Extinction Rebellion UK launch new strategy: ‘In 2019 we demanded change. In 2020 we begin building the alternative’

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• Extinction Rebellion UK launched its new strategy for 2020 saying: ‘This is the year rebellion goes beyond the streets and into the fabric of everything we do.’
• Barely a year old, Extinction Rebellion has already been recognised as the #1 global influencer on climate awareness. 
• Key goals are to bring a million people in the UK into active support and ensure 50% of the nation see the Climate & Ecological Emergency as their top priority; pilot new participatory systems in democracy, media and economics; and grow connections to, and understanding of, wider movements for change.
• National policies and international climate agreements have failed for 30 years – While we know the eyes of the world will be on COP26 and we will be factoring it into plans, Extinction Rebellion will not be depending on this conference.
• Coming up, key dates include 22 February – Enough is Enough: We March – London; 26 – 28 February – We are the Dead Canaries – Durham; 7 March – Mass Mobilisation Conference – Birmingham; 28-29 March – Movement of Movements conference; late Feb-May series of faith-based actions based around Lent #40acts and Ramadan; upcoming new campaign – #Regenerate2020 – in late Spring
• Plus from 23 May onwards – Together in Rolling Rebellion – Extinction Rebellion will take action in waves targeting the underlying causes of the Climate and Ecological Emergency – government, media and finance – whilst taking care of all our wellbeing and finding ways for a diversity of groups to meaningfully participate. 

Extinction Rebellion UK launched its new strategy for 2020. The new strategy invites people to come and join together during this important year to face the climate and ecological emergency. Let’s be part of the greatest generation there has ever been, let’s create the new: ‘In 2019 we demanded change. In 2020 we begin building the alternative.’

The strategy aims to be a guide for newcomers and those already involved across the country to make Extinction Rebellion their own and to use their knowledge, creativity and passion to deliver a diverse, regenerative, and decentralised rebellion. This is the year rebellion goes beyond the streets and into the fabric of everything we do. 

“It is time for us to recognise the new story emerging from these dark times,” commented Gail Bradbrook, co-founder of Extinction Rebellion. “We all share fears for the future, for our families, friends and communities. For our neighbours, for those already suffering, and for the natural world. 

“2020 is the year that we face our fears together. With this strategy Extinction Rebellion is offering an invitation to all to come together in courage so that we can build resilience in our communities and create the change we want to see – rather than waiting for those in power to do it for us.” 

Key goals for the year and some of the ways we intend to achieve them include:

• People Power – Bring a million people in the UK into active support and ensure 50% of the nation see the Climate & Ecological Emergency as their top priority. 
  - This will be achieved by: prioritising collaboration with a diversity of groups, supporting young rebels and mobilisation in communities to support local campaigns including aviation expansion, HS2, air pollution, fracking, coal, local government climate emergency plans.
• Vision – We won’t wait for our demands to be met, we will begin to enact them, piloting new participatory systems in democracy, media and economics.
  - Factors here include pushing for leadership on solutions through a Global Citizens’ Assembly on Climate and Ecological Justice to address the systemic issues causing humanity to kill life on Earth.
• Movement of Movements – Grow our connection to, and understanding of, wider movements for change, building stronger relationships, co-creating new stories and visions for the future.
  - This includes working with other movements, supporting roadshows and other outreach events to connect with Majority World communities and movements in the UK. We will also broaden our diversity and stand alongside younger people and those from minority and marginalised communities.
• Inner Strength – Improve internal systems, caring for our rebels, building our regenerative cultures, adhering to our Principles and Values. We will learn by doing, teach by showing. We will live the change.

