XR in New Year message: ‘We quit’
'This year, we prioritise attendance over arrest and relationships over roadblocks, as we stand together and become impossible to ignore.’
Extinction Rebellion (XR), the climate movement that includes many Quakers, has announced that it is ‘to temporarily shift away from public disruption as a primary tactic’.
The news came as the clock struck midnight on New Year’s Eve, as the group put out a statement saying: ‘This year, we prioritise attendance over arrest and relationships over roadblocks, as we stand together and become impossible to ignore.’
While still celebrating and recognising ‘the power of disruption to raise the alarm’, XR said, ‘what’s needed now most is to disrupt the abuse of power and imbalance, [and] to bring about a transition to a fair society that works’.
As January opened with the warmest day ever on record for eight countries in Europe, XR’s statement noted: ‘Despite the blaring alarm on the climate and ecological emergency ringing loud and clear, very little has changed.’
The group also promoted a gathering in Westminster on 21 April which they hope will attract 100,000 people. ‘Surrounding the Houses of Parliament day after day in large numbers means we can leave the locks, glue and paint behind and instead demonstrate faith in a critical mass of people to create a moment that’s impossible to ignore.’
Charlie Gardner, an XR activist and campaigner, tweeted: ‘To all the people who say they agree with Extinction Rebellion but don’t like our tactics. Now that we’ve signalled a change of tactics, now’s your big opportunity to join in.’
According to Damien Gayle, an environment correspondent for The Guardian, the group sees now as a prescient time to focus on movement-building over disruption as people may be more receptive to its message. ‘Their view is that it can be alienating towards an everyday trade unionist to have disruptive protests that are stopping people getting to work, getting criticised on talk radio, and so on.’
He also points out that, due to the decentralised nature of XR, disruptive tactics may not cease. Members and splinter-groups not in agreement may take direct action anyway, or join other groups instead.
Titled ‘We quit’, the XR statement emphasises that ‘the conditions for change in the UK have never been more favourable – it’s time to seize the moment. The confluence of multiple crises presents us with a unique opportunity to mobilise and move beyond traditional divides. No one can do this alone, and it’s the responsibility of all of us, not just one group. It may be uncomfortable or difficult, but the strength of all social, environmental, and justice movements lies in working together.’
XR was founded in 2018 by Roger Hallam, Gail Bradbrook, Simon Bramwell and Quaker Ian Bray, who posted the statement on the Facebook page for Extinction Rebellion Quakers.
Roger Hallam later split from XR and went on to found Insulate Britain and Just Stop Oil. Both groups released statements reaffirming their commitment to disruptive climate ‘civil resistance’ after XR announced We quit’.
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Invitation to join ‘The Big One’ climate action
Posted on: 21/03/2023
Author: Central England Quakers
Quakers in Britain are now formally supporting ‘The Big One’ climate action in London from Friday 21st to Monday 24th April – a mass gathering to call on the UK Government to cease any further funding or licensing of new coal, oil or gas exploration or extraction. Details are available about what is happening each day, coach places are available to book.
The gathering is organised by Extinction Rebellion who plan to bring as many groups across the UK as possible to unite and show the UK government that there are hundreds and thousands of people who want decisive change. The action is about demonstrating the number of people who are seriously concerned about the ecological and climate crisis. It is not about causing a disruption to raise awareness, but showing the world ‘look how many people are concerned.’
Quakers will be meeting at Westminster Meeting House, near Charing Cross Station at 10am on Friday 21st April. We will have a meeting for worship at 10:30 – 11am and will then join the demonstration around the Houses of Parliament. We hope to have a period of silence during the demonstration. If you would like to be involved, please contact: Ailish Carroll-Brentnall, Faith in Action Co-ordinator: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) or join the Quaker London ‘The Big One’ WhatsApp group.
The four days will each have a different focus, Quakers may want to join with Christian Climate Action for faith-based witness:
Friday 21st April is the day of the No Faith In Fossil Fuels Service and Pilgrimage. We are gathering at St John’s Church, Waterloo for worship at noon led together with Christian NGO’s. This will be followed by a pilgrimage together to the The Big One protest outside Parliament.
Saturday 22nd April, we are gathering at the protest at Parliament at 11am, for worship at noon focused on racial and climate justice, led by our friends from Black Majority Churches. There will also be a Catholic mass at 3pm.
Sunday 23rd April we are gathering at the protest at Parliament at 11am, for worship at noon led by young people whose future is in the balance. There will also be an Anglican Eucharist at 3pm.
Monday 24th April we are gathering at the protest at Parliament at 11am for worship at noon led by Christian Climate Action looking to the future.
Each day there will be community and creativity, prayer and song and care for Creation.
Joining with others locally
Friends interested in linking up with others in Central England to prepare and/or travel together can contact Jo Hindley (Cotteridge Meeting) details in the blue membership book.
XR Birmingham are running an online Q&As; each Friday to help people find out more about the vision of The Big One and the logistics, at national level and in Birmingham, for making it effective. Coaches are going from Birmingham City Centre at 07.30am on Friday 21st April and Saturday 22nd April (Saturday 22nd is also Earth Day and Biodiversity Day). Return day trip on the Coach costs £20 waged, £10 unwaged, £5 child.
There is also more information about The Big One on the national XR website.
“This is a unique opportunity for Quakers to unite with thousands of other concerned groups and bear witness to our concern about climate justice. Let’s join. We are stronger together. Can you play your part?”
And a reminder that closer to home, a regular silent vigil ‘Concern for the Climate’ is held by Quakers every Wednesday 1.30 – 1.45pm outside St Phillips Cathedral, central Birmingham.
https://centralenglandquakers.org.uk/2023/03/21/invitation-to-join-the-big-one-climate-action/
By Rajan on 26th March 2023 - 15:11
The Rebel Toolkit
The Big One
Activities designed to form connections and encourage participation will take place throughout the streets of Westminster until 20:00 each day.
More details and exact event times will be announced.
Friday 21st ~ Unite to Survive
People’s Pickets at Government Departments 11am onwards
Saturday 22nd ~ Earth Day
Big One for Biodiversity ~ March
Sunday 23rd ~ Running Out of Time
Marathon Day: Outreach, Organising, Creative Actions & Assemblies
Monday 24th ~ Choose Your Future
People’s Pickets at Government Departments 11am onwards
Join the People’s Picket:
- Groups are invited to submit which government department(s) your group would like to picket via this jotform. Deadline: 27th March
- We will identify groups that plan to focus on the same department or similar issues and make a ‘wedding table’ announcement on 31st March along with a guidance doc including your submissions.
- Groups - including non-XR supporter groups - sharing a department will be put in contact with each other to unite and self-organise their picket.
https://rebeltoolkit.extinctionrebellion.uk/books/100-days/page/the-big-one-21-24-april
By Rajan on 26th March 2023 - 15:18
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