Extinction Rebellion

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Extinction Rebellion is a movement dedicated to pressing governments to take effective action on climate change, biodiversity loss and other boundaries of human existence on Earth. According to XR co-founder Roger Hallam[1] a key part of their strategy is to mobilise a significant proportion - around 3.5% - of the population in Non-Violent Civil Disobedience disrupting capital cities, based on the work of Erica Chenoweth and others.[2]

XR's pink boat in Oxford Circus in April 2019

It has three stated demands:

  1. Tell The Truth
    Government should tell the truth, by declaring a climate and ecological emergency, and working with other institutions to communicate the urgency for change,
  2. Act Now
    to halt biodiversity loss and reduce greenhouse gas emissions to net zero by 2025,
  3. Beyond Politics
    : create and be led by the decisions of a Citizens’ Assembly on climate and ecological justice

XR in the US also has a fourth demand, regarding global justice. In the UK there have been discussions on whether to adopt such a demand, with some opposing it because they think it would make XR look more politically left-wing and jeopardise support from political conservatives.

November 2018 London bridges action

Life inside Extinction Rebellion: 'We can't get arrested quick enough' Bruno Rinvolucri; The Guardian/YouTube; 22 Nov 2018

April 2019 London action

Extinction Rebellion ​'shutdown' London Bruno Rinvolucri; The Guardian/YouTube; 17 Apr 2019

Public response

Analysis of public opinion in response to the Extinction Rebellion actions in London, April 2019 Ben Kenward; ; 20 Apr 2019

In advance of the Extinction Rebellion actions in London, April 2019, Dr. Cameron Brick (Cambridge University) and Dr. Ben Kenward (Oxford Brookes University) created a survey to assess the response of the general public to the actions.
At the point at which the rebellion had not yet begun to target dedicated public transport infrastructure, it had more support than opposition from the UK public.

Strategy

Findings from conversation with Erica Chenoweth on 16.4.19 Google doc

Below is a summary of a half hour conversation a Rebel had with Erica on Day 2 of IR

misc

BEIS Strategy Committee question Extinction Rebellion Extinction Rebellion; YouTube; 18 Jun 2019

Following the Prime Minister’s commitment to the UK cutting carbon emissions to net zero by 2050, and the publication of the Committee on Climate Change’s (CCC) report, the Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Committee examine the rationale for going faster to hit the net zero target, hearing from witnesses including Gail Bradbrook, Extinction Rebellion, Isabella O'Dowd, Climate and Energy Specialist, WWF, and Baroness Bryony Worthington, Environmental Defense Fund.
The session tests whether the CCC’s net zero advice, and the draft net zero legislation laid by the Prime Minister, go far enough to fulfil the UK’s commitments under the Paris Agreement and to protect our environment for current and future generations. It also scrutinises the rationale for, and feasibility of, alternative targets proposed by environmental organisations.
On Wednesday 8th May, the BEIS Committee questioned the CCC and business stakeholders on the net zero target and actions needed to achieve net zero emissions. A hearing on net zero with a Government Minister will be scheduled for a later date.
The hearings are part of the Committee’s ongoing work on the Clean Growth Strategy and complement its current inquiries on financing energy infrastructure and on energy efficiency. The Committee has also carried out inquiries on Carbon Capture Usage and Storage and on Electric Vehicles.

Wikipedia

Extinction Rebellion website

Footnotes and References

  1. "Non-Violent Direct Action", Roger Hallam, Extinction Rebellion / YouTube, 3 Mar 2019
  2. "The success of nonviolent civil resistance", Erica Chenoweth, TEDxBoulder / YouTube, 4 Nov 2013