Clare Hymer: On 31 December 2022, Extinction Rebellion UK announced it was quitting. Not all climate activism, it soon became clear, but one brand of climate activism in particular. "We make a controversial resolution to temporarily shift away from public disruption as a primary tactic", a statement read. "We must be radical in our response to this crisis […], even if it means taking a different approach than before." The group's new approach has been to get serious about mass mobilisation, prioritising "attendance over arrest" and "relationships over roadblocks". Following a countdown of actions over 100 days, the group is now in the final stage of its preparation for 'The Big One': getting 100,000 people to surround the Houses of Parliament 21-24 April. This won't just be a mobilisation of your standard XR 'rebels' either, but participants from 94 supporting organisations including social justice groups, trade unions and big NGOs. This is a far cry from the XR of 2018 and 2019. Back then, the movement made its name with a repertoire of disruptive and often scandalous direct actions: blocking roads, staging funerals, spraying fake blood and taking their clothes off. Its methods achieved real wins, and in the process exposed the failings of the wider climate movement. With its new direction – however temporary – is XR forsaking what gave it its power? | |
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