Extinction Rebellion

Extinction Rebellion is a global environmental movement that uses nonviolent civil disobedience to compel government action on the climate crisis and biodiversity loss. It was founded in the United Kingdom in 2018 by a group of activists including Gail Bradbrook and Roger Hallam. The movement quickly gained international attention through high-profile protests that disrupted major cities, demanding declarations of a climate emergency and the establishment of citizens' assemblies to oversee climate policy. Its distinctive symbol, a stylized hourglass inside a circle, represents the time running out for many species.

History and origins

The movement was officially launched on 31 October 2018 outside the UK Parliament in London, following a year of planning by its founding figures. Key intellectual influences included the research of Jem Bendell on "deep adaptation" and the strategic theories of civil disobedience from historical movements like the American civil rights movement and the Suffragettes. The "Declaration of Rebellion" event garnered significant media coverage and public support, leading to its first major action in November 2018, which blocked five bridges across the River Thames. This rapid growth was fueled by increasing public alarm following reports from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change and direct action training sessions held across the United Kingdom.

Principles and organization

The movement operates on three core demands: for governments to "tell the truth" by declaring a climate and ecological emergency, to act immediately to halt biodiversity loss and reduce greenhouse gas emissions to net zero by 2025, and to be led by the decisions of a citizens' assembly on climate and ecological justice. It is structured around a set of ten principles, which include a commitment to nonviolence, a focus on mobilizing a diversity of participants, and a decentralized, regenerative culture. Organizationally, it functions through a holacratic model with local groups, known as "affinity groups," operating autonomously in cities worldwide from New York City to Sydney.

Activities and campaigns

The movement is known for large-scale, disruptive acts of civil disobedience designed to create economic and social "costs" to force political change. Its "International Rebellion" in April 2019 saw thousands of activists occupy prominent sites in central London, including Parliament Square, Oxford Circus, and Waterloo Bridge, leading to over 1,100 arrests. Subsequent campaigns have included "Summer Uprising" events, protests targeting the Department for Transport and the BBC, and "Funeral for Our Future" demonstrations. Actions have spread globally, with notable protests at the London Stock Exchange, Heathrow Airport, and in cities like Berlin, Paris, and Melbourne.

Impact and reception

The movement has been credited with shifting the Overton window on climate policy, contributing to the UK Parliament's declaration of a climate emergency in May 2019. Its tactics have inspired similar groups, such as Insulate Britain and Just Stop Oil, and influenced the discourse of major political figures. The movement has received support from prominent scientists, academics like Noam Chomsky, and celebrities including Emma Thompson and Stephen Fry. Its ability to mobilize large numbers of people, particularly from demographics not traditionally associated with radical protest, has been a noted feature of its impact on public consciousness and media coverage in outlets like The Guardian.

Criticism and controversies

Critics, including some within the environmental movement like Michael E. Mann, have argued that its demand for net zero emissions by 2025 is unrealistic and could alienate the public. The disruption caused by its protests, particularly blocking roads and public transport, has drawn criticism from politicians, police forces like the Metropolitan Police Service, and some members of the public who accuse it of hindering emergency services and daily workers. Internal controversies have also arisen, notably concerning statements by co-founder Roger Hallam that were widely condemned as dismissive of the Holocaust, leading to his temporary distancing from the movement and condemnation from groups like the Board of Deputies of British Jews.

Category:Environmental organizations Category:Climate change activism Category:Nonviolent resistance organizations