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What emergency? | Extinction Rebellion in Numbers

Today, on what could be the hottest day on record in the UK, Extinction Rebellion would like to say a massive thank you to Greta Thunberg and The 1975 for their new music track – titled The 1975 – which we know will bring much needed attention to the climate and ecological emergency. As part of her involvement, Greta asked that the revenue generated from the track go to Extinction Rebellion. 

We say: “Greta you are an outstanding human. You were there when Extinction Rebellion launched back on Parliament Sq in London just nine months ago. Again and again you show your support in meaningful ways – from small kind acts to things like this. We salute you sister. “

“To the 1975s, we thank you massively for your rebellious contribution and promise to put this to good use. We’re loving your commitment to rebel for life with us. Music has the power to break through barriers, and right now we really need to break through some barriers if we are to face this emergency. We are currently heading towards 4 degrees of heating for the world.”

According to the BBC’s news yesterday, there is just 18 months to act on the global heating crisis and the loss of biodiversity that threatens to unravel the planetary web of life. 1 million species are at risk of extinction and human civilisation faces total collapse if radical changes to our socioeconomic system are not made now.

Greta Thunberg said: “I’m grateful to get the opportunity to get my message out to a broad new audience in a new way. I think it’s great that the 1975 is so strongly engaged in the climate crisis. We quickly need to get people in all branches of society to get involved. And this collaboration I think is something new.” 

Extinction Rebellion anticipates that this news from The 1975 and Greta will help contribute to a storm of civil disobedience as the movement prepares to support the Global Youth Strikes from 20 – 27 October and for its upcoming International Rebellion which begins Monday 7 October. 

Matthew Healy, lead singer tweeted: “Meeting @gretathunberg was such an inspiration. We (The 1975) are very proud to say that our income from this track will be pledged to @ExtinctionR”

Music Declares Emergency

Both The 1975 and their label Dirty Hit and Universal (Polydor) have signed Music Declares Emergency, pledging to making their work ecologically sustainable and regenerative, alongside hundreds of other industry leaders including Sony Music UK. [1].

It is estimated the overall greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions of the UK’s music industry at approximately 540,000 tonnes of CO₂ equivalent (t CO₂ e) per year—roughly equal to the annual emissions of 180,000 cars—close to three quarters of which come from live performances, including 43 % generated by audience travel alone [2].

Sarah Greenfield Clark, 36, of Extinction Rebellion said: “This is a welcome response to the climate & ecological crisis from individuals in the music industry. They have the capacity to bring this message to millions of people. It’s crucial for others to follow, using the platform’s they have, and Tell the Truth about the emergency we are in.”

LYRIC SAMPLES: 

• “Everything needs to change.”
• “You say that nothing in life is black or white. But that is a lie. A very dangerous lie.”
• “To do your best is no longer good enough. We must all do the seemingly impossible.”
• Yes, we need a system change rather than individual change. But you cannot have one without the other.”
• “We must acknowledge that we do not have the situation under control” 

Notes to Editors:

1. Music Declares Climate & Ecological Emergency: https://www.musicdeclares.net/
2. Journal of Cultural Economics. https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1088/1748-9326/5/1/014019/meta
3. Hundreds of citizens have begun to donate for an Autumn Rebellion:  https://chuffed.org/project/extinctionrebellion

More about Extinction Rebellion:

Extinction Rebellion’s top-line demands:

• Government must tell the truth by declaring a climate and ecological emergency, working with other institutions to communicate the urgency for change.

• The government must act now to halt biodiversity loss and reduce greenhouse gas emissions to net zero by 2025.
• The government must create and be led by the decisions of a Citizens’ Assembly on climate and ecological justice.

What emergency? Extinction Rebellion in Numbers

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 non-violent direct action are used to express our collective power.