Extinction Rebellion (XR) is a disruptive socio-political movement using non-violent resistance to reach its goals. It wants to stop climate breakdown in its tracks. It hopes this will prevent biodiversity loss, possible human extinction, and ecological collapse. XR emerged as a group of 100 London academics in October 2018. Since then it has been making itself felt in the City.
Climate Change Is an Emergency Says Extinction Rebellion
Now is not the time for business as usual, XR’s posters proclaim. Thousands of Extinction Rebellion activists have caused chaos in London over the past 10 days. More than 1,000 members have peacefully submitted to arrest after barricading strategic roads and bridges.
“We know we have disrupted your lives,” the group said on Wednesday April 24, 2019. “However we do not do this lightly. We only do this because this is an emergency.” XR’s demands are simple, but deeply challenging to the carefully choreographed Paris Accord.
The Organization’s Demands and the Government’s Response
Treat climate change as an emergency, XR demands. This means achieve net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2025. We also want an official citizen assembly for climate change so we make sure this happens. Achieving this goal piggy backs over the current UK commitment to 80 percent greenhouse reductions by 2050. Observers doubt the Government could handle the challenge and Brexit at the same time.
Political leaders have described the Extinction Rebellion protests as ‘a nuisance’ and called for them to stop. If they do, and transition to ‘pleading with policy makers’ then how realistic are their expectations? Could the UK really tackle emissions from aviation, agriculture, biomass, and above all transportation in such a short period? Then there’s also the small matter of the millions of gas boilers warming citizens’ homes
However, if the UK – and the rest of the world – does not do these things what happens next? We cannot simply continue kicking the can down the street. Surely we must rebel against our impending extinction?
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Preview Image: Teach the Truth London February 22 2019
