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Nick, we get it. A good talk show needs a good topic to get listeners to tune in. [1] We see you, we have no doubt that Extinction Rebellion helps boost your ratings. If only you’d talk about the climate and ecological emergency a little, wouldn’t that be great? 

But you’re right Nick: ‘Enough is enough’. 
Enough of police clamping down on peaceful protesters. 
Enough of being labelled extremists for standing up for what’s right. 
Enough of government inaction on this emergency. 
Enough of the media failing to tell the truth.

If treasured national institutions are telling us we’re in a crisis, is it not time to listen? Last week at the launch of the ‘greening of the NHS’, their campaign to tackle the climate health emergency stated: ‘Climate change poses a major threat to our health as well as our planet. The environment is changing, that change is accelerating, and has direct and immediate consequences for our patients, the public and the NHS.’ [2]

As the Lancet Countdown Report – which tracks the relationship between health and climate change across five key domains and 41 indicators – says: ‘An unprecedented challenge demands an unprecedented response’. [3] 

Time for truthful and sensitive conversations

These times require unity in the face of our common challenges, and campaigns like yours risk creating further division. A good barny might be great for ratings, however now is the time for truthful and sensitive conversations. You know, the ones that are difficult, but imperative to have?

Please let’s not be disrespectful to individuals and families that have experienced or fear violent crime. Can we all agree that public safety is paramount? 

Extinction Rebellion has always been proactive with the Police – and will continue to be – informing them of any events to ensure public safety. As we are sure you are aware, at the highest levels of policing it has been reaffirmed that Extinction Rebellion is neither ‘extremist nor a ‘terror threat’.

DCS Kath Barnes, head of Counter Terrorism Police South East, said: “I would like to make it quite clear that we do not classify Extinction Rebellion as an extremist organisation. The inclusion of Extinction Rebellion in this document was an error of judgment and we will now be reviewing all of the contents as a result.”

We think that you and LBC have a great role and responsibility to play in this emergency. We need balanced reporting. 

The only reason that Extinction Rebellion has been causing disruption is because of governmental inaction and the media failing in its duty to make the public aware of the risks we face. That’s the reason why we are happy to come on to your show, on to LBC, that’s the reason we do disruption, to get people talking about it. If we and Fridays for Future hadn’t been causing disruption over the last year and a half, there wouldn’t be as much awareness about the emergency as there is.

Notes to editors

[1] https://www.lbc.co.uk/radio/presenters/nick-ferrari/enough-enough/campaign-police-power-extinction-rebellion-protest/ / https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2020/02/02/water-cannon-should-used-against-extinction-rebellion-protesters/

[2] Climate change poses a major threat to our health as well as our planet. The environment is changing, that change is accelerating, and has direct and immediate consequences for our patients, the public and the NHS.

https://www.england.nhs.uk/greenernhs/

[3] Launcet countdown report 2019

An unprecedented challenge demands an unprecedented response.

Our 2019 Report tracks the relationship between health and climate change across five key domains and 41 indicators. See an overview of the 2019 key findings below, or download the full report.

2019 Report

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 emerged from 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.