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The theme for today has been ‘like water’ – we’re fluid, constantly moving, flowing and regrouping. The situation changes by the minute and new structures go up as fast as they get dismantled. In the time it has taken to write this, the roads to the South of the Charing Cross roundabout have reopened to traffic. How long for, who knows. 

This morning, protesters were woken by the police and told to move tents off the roads and traffic islands or face arrest. Most people moved their tents to the pedestrian areas around Trafalgar Square but some chose to stay – including Extinction Rebellion Tower Hamlets and Interfaith member Jyoti, 75, who has been locked on since 8pm last night. “I’m a Buddhist so this is me practising. I’m treating this an extended retreat. Staying open and positive!”

The final link in a chain of bathtubs around the roundabout was removed at 10.30am this morning, and all six bathers were arrested. By 11am, the roadblocks on the South side of the roundabout had been cleared by police. But by 12.30pm, rebels were back on the previously cleared roads doing mass sit-ins – and over 500 rebels headed to Bishopsgate to swarm and block the Government Oil and Gas Fiscal Summit on Liverpool Street.

Back in Trafalgar Square, rumours that the stage would soon be taken appear unfounded; the stage is not only still there, it has been added to! A wooden tower was built in front of it, and at 1pm cofounder Gail Bradbrook delivered an impassioned rallying cry to rebels from on top as they put in the final nuts and bolts to hold it in place.

Big Weekend Plans…

Tomorrow, the Day of Indigenous Resistance, marks the landing of Columbus in the Americas in 1492. The climate emergency is already causing death and destruction in the Global South, and tomorrow we pause to mark the genocide and enslavement of Indigenous people and imperialism that was unleashed over 500 years ago.

• Animal Rebellion take Billingsgate

Bright and early tomorrow morning from 4am, Animal Rebels will begin their occupation of Billingsgate Market, the UK’s largest inland fish market. Activists will blockade the entrance to bring attention to the exploitation of fish and unsustainable fishing practices which are killing our oceans, calling on the City of London Corporation, which runs Billingsgate, to transition the market to a plastic-recycling facility to contribute to the UK’s efforts to end plastic pollution.

The animal justice group are also calling on the Government to take bold and transformative steps towards a plant-based society to restore and protect nature and will bring attention to the “animal emergency” caused by the worldwide animal agriculture and fishing industries that are a leading cause of species extinction and global greenhouse gas emissions. 

Animal Rebellion accepts the need to support fishing workers to transition to the production of alternative products, and this action contributes to their calls for the government to immediately implement policies to support a change towards a plant-based food system, and work, for example, with the Vegan Society’s Grow Green Campaign, that helps farmers transition from meat and dairy to veg production.

Other disruptive pop-up actions are planned throughout the day, so stay tuned… 

• Major Extinction Marches

1.30pm – Saturday Extinction March: https://www.facebook.com/events/896120167437588/ 

Tomorrow, representatives from across our movements will express their grief and their vision for the future; XR Grief Tenders, Heart Openers, XR Youth, Global Justice, XR Faith and others are set to assemble at 1.30pm at Marble Arch for a 2pm start. All are welcome, particularly rebels visiting for the weekend. If you’ve been watching the rebellion from afar, now is the time to come together and bring your family and your friends to immerse yourselves in our mass participation movement. Join the jazz-funeral band, black horses and globe, XR Skeletons Rebellion, Art Blockers and more.

2pm – Women’s Resistance for Climate Action: https://www.facebook.com/events/398973460736611/ 

The Women’s Resistance for Climate Action will start alongside the Extinction Rebellion Grief and Resistance March from St. James Park to Russell Square, but will leave the XR march to move to SOAS to join in and celebrate Indigenous People’s Day. As the primary carers everywhere, women have been leading the resistance to climate change, protecting precious land from mining, deforestation, water poisoning and cash crops: together they will create a force to make visible the unique contribution of women and communities from the Global South to the climate crisis movement.

• Doctors for Extinction Rebellion protest illegal air at the opening of Parliament 

12pm – XR Doctors Health March for the Planet:

Tomorrow, over 100 XR Doctors will protest against killer pollution – laying out 180 pairs of shoes outside parliament to mark the 180 weekly London deaths. Gathering at 12pm, they will set off around 1pm outside Shell, via St Thomas Hospital, and ending in Parliament square.

• Rebel Riders

After a fantastic event yesterday, Rebel Riders will be meeting again tomorrow – meeting outside the National Gallery by Trafalgar Square terrace at 5pm

If you’re keen to ride with them, join their Telegram group here

Following the success of XR Rebellion Critical Mass ride yesterday, the Rebel Riders welcome you all to join in a group ride leaving 5pm from Trafalgar Square. All kinds of bikes, sound systems & XR flags welcome – the more the merrier!

The awesome Rebel Riders, assembling yesterday evening. 

**PLEASE NOTE**

The planned 10-minute Silence on Sunday is no longer going ahead; it will now take place on the following Sunday, 20th October, at 11am. This will be a time for us to come together again before our rebellion shifts into the next phase, reflecting on the previous fortnight and remembering and reconciling our intentions. Details to follow!

Key Friday actions:

BBC: Your Silence is Deadly

Extinction Rebellion outside the BBC, earlier today.

