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What emergency? | Extinction Rebellion in Numbers | This Is Not A Drill: An Extinction Rebellion Handbook.

#DeliberateRebellionFilm #ExtinctionRebellion

• The Deliberate Rebellion, a film by All Hands On, examines Extinction Rebellion’s demand for a national Citizens’ Assembly on climate and ecological justice
• Comment from David Farrell, leader of the Irish Citizens’ Assembly Project and winner of the 2019 Brown Democracy Award
• The film is accompanied by an exclusive remix of Massive Attack’s ‘Hymn of The Big Wheel’ 
• Comment from Massive Attack’s Robert Del Naja
• Starting on October 7 Extinction Rebellion UK and allied movements will peacefully shut down Westminster to demand the government Act Now! 

The Deliberate Rebellion is a short film commissioned by Extinction Rebellion UK and made by All Hands On. The film examines Extinction Rebellion’s demand that Government must create and be led by the decisions of a Citizens’ Assembly on climate and ecological justice. 

The film is directed and produced by ex-Reuters reporter Patrick Chalmers. Music for the film is provided by Massive Attack and is an exclusive remix of their track ‘Hymn of The Big Wheel’. 

Watch the film here: https://youtu.be/5mxldI71h0k

The UK government has not commissioned a national Citizens’ Assembly in accordance with Extinction Rebellion’s demand, the proposed Select Committees’ Citizens’ Assembly announced in June 2019 is smaller in scale and scope than that recommended by Extinction Rebellion. 

Further information on citizens’ assemblies here: https://rebellion.earth/the-truth/demands/

For interviews or to discuss embedding the film please contact using the details provided at the top of this press release. 

Quotes

David Farrell, leader of the Irish Citizens’ Assembly Project and winner of the 2019 Brown Democracy Award, said: “What is laudable about the Extinction Rebellion agenda is that the activists are not pushing for particular policy decisions on the climate emergency: they are merely asking that their government agrees to establish a citizens’ assembly and give it the task of bringing forward proposals.”

Patrick Chalmers, director and producer of The Deliberate Rebellion and ex-Reuters reporter, said: “I first reported on climate politics 25 years ago, including the then-hopeful global talks in Kyoto. Nothing came close to producing the policy changes our species needs. It’s sweet relief for All Hands On to film Extinction Rebellion’s explosion on to the planet. Maybe, finally, we’ll address this critical issue.”

Linda Doyle, coordinator of the Extinction Rebellion Citizens’ Assembly Working Group, said: “The fact that Extinction Rebellion is demanding a Citizens’ Assembly on the climate and ecological emergency is really what makes it unique. We’re not trying to assert our will on anyone else, and we’re not just crying out for action, we’re crying out for a very specific thing – we’re crying out for the UK public to have a say on how they respond to this emergency.” 

Massive Attack’s Robert Del Naja, said: “If 52% in a punch-drunk referendum means we must shut down parliament and drive off a cliff for medicine and food shortages, what political action should result from a sobering 55% now demanding that government act much faster to prevent catastrophic flooding, crop failure and the mass extinction of the species?

“The democratic centre is still facing two ways when we desperately need laser focus. Everyone sees that parliament’s declaration of a climate emergency is totally incompatible with Heathrow expansion, fracking, slow deadlines for the phasing out of dirty road transport and a financial capital that adores transnationals who are still – despite all the scientific evidence and legal accords like Paris – seeking to extract new fossil fuel reserves. 

“As street movements of resistance build, so must a new democratic catalyst.

“The magnitude and urgency of climate emergency dwarfs Brexit, and yet the obvious paralysis of party politics reveals a government unable to respond adequately.

“Citizens Assemblies as clean democratic expressions must now form to demand faster action, engage in logical solutions and illustrate the consequences – humanitarian and political. “

Notes to editors: 

About Extinction Rebellion:

Time has almost entirely run out to address the ecological crisis which is upon us, including the 6th mass species extinction, global pollution, and abrupt, runaway climate change. Societal collapse and mass death are seen as inevitable by scientists and other credible voices, with human extinction also a possibility, if rapid action is not taken.

Extinction Rebellion believes it is a citizen’s duty to rebel, using peaceful civil disobedience, when faced with criminal inactivity by their Government.

Extinction Rebellion’s key demands are:

1. Government must tell the truth by declaring a climate and ecological emergency, working with other institutions to communicate the urgency for change.
2. Government must act now to halt biodiversity loss and reduce greenhouse gas emissions to net zero by 2025.
3. Government must create and be led by the decisions of a Citizens’ Assembly on climate and ecological justice.

What emergency? | Extinction Rebellion in Numbers |This Is Not A Drill: An Extinction Rebellion Handbook.

Get involved:

• In the UK, come to one of our events, join the Rebellion Network and let us know how you can help out.
• Start a group where you are: in the UK or around the world.
• Find your local group.
• Check out the International XR website, with links to the French, German, Italian and UK websites.
• And while your time and energy are of most importance, if you are financially able to donate money, see our crowdfunder.

About Rising Up!

Extinction Rebellion is an initiative of the Rising Up! network, which promotes a fundamental change of our political and economic system to one which maximises well-being and minimises harm. Change needs to be nurtured in a culture of reverence, gratitude and inclusion while the tools of civil disobedience and direct action are used to express our collective power.