Extinction Rebellion (XR) is a citizen action movement using non-violent civil disobedience to demand that governments take urgent and radical action in response to the climate emergency, biodiversity loss and related global economic and social impacts. XR was established in the UK in October 2018 and it has swiftly become an international movement, with 636 recognized branches in 56 countries including the United States, Australia, Germany, Netherlands, Canada, Japan and Argentina. Extinction Rebellion has the following three demands: 1. Tell the Truth: Government must tell the truth by declaring a climate and ecological emergency, working with other institutions to communicate the urgency for change; 2. Act Now: Government must act to halt biodiversity loss and reduce greenhouse gas emissions to net zero by 2025; 3. Beyond Politics: Government must create and be led by the decisions of a Citizens’ Assembly on climate and ecological justice.(2) The group uses arrest as a strategy to work towards its aims and its actions have received widespread media coverage. Although not directly connected, XR was established in the same year that saw the rise of the worldwide school strike for the climate Fridays for Future. XR identifies the current fashion system as a major contributor to the climate crisis and the group has launched a campaign to boycott buying fashion for a year. As an alternative, XR encourage sharing, swapping, rental and second-hand purchases. Their Fashion, Tell the Truth working group has petitioned to cancel Fashion Weeks and to change the current fashion attitude: “Stop the dream and communicate the reality of our situation. … Admit that incremental ‘solutions’ won’t save life on earth; only systemic change will. Use your power to communicate the truth about this crisis and how this industry is complicit. Say it as though all life depends on it.”(3) XR US has also targeted the media, holding a protest outside the Manhattan office of The New York Times to demand that the publication increases its climate emergency coverage.(1-5)
EXTINCTION REBELLION (XR)
