21 November 2018.
  13. ^ Molitch-Hou, Michael (19 October 2018). "Climate Activists Occupy Greenpeace UK Headquarters—Wait, That Can't Be Right". Common Dreams. Retrieved 18 November 2018.
  14. ^ 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.
  15. ^ 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.
  16. ^ Harrabin, Roger (12 November 2018). "Climate change protest sees '22 arrests'". BBC News. Retrieved 17 November 2018 – via www.bbc.co.uk.
  17. ^ "The 'new' climate politics of Extinction Rebellion?". openDemocracy. 27 November 2018. Retrieved 28 November 2018.
  18. ^ "Protesters glued to Downing Street gates". BBC News. 14 November 2018. Retrieved 17 November 2018 – via www.bbc.co.uk.
  19. ^ "Fifty arrests as climate change activists descend on London again". Evening Standard. 14 November 2018. Retrieved 17 November 2018.
  20. ^ Roger Harrabin (17 November 2018). "Extinction Rebellion protests block London bridges". BBC News. Retrieved 17 November 2018.
  21. ^ "Climate change protesters block London bridges on day of civil action". The Independent. Retrieved 17 November 2018.
  22. ^ "Hundreds block central London bridges in protest over climate change". Evening Standard. Retrieved 17 November 2018.
  23. ^ "'Rebellion Day' activists plan to block five London bridges". Sky News. Retrieved 17 November 2018.
  24. ^ Laville, Sandra (18 November 2018). "Artist Gavin Turk arrested in London climate change protest". The Guardian. Retrieved 21 November 2018.
  25. ^ Turk, Gavin (20 November 2018). "I was arrested at a climate change protest – it was worth it". The Guardian. Retrieved 21 November 2018.
  26. ^ "Klimataktionsgrupp blockerade gator i Stockholm – DN.SE". DN.SE (in Swedish). 17 November 2018. Retrieved 29 November 2018.
  27. ^ 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.
  28. ^ 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.
  29. ^ Rose, Eleanor (21 November 2018). "'Swarming' protests by Extinction Rebellion stop London traffic". Evening Standard. Retrieved 21 November 2018.
  30. ^ "Nick Ferrari Grills Climate Change Protester Blocking Roads In London". LBC. 21 November 2018. Retrieved 21 November 2018.
  31. ^ "Environmental activists form human road blocks in effort to bring London to a standstill". Talkradio. 21 November 2018. Retrieved 21 November 2018.
  32. ^ "Climate protesters block London bridges". BBC News. 21 November 2018. Retrieved 21 November 2018.
  33. ^ 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.
  34. ^ Searles, Michael (23 November 2018). "Commuter chaos: Extinction Rebellion causes central London gridlock". Retrieved 23 November 2018.
  35. ^ "Extinction Rebellion protest blocks bridge in York". Minster FM. 23 November 2018. Retrieved 23 November 2018.
  36. ^ "Extinction Rebellion protesters block bridge in York city centre". York Press. 23 November 2018. Retrieved 23 November 2018.
  37. ^ "Protesters block traffic on Botley Road". Oxford Mail. 23 November 2018. Retrieved 23 November 2018.
  38. ^ Murphy, Simon (24 November 2018). "Environmental protesters block access to Parliament Square". The Guardian. Retrieved 26 November 2018.
  39. ^ Clifton, Katy (24 November 2018). "Police make 14 arrests after thousands of activists descend on London". Evening Standard. Retrieved 26 November 2018.
  40. ^ "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.
  41. ^ "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.
  42. ^ Gedge, Antony (24 November 2018). "Action demanded to prevent climate change". Cambrian News. Retrieved 27 November 2018.
  43. ^ Spowart, Nan (25 November 2018). "Climate change rebel group rally in Edinburgh for Scottish launch". The National. Retrieved 26 November 2018.
  44. ^ Cork, Tristan (17 December 2018). "University professor arrested for graffiti attack". bristolpost. Retrieved 27 January 2019.
  45. ^ "Bristol lecturer arrested during climate change protest". Epigram. 19 December 2018. Retrieved 27 January 2019.
  46. ^ Cork, Tristan (17 December 2018). "University professor arrested for graffiti attack". Bristol Post. Retrieved 27 January 2019. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |dead-url= (help)
  47. ^ Herbaux, Claire Violette (15 December 2018). "Why police were called to protest as dozens 'die' in shopping centre". somersetlive. Retrieved 27 January 2019.
  48. ^ Clifton, Katy (21 December 2018). "BBC in London put on lockdown over climate change protest". Evening Standard. Retrieved 27 January 2019. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |dead-url= (help)
  49. ^ 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.
  50. ^ 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. {{cite web}}: |last3= has numeric name (help)CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  51. ^ Carrell, Severin (25 January 2019). "Extinction Rebellion activists occupy Scottish parliament". The Guardian. Retrieved 14 February 2019.
  52. ^ "Norwich road protesters removed from council meeting". BBC Norfolk. 11 February 2019. Retrieved 14 February 2019.
  53. ^ "Climate protesters halt Gloucestershire County Council meeting". BBC Gloucestershire. 13 February 2019. Retrieved 14 February 2019.
  54. ^ Mumby, Daniel (22 February 2019). "Climate emergency declared to applause from protesters". somersetlive. Somerset Live. Retrieved 22 February 2019.
  55. ^ Markson, Tevye (27 February 2019). "Climate emergency declared in Reading with aim to eliminate carbon emissions by 2030". Reading Chronicle. Retrieved 1 March 2019.
  56. ^ Markson, Tevye (22 February 2019). "'Watershed' moment: Campaigners call on council to strengthen climate emergency motion". Reading Chronicle. Retrieved 1 March 2019.
  57. ^ "Britain has warmest winter day as temperature soars to 20.6C". Reading Chronicle. Press Association. 25 February 2019. Retrieved 1 March 2019.
  58. ^ Petter, Olivia (17 February 2019). "This is why environmental activists are protesting at London Fashion Week". The Independent. Retrieved 1 March 2019.
  59. ^ Bobb, Brooke (19 February 2019). "The Coats Worn at the Extinction Rebellion Protests in London Are Made From Fresh Seedling Grass". Vogue. Retrieved 1 March 2019.
  60. ^ Busby, Mattha (20 February 2019). "Extinction Rebellion co-founder 'shut out' at London fashion show". The Guardian. Retrieved 1 March 2019.
  61. ^ Dalton, Jane (9 March 2019). "Climate change rebellion protesters pour fake blood outside Downing Street". The Independent. Retrieved 13 March 2019.
  62. ^ Watts, Jonathan (10 December 2018). "Extinction Rebellion goes global in run-up to week of international civil disobedience". The Guardian. Retrieved 11 December 2018.
  63. ^ "Extinction Rebellion". Brightest. 13 January 2019. Retrieved 13 January 2019.
  64. ^ Lerner, Sharon (15 December 2018). "The Extinction Rebellion's Direct-Action Climate Activism Comes to New York". The Intercept. Retrieved 28 January 2019.
  65. ^ https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/science-environment-46626582/extinction-rebellion-the-story-behind-the-activist-group

Notes

  1. ^ 'XR Declaration' from 1hr.39m.15s see External links – 'XR Declaration'
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