Launching Extinction Rebellion Scotland

November 24, 2018

Saturday 24th November 2018, 1pm @ Scottish Parliament, Holyrood, Edinburgh

We are facing an unprecedented global emergency. The government has failed to protect us. To survive, it’s going to take everything we’ve got. This requires a global effort but it must begin in wealthy countries such as Scotland.

As Extinction Rebellion protests and non-violent direct actions gridlock the centre of London, we show our support and launch the Scottish Extinction Rebellion movement.

The science is clear that humankind as a whole faces social collapse within decades, the death of billions of people, and the extinction of millions of species. Including, possibly, our own.

As we face the possibility of extinction in the future, we must also respond to the climate genocide and ecocide happening across the world. The IPCC report has given the sobering message – 12 years to stop climate change. We must act now, or be complicit in the destruction of the planet.

We hold our governments responsible. Our Government isn’t acting in accordance with what science and history tells us. Therefore, our Government is criminally negligent. We have a moral duty to rebel, whatever our politics. Social science shows us that peaceful civil disobedience is an effective way to bring about change. Our lives have meaning when we follow our conscience and are willing to make sacrifices to protect what we love.

Through non-violent direct action, we want to create a national conversation about the ecological crisis and climate breakdown.

Aligning ourselves with the International Extinction Rebellion movement, we are localising our actions and have the following demands for the Scottish Government:

We demand:

  1. That the Scottish Government tell the truth about the climate and wider ecological emergency, reverse policies that help drive the climate crisis, and work to enable a rapid and just transition to a sustainable and fair society. 
  2. That the Scottish Government enact legally binding policy measures to reduce carbon emissions to net zero by 2025, including by replacing a system based on accelerating consumption with one based on ensuring the wellbeing of all.
  3. The creation of a Scottish Citizens’ Assembly to oversee the changes, as part of creating a democracy fit for purpose and a society that cares for all.

This Saturday (24th November) at the Scottish Parliament, we ask others who feel the same way to join our peaceful Rebellion.

Speakers currently confirmed include Patrick Harvie MSP, Caroline Rance of Friends of the Earth Scotland, Ruth Wilkinson from Global Justice Now and Luke Devlin, Director of the Centre for Human Ecology.

Extinction Rebellion in Scotland began in earnest this week, with the first Edinburgh meeting on Monday 19th Nov attended by over 200 people. Glasgow meetings have also been overflowing with attendees, with standing room only. Local Extinction Rebellion groups have been springing up around the country in Dundee, St Andrews and the Highlands & Islands.

Extinction Rebellion Scotland is growing exponentially, and quickly mobilising. 

We are an inclusive, democratic, supportive group, hungry for members. We have regular open meetings and will be coming together in the next few weeks to lay the foundations of our movement in Scotland. 

We are currently working on our Scottish Declaration of Rebellion, with input from advisers from charities, political party representatives and experts.

NOTE: we are still undergoing training and establishing legal and welfare support networks, so there will be NO NVDA planned for Saturday’s event. It is a launch event and we do not endorse or encourage any direct action. We have plans for NVDA in future, but we want to make sure people are ready before this happens.

Event page https://www.facebook.com/events/1061177717398612/

FB page XRScotland https://www.facebook.com/XRScotland/

FB page XREdinburgh https://www.facebook.com/xrEdinburgh/

FB page XRGlasgow https://www.facebook.com/XRGlasgow/

FB page XRDundee https://www.facebook.com/XRdundee/

FB page XRStandrews https://www.facebook.com/XRstandrews/

Twitter https://twitter.com/scotlandxr

Instagram https://instagram.com/xrscotland

For more info on Extinction Rebellion, please visit www.rebellion.earth