katanita

XR Lambeth and other local groups have organised a climate hustings for Dulwich and West Norwood NEXT WEDNESDAY. Details here https://www.eventbrite.com/e/dulwich-and-west-norwood-climate-hustings-tickets-82244823481? This document suggests questions to ask candidates https://docs.google.com/document/d/1e6UzFSC-S355Zvk1n2jmvRq8hUD4o-5xji6vEcOXfJE/edit?usp=sharing.

Yep, this tweet from Roy Brooks confirms it https://twitter.com/RoyBrooksAgency/status/1192799435597778945?s=20 good for them.

SpringTime Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > uncleglen Wrote: > -------------------------------------------------- > ----- > > SpringTime wrote > > "Are you sure they're a bunch of crusties > > UncleGlen?" > > I said they 'include' a bunch of crusties.... > > That is an insightful article you quoted ST... > > I think yer average XR activist would say they > are > > protesting on behalf of the non-white people > who > > suffer more from climate change, n'est-ce pas? > > Suppose some would - though despite what I posted > above most I think have genuine and laudable > concerns over their own children's future, and > others'. If that by chance benefits everyone > that's a good thing. The buggers that get my goat > most though are the ones who take time off work, > take their kids off school and then book return > flights to Umbria... as if attending a demo will > somehow compensate for their flight pollution. > > For those of us that can't attend the protests, or > for those that don't want to - and anyone else > really - I find it amazing that the average Joe > should pay for the Met to be sued. If there's a > way the government alone should fork out for this! > Seems to me that the demonstrators' intent to > cripple the police and disable emergency vehicles > is "just fine" even when it means other people > suffer. There's breaking the law to make a point > but what will their next tactic be - flying planes > into buildings? Woah there, flying planes into buildings? I'm not sure if this is deliberate trolling/disinformation and I'm sure most people will know this already but XR is NON-VIOLENT, this is an absolutely fundamental principle. This suggestion seems intentionally inflammatory and scare-mongering. Also there is no disabling of emergency vehicles, they are always allowed to pass through roadblocks when on emergency lights. One other thing, if the police are spending more time on XR protests than they are on fighting crime that people think is more important, well, why is that? The police make a choice about what they are prioritising, why are they *choosing* not to deal with those more important criminal activities instead of chasing activists around and arresting them for transporting a gazebo? And XR didn't force the police to introduce a blatantly dodgy blanket protest ban and leave themselves vulnerable to legal action, they made that bad decision themselves, get cross at their leaders! And FWIW I haven't actually heard anyone in XR talk about suing the police, and all the articles I've seen only said that they *could* do not that they intended to, but I may be proved wrong on that in time. But anyway, surely upholding our right to protest should be celebrated and defended, I'd have thought.

?? They are not different causes, they are all XR!

XR Southwark gardeners have launched a crowdfunding campaign https://chuffed.org/project/xr-southwark-rebel-gardeners "We are a group of Rebel Gardeners born out of Extinction rebellion Southwark. We are a green-fingered friendly bunch and our aims are to transform disused and neglected spaces within Southwark with the power of plants! We recognise the importance of plants and trees in their vital role in supporting and encouraging wildlife and their powerful role in reducing our emissions. We would be most grateful for any donations made! Love & rage, Southwark Rebel Gardeners"

You can also read more about campaign against the redevelopment plans and donate to it here http://35percent.org/uptheelephant/

A great organisation doing fantastic work supporting Southwark locals are throwing a fundraising party next Friday. Please support and spread the word! It should be fun :) "In celebration of five years of grassroot community activism, working with BAME traders and residents in Elephant and Castle, we are joining forces with Movimientos to bring you a full night of music, dancing, painting, eating and drinking and fundraising for a charitable cause! As you know, the Latin American and other communities in Elephant and Castle community are going through challenging times, with the so-called 'redevelopment' of the Shopping Centre displacing traders and residents as a result of a highly controversial scheme. As a recognised stakeholder advocating for the rights of BAME traders, Latin Elephant has a crucial role scrutinising the process, visibilising the wrong-doings as well as enforcing transparency so that traders get a fair treatment by developers and the Council. The money raised at this party will allow us to continue working for the rights of BAME communities, as well as carry on with several activities including: workshops, reports, and many other community engagement activities." https://www.facebook.com/events/1427301780760954/

Is it me or are the autumn colours on ED street trees even more spectacular than usual in places? Some really fiery reds and oranges. Is it a result of the summer heatwaves or something else?

Anyway I hope that was coherent, it's been a long couple of weeks and I'm tired! But I did also want to share the crowdfunder for the local Southwark XR group https://chuffed.org/project/xr-southwark-crowdfunder, if you can help out with any donations they/we can do more, and that includes lots of positive community actions, hopefully. (And thank you for supportive comments here too!)

