For now, activists from the Extinction Rebellion movement in Britain no longer want to hold on to works of art and block roads in protest at the lack of climate protection. The group announced this on New Year’s Day in a message entitled “We are stopping”.
The disruptive actions – which are controversial among the population – were important in fueling and exposing systematic political failure in the face of the climate crisis. But “tactics should be developed continuously”: the aim is to put more pressure on responsible politicians by mobilizing the broad masses of society for forms of collective protest.
vandalism or shock tactics
In recent months, climate activists in several countries have repeatedly grabbed artwork, smeared it with tomato soup and mashed potatoes, blockaded buildings and glued themselves to streets. Proponents speak of a shock tactic to draw attention to the climate catastrophe.
For opponents, these are acts of vandalism or at least annoying obstacles in everyday life. Whether in Great Britain or Germany: the actions of Extinction Rebellion and like-minded groups such as Just Stop Oil left almost no one indifferent.
“Little Has Changed”
So now the change of course, which the activists themselves describe in their statement as a “controversial decision”. “While alarm bells are ringing loud and clear about the climate and environmental emergency, little has changed,” said Extinction Rebellion UK. “Emissions continue to rise and our planet is dying at an accelerating rate.”
That is why they want to win many more people than before to the climate protest and make it harder for the powerful to ignore important concerns. “The interaction of different crises offers a unique opportunity to mobilize and bridge traditional divides,” the statement said.
What that could look like in the future, the group made clear to the British Parliament with a call for protest on April 21: the aim is to close the House of Commons and the House of Lords in London’s Westminster Palace for days with the help of at least Blocking 100,000 people – thereby forcing political decision-makers into action. The motto of the planned large-scale demonstration underlines the will to make the actions less of a protest of many. It says: «The Big One». (SDA)