What to look out for in 2020 – key dates

Extinction Rebellion today also announced a number of key dates for this year: 

• 22 February – Enough is Enough: Together We March – London; To start the year we will be coming back together on the streets of London to march as one with our allies. All are invited to join – let’s celebrate our right to protest and say enough is enough to policies that cause harm.
• 26 – 28 February – We are the Dead Canaries – Durham: Extinction Rebellion joins forces with local campaigners to hold a three-day action at the Bradley open-cast coal mine, calling on Durham County Council to reject Banks Mining Group’s plans.
• 26 February – 12 April – 40 Days of Action during Lent in collaboration with Christian Climate Action, XR Religions and Faith.
• 23 April – 23 May – Fossil Free Ramadan – the Month of Sabr – Focusing on the message of the climate and ecological emergency through fasting and faith, a collaboration through XR Muslims
• 7th March – Mass Mobilisation Conference – Birmingham – Bringing together communities and groups for our largest outreach training event to date! 
• 28-29 March – Movement of Movements conference; where diverse groups and movements will gather to consider the theme: “United we stand, divided we fall”.
• Late Spring – #Regenerate2020 – A campaign to support people engaging in local and global regeneration, bringing together resources that help communities and people face the emergency together. If governments won’t listen then we must take the care of the planet and each other into our own hands
• From 23rd May onwards – Together in Rolling Rebellion – Instead of blocking London’s streets for two weeks, Extinction Rebellion will take action in waves targeting the underlying causes of the Climate and Ecological Emergency – toxic systems of government, media and finance – whilst taking care of the wellbeing of rebels and finding ways for diverse groups to meaningfully participate. 

On COP26 – An old story is ending, a new one beginning.

On COP26, the UN Climate Summit due to take place in Glasgow this November, Extinction Rebellion stated: “National policies and international climate agreements have failed for 30 years and we expect COP26 to be no different. While we know the eyes of the world will be on COP26 and we will be factoring that into what we do, we will not be depending on it. 

“Presented by some as our last hope for change, it will not give us the solutions we need. This is why we will aim beyond it.  We will push for a Global Citizens’ Assembly to ask the difficult questions that must be faced if we are to tackle this emergency. Thus ordinary people can lead the way in creating the answers.”

Now in over 75 countries, Extinction Rebellion has grown since inception in October 2018 to more than 121 groups across the UK, with 485 groups worldwide. In the UK, more than 180,000 people are signed up to its newsletter, with YouGov research (January 2020) showing that almost 2.5 million UK adults who rate climate as their top issue, think Extinction Rebellion has had a positive impact on the cause. Recognised as the #1 global influencer on climate awareness, it has seen phenomenal growth bringing many on to the streets alongside other movements to say enough is enough to inaction on the climate and ecological emergency. [1]

Notes

[1] Onalytica Analysis for COP25

About Extinction Rebellion

Time has almost entirely run out to address the ecological crisis which is upon us, including the 6th mass species extinction, global pollution, and abrupt, runaway climate change. Societal collapse and mass death are seen as inevitable by scientists and other credible voices, with human extinction also a possibility, if rapid action is not taken.

Extinction Rebellion believes it is a citizen’s duty to rebel, using peaceful civil disobedience, when faced with criminal inactivity by their Government.

Extinction Rebellion’s key demands are:

1. Government must tell the truth by declaring a climate and ecological emergency, working with other institutions to communicate the urgency for change.
2. Government must act now to halt biodiversity loss and reduce greenhouse gas emissions to net zero by 2025.
3. Government must create and be led by the decisions of a Citizens’ Assembly on climate and ecological justice.

What Emergency? | Extinction Rebellion in Numbers |This Is Not A Drill: An Extinction Rebellion Handbook 

Get involved

• In the UK, come to one of our events, join the Rebellion Network and let us know how you can help out.
• Start a group where you are: in the UK or around the world.
• Find your local group.
• Check out the International XR website, with links to the French, German, Italian and UK websites.
• And while your time and energy are of most importance, if you are financially able to donate money, see our crowdfunder.

About Rising Up!

Extinction Rebellion emerged from the Rising Up! network, which promotes a fundamental change of our political and economic system to one which maximises well-being and minimises harm. Change needs to be nurtured in a culture of reverence, gratitude and inclusion while the tools of civil disobedience and direct action are used to express our collective power.