Growing significant support for taking more urgent and more meaningful and effective action to minimise and mitigate predicted possible effects of climate change may be jeopardised by extremists who claim extinction and who seem to be using climate change as a reason to drastically change the world economic and political systems.
Following a widely popular series of countrywide protests last week, more extreme action is threatened for Wellington on Monday, with more extreme goals. I think that this risks alienating popular support.
The future of the human race could be in jeopardy due to pollution, over-consumption and climate change, but using that threat to force what would effectively be a revolution – ironically one goal is to undemocratically impose a different sort of (unproven) democracy – could be a bigger risk.
The cure could be worse than the ailment.
Stuff: Wellington will be first city targeted for ‘disruption’ in worldwide climate change protest
Monday morning commuters could face delays, with climate change activists set to “disrupt Wellington” with protest action in the central city from 7am.
Police, Wellington City Council and NZTA are gearing up in anticipation of the protest, which is part of what has been called a “global rebellion”, with Wellington the first of more than 60 cities worldwide targeted for climate activist disruption.
The protest is organised by the Extinction Rebellion, a group formed in October last year in the UK, with branches all over the world, including New Zealand.
The action is coinciding with a “Rebel Camp” running in Paekākāriki from Saturday to Wednesday, which will include training in “non-violent direct action”.
Extinction Rebellion Wellington spokesperson Dr Sea Rotmann said the New Zealand branch would disrupt Wellington traffic with a street party and expected arrests.
The news report includes odd looking staged photos of Dr Rotman who seems to be trying to depict themselves as something extraordinary:
Weird, and I’m not sure that will attract a lot of support.
The Extinction Rebellion website said it aimed to “support and encourage a citizens’ uprising in Aotearoa New Zealand”.
That would involve “low level and higher risk acts of civil disobedience by some”.
“When ready, create a participatory, democratic process that discusses and improves a draft manifesto for change and a new constitution.
“This will involve creating a genuine democracy, alongside an economy to maximise well-being and minimise harm.”
So they intend using a revolution to create “a genuine democracy”. That doesn’t sound very democratic.
Suddenly and drastically changing the economic system would be at more risk of maximising harm and adversely affecting wellbeing.
This all seems like an idealistic experiment that if forced on us could cause more disruption and harm than climate change.
What does Extinction Rebellion want?
Extinction Rebellion has three demands of Government:
1. “Tell the truth” and declare a climate and ecological emergency
2. Act now to halt biodiversity loss and reduce greenhouse emissions to net-zero by 2025
3. “Go beyond politics” and set up a “Citizen’s Assembly” on climate and ecological justice
I wonder if they are aware that a “Citizen’s Assembly” should be inclusive of and represent all citizens, and not just a minority of extremists.
Drastically changing all of the world’s governments immediately seems to be a totally unrealistic aim.
Extreme action and extreme demands are much easier to dismiss as extremist nutters.
And more immediately, disrupting Wellington traffic on Monday is likely to alienate a lot of people rather than attracting popular support.
I think that we should be doing significantly more to address possible affects of climate change, and reduce waste, and reduce pollution, but I think that Extinction Rebellion could be counter-productive to getting support to do this.
Their website home page says:
JOIN THE REBELLION
Enter your details to join Extinction Rebellion Aotearoa. Stay up to date with our latest direct action events, news and volunteering opportunities.
To create the change the world so desperately requires we need everyone’s support, we’re in this together.
You’ll be joining part of a larger global movement dedicated to preserving life on earth.
ISSUES
We are unprepared for the danger the future holds. We face floods, wildfires, extreme weather, crop failure, mass displacement and the breakdown of society. The time for denial is over. It is time to act.
Conventional approaches of voting, lobbying, petitions and protest have failed because powerful political and economic interests prevent change. Our strategy is therefore one of non-violent, disruptive civil disobedience – a rebellion.
Historical evidence shows that we need the involvement of 3.5% of the population to succeed – in Aotearoa New Zealand this is 170,000 people.
We are the local branch of the Extinction Rebellion International. We are everyday New Zealanders just like you. We are supported by journalist Naomi Klein, academic and renowned dissident Noam Chomsky, and around 100 other prominent international progressives calling on “concerned global citizens to rise up” and join us.
OUR VISION
A world where we build thriving connections within our society and environment, bringing hope and enabling us to decide the direction of our lives and futures. An inclusive world, where we work consciously to ensure fair processes of collective decision-making, where creativity is prioritised, and where our diversity of gifts are recognised, celebrated and flourish.
OUR MISSION
To spark and sustain a spirit of creative rebellion, which will enable much needed changes in our political, economic and social landscape. We endeavour to mobilise and train organisers to skilfully open up space, so that communities can develop the tools they need to address Aotearoa New Zealand’s deeply rooted problems. We work to transform our society into one that is compassionate, inclusive, sustainable, equitable and connected.
OUR PURPOSE
Support and encourage a citizens uprising in the Aoteaora New Zealand involving low level and higher risk acts of civil disobedience by some (with others willing to support those that take actions). When ready, create a participatory, democratic process that discusses and improves a draft manifesto for change and a new constitution. This will involve creating a genuine democracy, alongside an economy to maximise well being and minimise harm.