About us.
Extinction Rebellion is a decentralised, international and politically non-partisan movement using non-violent direct action and civil disobedience to persuade governments to act justly on the Climate and Ecological Emergency.
Our demands.
1. Tell the truth.
Governments must tell the truth by declaring a climate and ecological emergency, working with other institutions to communicate the urgency for change.
2. Act now.
Governments must act now to halt biodiversity loss and reduce greenhouse gas emissions to net zero by 2025.
3. Beyond politics.
Governments must create and be led by the decisions of a Citizens’ Assembly on climate and ecological justice.
Our values.
Any person or group can organise autonomously and take action in the name and spirit of XR so long as the action fits within XR’s principles and values . In this way, power is decentralised, meaning that there is no need to ask for permission from a central group or authority.
We have a shared vision of change.
Creating a world that is fit for the next 7 generations to live in.
We set our mission on what is necessary.
Mobilising 3.5% of the population to achieve system change – such as "momentum-driven organising".
We need a regenerative culture.
Creating a culture which is healthy, resilient and adaptable.
We openly challenge ourselves and this toxic system.
Leaving our comfort zones to take action for change.
We value reflecting and learning.
Following a cycle of action, reflection, learning, and planning for more action. Learning from other movements and contexts as well as our own experiences.
We welcome everyone and every part of everyone.
Working actively to create safer and more accessible spaces.
We actively mitigate for power.
Breaking down hierarchies of power for more equitable participation.
We avoid blaming and shaming.
We live in a toxic system, but no one individual is to blame.
We are a nonviolent network.
Using nonviolent strategy and tactics as the most effective way to bring about change.
We are based on autonomy and decentralisation.
We collectively create the structures we need to challenge power.
Our story.
Extinction Rebellion is a global movement that uses non-violent civil disobedience in an attempt to halt mass extinction and minimise the risk of social collapse. On 31st October 2018, British activists assembled on Parliament Square in London to announce a Declaration of Rebellion against the UK Government. The next few weeks were a whirlwind. Six thousand rebels converged on London to peacefully block five major bridges across the Thames. Trees were planted in the middle of Parliament Square, and hole was dug there to bury a coffin representing our future. Rebels super-glued themselves to the gates of Buckingham Palace as they read a letter to the Queen. Extinction Rebellion was born. The call to rebel swiftly became global, with groups popping up the following week in Europe, the US, and soon after the world over. Leaderless and truly global, each new group makes the movement stronger, bringing in new perspectives, wisdom, expertise, energy and inspiration.
Why rebel?
The time to act is now.
Traditional strategies like petitioning, lobbying, voting and protest have not worked due to the rooted interests of political and economic forces. Our approach is therefore one of non-violent, disruptive civil disobedience – a rebellion to bring about change, since all other means have failed.