So many interesting and unfounded assumptions going on up thread about XR and what they are and aren't "screaming" whilst glueing themselves to bridges and what facts they do and don't have, and what they are "telling" people to do or not do. I see this all over the place e.g. "how dare they tell us not to fly any more" (er, XR are not telling people not to fly any more). There is a lot of putting words into the mouths of XR going on! And in a way that assumes they are a bit homogeneous group, which they are not (individuals within XR may say these things, but they don't speak for everyone). Moreover, I have actually heard people within XR acknowledging that there is some positive progress within the UK, but top 3 of a very bad bunch isn't that impressive and from what I understand many stats based on UK emissions ignore the fact that we actually effectively outsource much of our emissions to other countries by importing so many products etc. We are also disproportionate funders of climate damaging companies given our small country size (15% of *global* funding for this comes from the City, I heard today). So if you are going to criticise XR, at least maybe bother to read the actual demands and principles and think about what that might mean. Even better go attend a talk or event where you'd see that actually there is quite a diversity of opinion within the movement, and a lot of very well informed people (e.g. Scientists for XR are a big group of climate scientists who do a lot of fact checking etc) and that they continually iterate and reflect on tactics and information etc and do not all agree but work together to move forward and find common ground and consensus (it's actually incredibly refreshing working in this way). You'd also come to see that as a decentralised movement individuals can carry out their own actions (e.g. taking a hammer to something silly) that others may not agree with. There has, for example, been a lot of internal debate and polling today about proposed tube train disruption (as there was for the Heathrow action) and it is clear that most people within XR are against it. But those groups within XR who proposed the action may still go ahead, and we don't have the right to stop them within the movement structure, only to make our feelings heard. It's tricky because people outside of the movement will still see it as having blanket XR approval probably, because everyone is so used to top-down organisations. It's a risk to operate in this way, for that reason, but the overall non-hierarchical self organising system is so much more humane and empowering that it's a risk worth taking.

Has anyone got any recent science on the relationship overpopulation and use of resources? I assume globally population levels are still rising faster than we can currently support but I'm sure I've read that the birth rate is levelling off or even decreasing in some areas. It would also be interesting to know if anyone has modelled what level the planet could sustainably cope with if e.g. we decreased inefficient animal farming and planted crops for direct consumption instead, and reduced carbon emissions etc.

I feel obliged to post this internet classic https://thenib.com/mister-gotcha followed by its recent update https://thenib.com/mister-gotcha-vs-the-green-new-deal

The Rebellion starts on Monday. Full details here https://rebellion.earth/international-rebellion/. If you're interested in getting involved but not part of a group yet PM me and I can help. And don't worry about the above, it is impossible not to be a climate hypocrite on some level, XR has a principle of no blame and shame for individuals that recognises that it is wider systems that are really at fault and need to change.

Also lots of other help needed, if you are interested in getting involved but aren't sure how, send me a PM and I can advise.

Oh I was going to ask if anyone had had a man come to the door on Friday night in the Whateley Road area. He rang the bell around 7.30pm and when I shouted out to ask who it was he said something like: "er.... I was just wondering if this used to be a house share" which sounded sketchy AF and I told him I was too busy to come to the door and he went away. Anyone else get the same visitor?

Thanks James, glad to hear the Ecological Officer is also involved and that you're thinking about the long-term maintenance. On a related note, I hope Southwark will also take on board this new guidance on managing roadside verges for wildflowers https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2019/sep/27/uk-roadsides-verge-wildlife-corridors-guidelines-wildflowers

An article on why just not mowing is usually better than planting https://pollinators.ie/wildflowers-to-plant-or-not-to-plant/ but also suggestions on what to do if that isn't an option (e.g. the land has been covered)

It might do. I was following this twitter conversation with interest. Refers to larger brownfield sites though

PS https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/climate-change-warming-extinction-rebellion-16627664 a more detailed response to the China/India argument.

Should we all, ah, fly over to China to do this? Maybe we could take the pink boat on a trip. Doesn't carry that many people though. Hmm, what to do. Thankfully lots of XR groups already in India, though, you'll be pleased to hear, phew! Classic internet whataboutery aside, maybe come along to the Peckham Festival event to ask there and find out what XR is doing in the local community and why we think that's important too. paulu197 Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > WHy doesn't Extinction rebellion do any protests > in China and India - the two largest contributors > of waste (no recyclable) and CO2 emissions...

I'm hoping someone here is more expert on this than me, but my understanding is that it is sometimes ecologically preferable to allow an area to rewild itself rather than introduce new species. May not work for smaller areas, or in central London with so many introduced plant varieties around, though? Anyone know more? Would love to see more wild areas generally!

