- Extinction Rebellion has organised a day of civil disobedience around the world in solidarity with the Climate Summit in Madrid
- Rebels from more than 20 countries Rebel for Life to the beat of music in Gran Vía
- “If I can’t dance, it’s not my Revolution” – Emma Goldman, through art and music the international social movement calls on delegates at the summit to tell the truth and act now on the climate and ecological emergency
Saturday, December 7, 2019 (Madrid, SPAIN) – Members of Extinction Rebellion (XR), coming from more than 20 countries, blocked the street of Gran Vía with their dance moves to “Staying Alive” as part of an action held across 23 cities around the world, starting in Bali, Indonesia and many other cities(Paris, Amsterdam, Sydney, New York, etc.). "Civil-discobedience" is the latest artistic expression of the social movement that aims to mobilize society to cope with the ravages of climate change and defend life on the planet. This action echoes the quote attributed to feminist activist Emma Goldman, "If I can’t dance, it’s not my revolution."
This action aims to highlight that the climate and ecological crisis is a global phenomenon that requires joint and coordinated action from civil society, worldwide. Rebels from all countries and continents show that civil society, unlike political and economic elites, can build agreements that focus on what is most important, that crosses borders and supports the regions most affected by this crisis. There is no time for hope, it is time for action. Therefore, civil disobedience actions must be inclusive, creating participatory environments where everyone can feel comfortable and cared for. That is exactly what «civil-discobedience» does: rebellion at the blow of the hips.
Inspired by an action by XR Australia, hundreds of XR rebels from all over the world gathered in Madrid to exert pressure on COP 25 and invited others to participate in a spontaneous dance, breaking into the streets and squares of the world to the sound of the disco music, so that life lasts, emphasizing the message of the BeeGees: «Staying alive.» We need to stay alive. In Madrid, the musical styles were representative of various across the world.
At the beginning of COP25, XR announced its intention to bring art, music and rebellion to the streets of Madrid and the world as part of a call to citizens to unite around 3 demands:
- Tell the truth about the severity of the climatic and ecological emergency
- Immediate action for the massive reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, and
- The implementation of citizen assemblies to deal with the emergency.
Using art, culture and peaceful civil disobedience, XR protests are without violence every day since the inauguration of the international summit, to demand a democratic defence of the common good and the right to life for future generations.
Through this global party, to which everyone is invited, XR takes another step in its mission to protect and celebrate life on the planet through beauty and joy.
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