On Sept. 9, activists from Extinction Rebellion (XR) are once again blocking the A12 to persuade the government to stop giving benefits to the fossil industry. I too am concerned about global warming and went to an XR information day on a rainy day. It was about the consequences of climate change if the global average temperature rises by more than 1.5 degrees, and about civil disobedience to do something about it.
Although I shared the same concerns with everyone sitting there, I didn’t feel like a participant. I missed the broader context; there was not a word about institutional inequality, climate refugees and climate justice, which makes people like me, who are aware of such inequality and also want to do their part, unlikely to join.
ALREADY, PEOPLE ARE FLEEING THE EFFECTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE AND ENVIRONMENTAL DESTRUCTION
For God’s sake, let’s stop this kind of completely misguided, naive stupidity! Because it is a strategy that does not apply to black activists and activists of color. Many XR activists may trust that the system is on their side and they won’t be harshly punished, but for people of color, the system works differently. For them, nonviolent protests often have greater consequences; they are more likely to get a criminal record, which has serious consequences for their future. This is anything but relaxing and safe.
ENVIRONMENTAL MOVEMENTS SHOULD BE ACCESSIBLE TO ALL
The UK branch of XR came out with a statement in July 2020: ‘We now recognize that our tactics of arrest have made it easier for people with privilege to get involved and that our behavior and attitudes have fed the system of white supremacy. We are sorry that this recognition has come so late.’ (translation by the author, ed.) So XR is well aware of institutional inequality and even apologizes for it, but in the meantime they still refuse to explore other approaches to organizing social change. What a missed opportunity.
Climate change affects us all, which is why environmental movements should be accessible to everyone, including marginalized groups. To build an effective environmental movement in which everyone feels safe and represented, XR must broaden its outlook and stop glorifying arrests. The other day, an XR activist said to me that climate change is, of course, primarily systemic change. I couldn’t agree more. I heartily advise XR to change the system, starting with itself.