Extinction Rebellion

[pErvinalia]

Bridges is where all the action is at.

[Brian Peacock]

Yeah, they're a natural bottle neck. They also have the bonus of being easy to police and contain which reduces friction with the local plod. As I recall only the French pigs have responded with riot shields and, shall we say, more old fashioned crowd management techniques.

[Brian Peacock]

Something you might want to share...

[JimC]

My argument is that systems change, or even just the election of governments serious about taking action, will not happen without a large increase in the number of people who have climate change right up there in the list of issues that will influence their actions and their votes. This has already begun, albeit too slowly. So, a key strategy must be reaching the hearts and minds of more and more of the population.

[Brian Peacock]

Absolutely.

[Brian Peacock]

Climate crisis seen as 'most important issue' by public, poll shows

A majority of the public recognise the climate crisis as an “emergency” and say politicians are failing to tackle the problem, backing the interests of big oil over the wellbeing of ordinary people, according to an eight-country poll.

The survey, which comes before what is expected to be the world’s biggest climate demonstrations on Friday, found that climate breakdown is viewed as the most important issue facing the world, ahead of migration, terrorism and the global economy, in seven out of the eight countries surveyed. In the US it comes third behind terrorism and affordable healthcare.

Nick Lowles, from UK-based anti-racism group Hope not Hate, which commissioned the survey, said the findings showed that the public were “way ahead” of politicians in recognising the scale of the climate crisis. “They understand the scale of the problem and want governments to take the strong and decisive action that this emergency requires.”

He said the crisis would have a huge impact on racism, division and conflict in future years unless it was tackled now.

“As an organisation dedicated to bringing communities together and challenging the politics of division, we believe that our leaders must take swift action on climate change so that environmental pressures do not become a source of hostility, anger and competition in our societies.”

...

he overwhelming majority in each country – 74% in Britain – said they were already seeing the influence of the climate crisis in extreme weather events, such as heatwaves and floods, and around two-thirds describe it as a direct threat to ordinary people in their country.

The poll reveals widespread alarm that the crisis is on the brink of spinning out of control, with 64% in the UK agreeing with the statement “time is running out to save the planet” – the figure was 70% in Germany, 74% in Brazil and 57% in the US...

https://www.theguardian.com/environment ... poll-shows

The poll took a small sample of 1000 from each country, but the results may encourage political parties to commission their own polling on the matter if they haven't already. The idea of some sort of Green New Deal is being heavily trailed in the press ahead of the UK Labour Party conference next week.

What we need to be ready for are lazy politicians who think they can do a bit of fiddling round the edges while trying to avoid doing anything substantial that might rock the donation boat.

[Brian Peacock]

Also...

The Uninhabitable Earth | Aaron Bastani meets David Wallace-Wells.

"It's worse than you think.

Aaron Bastani speaks to David Wallace-Wells, author of the bestselling 'The Uninhabitable Earth', on the scale of climate change and how humanity has done far more to destroy the planet - fully aware of the consequences - than it ever did in ignorance."

[Brian Peacock]

Another promo for the climate reformation.

[JimC]

In terms of those hopeful poll numbers, the critical thing is for that to be reflected in an increased determination of voters to elect representatives or parties whose policies demonstrate a real commitment to combating climate change. If that becomes clear to politicians, and that seats may be won or lost on that basis, we will have made real progress...

Went to the meeting last night. Partly it was about planning to emplace big banners on footbridges over main roads next week, but I'll be away then. However, I'll be back in time for the spring rebellion, during the week starting on the 7th of October. I'm not going to be an "arrestable", those who sit in the roadway, but I'll stand with banners or placards to the side. They also serve who add to the numbers...

[Brian Peacock]

If the last mass demos and actions are anything to go by we're expecting a large spike in interest, pledges, donations, and new members over the coming weeks. This time we hope to be a little more prepared. In the last month we've totally revised the welcome pack with extra resources, stickers, postcards, posteres etc; putting on extra HFE talks and general 'getting to know you' meetings; have secured a town centre drop in venue with storage for the mountains of bumpf we're generating; organising creative events like banner making, t-shirt printing, mass knit-ins, make you own arm band, gorilla gardening (planting wild flowers on verges and waste ground), etc, etc. I was out flyering with others today and getting a lot of very positive feedback. One of the girls with us went into a local shop to get water (it was uncommonly hot today, like a summer's day really) and the owner of the little newsagents saw her XR badge, got chatting, and gave her two 6-packs of bottled water for free - and put a poster up! It really feels like the issue is starting to pick up momentum and I'm now fully 'out' as a member of XR - although I haven't told my Daily Mail reading parents yet. They'd only fret.

[pErvinalia]

Heading off to the Brisbane protest in about an hour. One kid in tow. The other one preferred to stay at school and attend her end-of-term party. Capitalist!

[Brian Peacock]

Have fun fighting the power. And stay hydrated!

[Sean Hayden]

Heading off to the Brisbane protest in about an hour. One kid in tow. The other one preferred to stay at school and attend her end-of-term party. Capitalist!

[Woodbutcher]

Going to a Green Party townhall meet tomorrow night. I'll see what I can do to help.

[pErvinalia]

Well there were bazillions at the Brisbane protest. Couldn't believe how many turned out. 10s of thousands (which is pretty good for an apathetic city like Brisbane).