Email: sophmiller@googlemail.com, higgsrob@yahoo.com
Phone: 07967525461‬ / 07866224414 
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#OceanRebellion #ActNow #G7

At the crack of dawn this morning, members of Ocean Rebellion staged a theatrical action on the shores of the Cornish coastal resort Marazion with the iconic St Michael’s Mount in the background. 

The action was part of an ongoing series of protests leading up to the G7 summit to be held nearby, featuring Boris Johnson sharing intimate quality-time in Cornwall with a Fossil Fuel Buddy. The celebrity pair were seen sitting on deck-chairs as the sun rose and a boat burned in the bay, billowing black smoke, across its sail inscribed ‘Your Children’s Future.’ 

Protestors say the scene represents the UK government’s total lack of purpose to do anything to combat the catastrophic climate change, ocean acidification and biodiversity loss that will devastate all our futures and leave a dead ocean for future generations. Ocean Rebellion members say the UK government must make the ocean a priority at the G7, and want politicians to distance themselves from the fossil fuel industry. They demand all governments cease subsidies to shipping and begin to tax shipping fuel. They demand the fleet is furloughed until a full and open investigation of world fish stocks is completed, with all fisher folk to receive full pay using a tax on commercial shipping fuel. Ocean Rebellion members say the UK government must make genuine action on climate & nature the priority at the G7. The time for posturing is over.

Sophie Miller of Ocean Rebellion said: “Countless young people have already decided not to have children because the future they will face is simply too hard. With extreme weather already afflicting many people, crop-yields are failing and food shortages are leading to conflict, forced migration and famine. Our disregard of the Ocean has led to a catastrophic decline in fish stocks, with many crucial habitats totally destroyed.”

Rob Higgs added: “This is an emergency. Ocean Rebellion is appealing to the G7 to wake up, join the dots, and take immediate action: Marine habitat destruction is causing elevated levels of atmospheric CO2. For instance, UK bottom trawling dragging heavy weights along the seabed to catch fish] generates emissions equivalent to 13% of UK terrestrial emissions.”

Ocean Rebellion are calling for:

• Marine habitat destruction is causing elevated levels of atmospheric CO2.  For instance, UK bottom trawling [dragging heavy weights along the seabed to catch fish] generates emissions equivalent to 13% of UK terrestrial emissions.  Ocean Rebellion calls for 
  • a global ban on bottom trawling by COP26 as a prelude to urgent marine biodiversity and habitat repair.
• Shipping emissions are causing elevated levels of atmospheric CO2, and black carbon from heavy fuel oil (HFO) used in shipping, is causing accelerated melting of polar ice.  HFO is a waste product of the oil industry.  Ocean Rebellion calls for 
  • a ban on use of HFO, especially in sensitive polar regions
  • reduction of shipping emissions by at least 10% a year starting now by means such as fuel efficient slow sailing and retiring of inefficient ships, so as to be consistent with Paris Agreement goals.
  • The inclusion of shipping and aviation emissions in Nationally Defined Contributions determining emissions reductions.
  • The taxation of marine fuels in line with that of terrestrial fuels.
• There are grounds for examining whether Frankenstein Fuels (Very Low Sulphur Fuels) endorsed by the IMO are causing engine failures such as that of the Wakashio which brought disaster to Mauritian shores.  Ocean Rebellion calls for a ban on HFO and VLSF and their replacement by distillates.  

Sophie continued: “G7 heads of state Joe Biden, Boris Johnson, Justin Trudeau, Emanuel Macron, Angela Merkel, Mario Draghi, Suga Yoshihide and Ursula Von der Leyen —the choice is yours: live on in infamy, remembered only for your failure to act while there was still time, or rise to the occasion and act.”   

INSTA: @theoceanrebellion
TWITTER: @oceanrebellion

Notes for Editors

Ocean Rebellion

Ocean Rebellion was launched in August 2020, created by a small group, active in Extinction Rebellion (XR) since inception, who are central contributors to XR’s distinctive branding, media-facing narratives, and theories of change. Ocean Rebellion is formally separate from XR in all respects but draws on lessons learned in XR’s development. Ocean Rebellion is a global resource facilitating autonomous grassroots initiatives to protect, enhance and repair the high seas. Ocean Rebellion is an offering of design assets, messaging, protest how-tos and resources which, assuming this is helpful, may be accepted or adapted by marine activist communities worldwide, entirely subject to their

preferences.

Ocean Rebellion has adopted 10 principles including principled non-violence, the avoidance of blaming & shaming, and respect for all individuals. 

Ocean Rebellion makes three demands—

Tell the truth: About the destruction of the

oceans

Act now: Reverse drivers of warming, ocean

acidification, sea level rise and biodiversity

collapse by 2025

Take Control: United Nations to govern our common oceans heritage for the benefit of

humankind, especially indigenous coastal communities, not for the benefit of industry

or finance.

If the UN fails in this high purpose, then a global citizens’ assembly will convene to

assume governance.

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 increasingly rapid climate change. If urgent and radical action isn’t taken, we’re heading towards 4˚C warming, and the societal collapse and mass loss of life that that implies. The younger generation, racially marginalised communities and the Global South are on the front-line. No-one will escape the devastating impacts.

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.
• While you’re at it, support our fundraiser!