XR COP Action recently linked groups of rebels from all over the world to discuss and share their ideas and experiences in the run up to COP26. This is hugely important as it allows rebels to build upon each other's experience and for rebels to learn about actions around the world.
Over 25 groups were involved in this project from Countries such as: UK, Sweden, Germany, Spain, France, Italy, Belgium, Senegal, Nigeria, South Africa, Zimbabwe, India, Canada, Argentina and the USA. These conversations show that, despite our many countries and languages, we share one common goal as rebels - to fight for our earth.
This image is of Rebels from XR Stockholm, Sweden.
XR Stockholm and XR Sheffield
Recently, XR Stockholm and XR Sheffield had an incredibly productive conversation. Both groups exchanged ideas on how to build actions during the Covid-19 pandemic. The pandemic has prevented XR from a number of actions due to the safety of our rebels. However, XR Stockholm and XR Sheffield shared ideas on how groups can get creative to get our message out into the wider world and how campaigns can take many different forms other than protests.
Both groups agreed that these sorts of conversations truly make XR global and more need to happen in the future. This allows rebels to learn from each other as well as keeping rebels informed of actions around the world.
XR San Francisco Bay and XR Chesire
XR San Francisco Bay and XR Chesire met and discussed the importance of actions at the upcoming COP26. This is a hugely important climate summit and XR groups around the world recognise the need to take action to put pressure on their governments to ensure that COP26 is not a COP out.
Both groups discussed similarities of the challenges they have in putting pressure on their Governments to take action. They agreed that:
“The challenge for countries like the US and UK is to encourage our leaders to recognise the global injustice that countries least responsible for Climate Change are often most impacted by the consequences. We must show leadership and cut carbon emissions faster and sooner than those countries with less developed economies.”
XR Chesire and XR San Francisco Bay also highlighted an important point the groups must consider moving forward in the run up to COP. They stated that future conversations must include how XR can organise ourselves to be an effective nuisance to drive change.
XR Buenos Aires and XR Barcelona
XR Buenos Aires and XR Barcelona discussed the hugely important point of the reversal of neocolonialism. They discussed neo-colonial dynamics of capitalism and how they are used for the benefit of the economies of the global north, at the expense of the global south and MAPAs. This needs to change.
Another important discussion was on the topic of embracing the worldview of indigenous groups and critically deconstructing ourselves by accepting our place and privilege.
The two groups also discussed ways in which rebels can educate each other on the actions taking place around the world by different XR groups. This can be done in many different ways, through readings and films created by rebels.
The global conversations were hugely successful in highlighting the importance of communication between different XR groups. Every group encourages more of these conversations to connect rebels and increase solidarity within our movement at a global level.
Finally, these conversations highlight that, no matter where we are in the world, all of us together want to fight for a fairer, greener, and brighter future.
