‘Something has to be done’ – Stephen Fry calls on public to support Extinction Rebellion
June 29, 2022 by Extinction Rebellion
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In a video released today, national treasure, actor and comedian Stephen Fry called on the British public to support Extinction Rebellion. Speaking to camera Fry, said: “Reasonable people, I think, understand that something has to be done about fossil fuels, most of all about our insatiable appetite for them.”
“It’s not good just saying everybody give up carbon use because we can’t – ultimately it’s up to governments. You need to get them to recognise that this is the most serious crisis that humanity has ever faced and that therefore we should plan, we should plan in a friendly way, in a way that involves all of humanity.
“Disruption can be an awful thing. It can ruin the way the world is. But there’s another form of disruption, which is to stop the world going down the wrong path, to disrupt a destructive journey. And that’s what Extinction Rebellion, for example, does.”
Fry’s comments come as record breaking temperatures sweep across Europe increasing the risk of extensive forest fires this summer and deadly floods displace millions in Bangladesh. [1] [2] [3] Earlier this month UN Secretary-General António Guterres called on world leaders to change course and end a “senseless and suicidal war against nature”, adding that fossil fuel companies and the banks that finance them “have humanity by the throat”. [4] [5]
The video comes as Extinction Rebellion plans its next wave of actions open to the public to join beginning September 10th.
Marly Lyman from Extinction Rebellion UK, said: “What the world needs now is a plan. We are in a moment of truth, and how we all respond will determine the next chapter of humanity. Because the crisis is here, it’s in politics and on supermarket shelves, it’s in the burning forests and our next pay cheque, it’s in the communities facing flooding and our cultural institutions. The crisis is everywhere, and it’s happening now.
“Together we will stop the harm, ending fossil fuel use, excessive extraction, consumption and waste. We will repair nature – restoring biodiversity loss and protecting our only home. And to do it we must work together to build a new democracy that gives people a say. A shared dialogue that values and celebrates difference – a new model that is just and fair – built on love, care and kindness.”
“On September 10th we begin to build the mass movement our world now needs.”
Notes to editors
[3] https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/world-61889523
[4] https://unric.org/en/guterres-at-stockholm50-end-the-suicidal-war-against-nature/
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:
- Government must tell the truth by declaring a climate and ecological emergency, working with other institutions to communicate the urgency for change.
- Government must act now to halt biodiversity loss and reduce greenhouse gas emissions to net zero by 2025.
- 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 the XR fundraiser!