Summary
Extinction Rebellion activists are demanding that governments around the world declare a “climate and environmental emergency” and address it immediately. Representatives of the movement insist that their methods are exclusively non-violent acts of civil disobedience. The Extinction Rebellion movement was created in 2018, and, according to the organizers, now it has spread to dozens of countries where there are groups ready to participate in protests. The logo of the movement is a circle with an hourglass inside. They symbolize time, which is becoming less and less for many endangered species on the planet. In the UK, the movement has three main demands: the government must declare a “climate emergency”; Britain must make a legal commitment to reduce its carbon emissions to zero by 2025; a specially created “public council” should monitor the progress of environmental reforms. In April 2019, Extinction Rebellion held a large-scale action in London. For 11 days, they blocked the most important transport arteries of the British capital. As a result of this action, more than 1,100 people were arrested – most on suspicion of disobeying the police, who demanded that the activists move. Some activists have glued themselves to trains and the doors of the London Stock Exchange. Some went on a march towards Heathrow airport; others chained themselves to fences and pipes – like 83-year-old Phil Kingston, who did it “for the sake of his grandchildren” near the Oxford Circus metro station in the very center of the British capital. Representatives of the movement consider it justified to smash windows and damage other property. According to them, such methods are necessary, but at the same time, activists are “extremely careful” with ordinary people. Most of the movement supporters are young people; among those aged 18 to 24, almost half support traffic violations to draw attention to the slogans of the Extinction Rebellion. Famous people also stood up for Extinction Rebellion, particularly actress Emma Thompson and musicians from Radiohead and Massive Attack bands.
Feedback
It seems to me that their agenda concerning significantly reducing carbon emissions in just six years will require harsh transport restrictions; people will have to radically reconsider their diet, giving up meat and dairy products. In addition, serious investments in renewable energy are needed. However, the participants in Extinction Rebellion insist that the future of the planet depends on this, and there is simply no other way out. However, they do not provide recommendations on what exactly the measures should be to combat climate change. This approach seems counterproductive to me because, to achieve recognition and active changes, it is necessary to present a positive program of action, strategy, and tactics.
Works Cited
Eells, Josh. “Extinction Rebellion: The New Eco-Radicals.” Rolling Stone, 2020.