I thought this was a reasonable suggestion in the circumstances

https://www.peckhamfestival.org/events/8803/extinction-rebellion-southwark - see attached poster and details below: -- Extinction Rebellion in Southwark are holding an open meeting as part of the Peckham Festival in the Copeland Park and Bussey Building (Unit 2B) from 6pm to 11pm on Saturday the 14th of September. This summer we have seen wildfires in the Arctic and unprecedented levels of deforestation in the Amazon that have brought home to all of us how critical the situation is right now. We will have an XR speaker at the meeting to explain the science of what is happening with the climate and ecological crisis and we will also have a second part to the meeting that is dedicated to discussing what we can do about it here in Southwark. We are very keen to invite as many local people and groups as possible to be represented at the event and to use this as an opportunity to co-ordinate and strengthen our campaigns at a local level to deal with the climate emergency. There are many local groups in Southwark actively campaigning to protect green spaces, improve air quality and reduce our reliance on carbon energy as well as trying to stop unsustainable development that will involve massive amounts of unnecessary carbon emissions as well as all the other negative impacts on the local community and the environment. As a council, Southwark has declared a climate emergency, but as a community we need to push for policies that will deliver the urgent action we need, not just from the council but from businesses, transport companies etc and the mayor and national government. Please join us to talk about what your group is doing and how other people can get involved or support you. Please also extend this invitation to any other people or groups who you think may be interested.

@thecat why not say what these other more effective ways are, or point us at organisations who are doing them then? Climate campaigners have been trying all sorts for years and nothing has yet worked (whereas, as I gave examples of above, XR has already, in a short space of time, moved the agenda on and started to get changes made). Is it just about getting pensions and investment funds to change priorities (really, that's it??), if so, how? Genuine question, as blocking roads and whatnot is actually not my idea of a good time, nor does it actually make me feel particularly warm and fuzzy. I just see that it seems to be having an effect, so continue. But all for a better solution if you have one. And on Occupy, you may find Blueprint for Revolution an interesting read, in which Srdja Popovic points out exactly why Occupy failed (mostly due to very vague goals and demands). I would argue that XR is a different beast, much clearer in its aims and much better organised. Agreed @natty01295, let's lead the way then. @uncleglen not sure what your point is, the movement has continued to gain momentum since November, even more so since the April actions, no sign of it tailing off yet.

@uncleglen - I've been doing everything I can to reduce my carbon footprint over the last ten years or more. Weirdly, me taking personal responsibility for my carbon footprint doesn't seem to have solved this quite massive global issue Which brings me to @thecat. Correct! It is a global problem and the UK's part in causing it is relatively minor (but rather disproportionate all the same). Thank goodness then that XR is a global movement now, but one which has its origins in the UK, demonstrating nicely the way in which something started in one country can indeed have cascading effects throughout the world. Note that XR doesn't claim to be able to solve climate change. Rather, it has very specific demands which, if met, should bring about the awareness, clear objectives and democratic framework for real change to happen. For what precisely that change should be, it's over to the People's Assemblies and the work of experts such as those at Project Drawdown. The first goal is to get governments (and media) to tell the truth and I really don't see how you could argue that XR haven't made inroads here. Climate change is finally on the news and political agenda in a much bigger way than it has been in the past and Parliament did declare a climate emergency (just a start, but a start all the same). The second is to Act Now in agreeing to reduce carbon emissions to net zero by 2025 and stop destroying biodiversity. Got a long way to go here, but if one government can be persuaded to start acting on this basis, it should provide a useful model and potentially influence others to do the same. The third is to create Citizens Assemblies on climate change. This has begun to happen, isn't that good? https://news.camden.gov.uk/camden-citizens-assembly-to-take-on-climate-crisis-challenge/. I fail to see how we can solve a global problem WITHOUT starting at home. Of course other countries are bigger polluters etc, but I have pretty much zero opportunity for influence in China or India, unless you have some suggestions for how to do this?? In the absence of a better answer, we will continue with the direct action and community outreach such as that happening this weekend. Loads of people signed up to be part of the movement at Blackheath after finding out more, which is great. FWIW, I have indeed moved my banking to the most ethical and environmentally friendly options I could find. Have also had discussions about this within XR, so your assumption is off-base. But as we know, personal choices are not enough, and it is implausible to expect most people to have the time, energy and resources to audit all of their life choices to make sure that they are doing the right thing (which is often very unclear anyway). Suggesting that people who don't do this just don't REALLY care is OTT and not in line with the XR no-blame and shame philosophy that recognises how hard this is, and the fact that the problem really needs to be tackled at a much higher level for anything to happen, as you yourself said. XR are not perfect by any means, but thank goodness someone is finally doing something. I highly recommend reading This is Not a Drill, the XR "handbook" which is really a collection of essays about where we are, and where we could be, and the latter is actually a really inspiring and positive vision of a better future. In fact, I'll send a copy to the first 4 people who PM me here, let me know if you want one.