On Friday morning, BBC Wales initiated the action “BBC: Your silence is deadly”. They were joined by XR groups from all over the country; XR Bristol, XR North West and XR Scotland – and XR Media Tell the Truth – to gather outside Broadcasting House and call on the BBC to meet its crucial moral duty to tell the full truth on the climate and ecological emergency.

Flags, banners, chanting and singing filled the forecourt, and rows of people sat in front of the main entrance to the BBC, where six people had glued their hands to the doors.  BBC employees could still go to work through another entrance

Over three hours of talks followed, from XR Media Tell The Truth, scientists and farmers, as well as singers, a samba band and a visit from the Red Brigade.  

Whilst this took place, two protesters climbed on the porch roof of the entrance doors, which, combined with hundreds of people in the forecourt, led to a period of negotiation. The BBC was asked to meet with XR, and responded they would next week, people gathered responded they would like to see a representative today – and an impromptu People’s Assembly took place to develop a group response which was taken to the BBC.  

The group response stated that they were happy to have a meeting with the BBC next week if they could meet with a senior representative today, and the commitment to the meeting is broadcast on the news tonight, along with coverage of the protest. Protesters have pledged to stay until their demands are met. 

Mother & Singer Songwriter Laurie Shepherd, singing in front of the BBC holding baby Robin, 8 months old. She sings “Footsteps”, a song about the Suffragettes and how they’ve inspired many XR participants involved in the movement. Laurie plans to release an album soon in connection to nature. Photo: Maximus Richardson

Steve Weschertlake, 48, pHD researcher in environmental psychology:

“It was great to see so many people here. The BBC needs to drastically improve its science literacy, and needs to integrate the climate the environmental crisis into every story; from business and transport to extreme weather  – because the climate crisis is inherently connected to everything. It needs to dispense with false balance when they give a platform to climate deniers on an equal platform to climate scientists.”

Iris Skipworth, 20, story-teller and community gardener: 

“It’s brilliant being surrounded by strong, resilient people – but not one of us should be here.  Failure by our governments, media institutions and corporations means that we are having to spend our time demanding that they do their job of protecting us and future generations.”

Anna Munroe,35, care-worker and people’s assembly facilitator: 

“Our presence here has generated a situation of negotiation with the BBC – in light of which we have decided to hold a people’s assembly, to decide how to go forward. I feel really excited its a mixture of organisation and organic spontaneity, it’s been a peaceful and unified atmosphere. We are strong and full of respect, we just want dialogue.”

Amanda Wickenden, 77, retired teacher: 

“This action is so important as the BBC have the power to reach everyone.  We need them to tell the truth, the truth is terryfying, but unless we understand the terrible state we are in, nothing will change and we will drift on.”

Emergency People’s Speech 

At 1pm on Friday, hundreds of people amassed at Trafalgar Square to witness an Emergency People’s Speech. The main speech was delivered by Gail Bradbrook, co-founder of XR, to question the lack of meaningful action taken by government departments in response to the declaration of a Climate Emergency in April.

Gail Bradbrook, speaking on the Trafalgar Square stage.

The various XR sites have convened over the course of the week to hold site-wide people’s assemblies to review and ratify an Emergency Speech, with contributions from all sites focusing on the relevant departments they were blockading. Having passed through the site-wide assemblies, the Emergency People’s Speech was signed off at a plenary People’s Assembly yesterday, involving representative members from all of the various sites & groups. 

Gail opened with a quote from the former environment secretary, Micheal Gove: 

“We recognise that it is an emergency… the next generation will face the consequences if we do not take action”.

She then continued, taking aim at the different government departments for their lack of action in response to the Three Demands that Extinction Rebellion presented back in April: 

“More than five months later there has been no action and there is still no emergency plan. We are the next generation, and we are all together with that next generation, and we will not lie down to leave them to face that consequence alone”. 

The Government has only paid lip service to our demands, which are: 

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

Government Oil and Gas Fiscal Summit on Liverpool Street

Supported by their Rewilded North neighbours, XR Doctors and others, XR Scotland successfully swarmed and blocked the Government Oil and Gas Fiscal Summit in Bishopsgate; a fiscal summit taking place over two days to discuss how they can develop their fiscal strategies, with no mention of climate change, net zero targets or renewables. 

Starting at the Law Courts, where Red Rebels were supporting those attending the court hearings, they then moved towards St Paul’s. There were ten successful and impressively staffed swarms, with plenty of positive responses from pedestrians and drivers.

Outside the Oil and Gas conference at Andaz Hotel on Liverpool Street.

Notes:

Bristol/Wales (We Are All Crew): +44(0)07722062502 / +44(0)7495297625

North England (Rewilding North): +44(0)7794718962 

South West England (Global Food Justice): +44(0)7711898499 / +44(0)7778267833

East of England and Midlands (Love Rebellion): +44(0)7548691855 / +44(0)7877769492

South East (Beyond Politics): +44(0)7857445653

Scotland/North East/Cumbria (Power in Truth): +44(0)7904591052 / +44(0)7507888837

London A (Burning Earth): +44(0)7459518464 

London B (The Beacon): +44(0)7760 889153

London C (The Future is Here): 

Animal Rebellion (The Garden City): +44(0)7464739319

Global Justice Site: +44(0)7983236252 / +44(0)7795360527

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.