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• As thousands around the globe join the Global Youth Strikes, Extinction Rebellion UK expresses gratitude and solidarity with all the strikers demanding action on the climate crisis
• XR Universities and Families groups join the strikes in London holding kids’ spaces, teach-ins and performances

From 11:30am today, hundreds of thousands of children will join the Global Youth Strike in cities around the globe. The protests open a momentous week – as the emergency UN Climate Summit begins in New York City on Monday – of global climate strikes calling on governments to take immediate action on the climate and ecological emergency. 

Extinction Rebellion UK stands in solidarity with all those striking in cities and towns around the world and feels honoured to be standing alongside you during these urgent times. To witness the fierce compassion and motivation of the young has been a galvanising force to action and we want to thank all of you for inspiring us day after day. 

Caspar Hughes, 48, Extinction Rebellion activist and father of School Striker, Max, 12, says: “Parents have left their children to clear up the Climate and Ecological Crisis they have created. The youth should be out partying rather the protesting.”

Many Extinction Rebellion activists will be joining the strikes in London and holding their own actions and performances in support. Some of them are:

Singing to support the Global Youth Strike – 2.30pm Victoria Tower Gardens, London

The Global Climate Strike will feature the voices of young climate change activists who will gather to sing “SOS From the Kids,” a song inspired and co-written by Simeon, a 12-year old UK school boy. The group has received praise from Sir David Attenbourough who wrote to thank them for “all they are doing to tackle the (climate) problem”. 

The children’s choir will include activists from a string of UK climate groups — many of which didn’t exist a year ago — including Youth Strike 4 Climate UK, UK Student Climate Network, Extinction Rebellion Kids, Extinction Rebellion Families, Parents for Future and Mothers Rise Up. Like many of today’s young climate activists, the children’s song has a simple message for adults: ‘The time to act is now and we know you can do better’. 

Song co-author Simeon says of the song and the planned protests: “Lots of people are trying to change the way they live but we need to all come together to make big changes. That is why we wrote the song and why I’ll be marching and singing at the Global Strike in London.”

Strand the Strand – 10am Strand Campus, King’s College London

Join XR Universities on Earth Strike Day as they claim the streets outside King’s College London to create an eco-pedagogy centred educational reform for global justice. This is part of XR Universities’ wider Freshers Week Rebellion, a nationwide push for student action and outreach. All our welcome to join as they celebrate the worth of all forms of learning and education we currently lack. Expect a day of open interesting talks, teach-ins, discussions, workshops, art and music on climate change, sustainability, climate justice and how these issues intersects across all disciplines and industries.  

Connor Newson, 24, Extinction Rebellion activist, said: “The need for educational reform is critical. Through today’s event we are taking matters into our own hands. We are no longer satisfied by asking for change, today we are creating and demonstrating the reform we want to see and acting as an example for educational institutions to take notice and follow suit. We stand in solidarity with the youth strikers. We are rewriting our reality to take back control over our future.”

Kids’ Space – 11am-3.30pm Victoria Tower Gardens, London

UKSCN, Parents for Future, XR Families and Mothers Rise Up are collaborating on a young children and families area. Join us for a fun day of action. There will be a range of activities, including circus workshops, banner making, puppetry, a children’s assembly, singing and facepaint. You can drop in at any point during the strike or stay for the whole day!

More ordinary people than ever before are joining climate movements around the world to raise the alarm about the climate and ecological emergency that’s unravelling around us. As the school strikers continue to show leadership on this issue and demand their voices be heard, the Global Climate Strike also begins today for one week, where millions are expected to walk out of their jobs and homes and join the strikers in united protest. [1]

Greta Thunberg said in January of this year at the World Economic Forum in Davos, “I want you to act as if the house is on fire, because it is.” It is time we all took inspiration from the school strikers and take action on this emergency. [2]

The International Rebellion begins in cities around the world on 7 October. Join us. [3]

Notes to Editors:

1. https://globalclimatestrike.net/
2. https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2019/jan/25/our-house-is-on-fire-greta-thunberg16-urges-leaders-to-act-on-climate
3. https://rebellion.earth/international-rebellion/

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.