A fight for life

Extinction Rebellion, a UK-based activist group, is taking London by storm this week with a series of coordinated protests that have brought the city to near gridlock. Their non-violent protests are fueled by love as well as a desire to create a healthy, resilient, and adaptable culture. According to the Guardian, they informed the police of their respectful disruption and are exercising their right to peacefully protest. While blocking traffic along busy bridges, including Vauxhall Bridge and Victoria Street, they allowed emergency vehicles and cyclists to pass. As an experimental demonstration, they’re working to slow things down and to challenge “hierarchies of power for more equitable participation”. As the protestors prepare for imminent arrest (something they welcome with open arms), their ultimate goal is to promote fundamental changes to the UK’s political and economic systems in order to maximize well-being and minimize harm for future generations.

In their “fight for life”, they are demanding the following actions from the government:

  • tell the truth about the climate and wider ecological emergency, reverse inconsistent policies and work alongside the media to communicate with citizens;
  • enact legally binding policy measures to reduce carbon emissions to net zero by 2025 and to reduce consumption levels;
  • a national Citizen’s Assembly to oversee the changes, as part of creating a democracy fit for purpose.

To learn more, check out their campaign overview document. Watch the video below to learn about how their protests work. 

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