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4 Step Escalation Plan

THE VISION

Imagine a plan to make sure the interests of people and nature are taken into careful consideration in all decisions. How might our society look if none were left behind, as we transition together to a healthier, fairer society?

We have seen corporate offices and government buildings occupied all over the country in recent years, including with the simple demand to follow the recommendations of a local community assembly on issues that are important to us.

Community assemblies are a great way to bring people together, bridging divides and laying out real steps towards fair and inclusive transformation. They are a part of making our communities more resilient and bringing us closer to community influencers. Without effective community decision-making, there can be no just transition; assemblies for the people, by the people help shifts in power.

We know the voices of local communities are systematically ignored or purposefully polarised and that things are getting worse. That’s why we need stronger communities and regular assemblies everywhere to make sure we are all heard in respectful, inclusive and effective ways.

The XR Assemblies Escalation group believe that:

DEMOCRATIC ASSEMBLIES + DIRECT ACTION = FAIR SOLUTIONS EVERYWHERE

and that there is another way to bring about change.

A SIMPLE 5-STEP PLAN

  1. Research:
  • Gather organising group.
  • Look outside your bubble and make local alliances.
  • Choose a local issue together.
  • Get out on the street doing outreach.
  • Ask your community what they care about and tell them what you are doing.
  • Find out which relevant authority/ies* has/have power over that issue.
  1. Prepare:
  • Find your accessible assembly venue. HINT: Ideally outside or near your relevant authority.
  • Plan an event
  • Publicise and promote everywhere.
  • Get people signed up for it.
  • Invite relevant decision-makers**. Bring food and make it a great event for everyone. Act: Run your assembly. Publish the results and take them to your relevant authority. Demand a response; demand assemblies. Give them a deadline (NB make it realistic enough for you to galvanise others to join in).
  1. Occupy:
  • If your target says "Yes", celebrate!
  • If they say no:
    • invite everyone involved to occupy the authority or company building on a given date. Invite your local media,
    • invite your nan and neighbours!
    • Rebel!
    • Repeat!
  1. Escalate:
  • Take your assembly results to your MP.
  • Show them what your community is doing and what it wants.
  • Tell your MP that their constituents want this form of democracy in Westminster
  • Explain that you want a Citizens' Assembly on Climate and Ecological Justice now as a first step towards a better form of democracy.
  • Tell them that there will be no fair solutions to our crises without fixing our broken politics everywhere.

MORE INFO & SUPPORT

As of September 15th 2023, over twenty local groups have already signed up to run community assemblies. This escalation plan is based on a successful action by the Cornwall Climate Coalition, who are showing what is possible with collaboration. With some tailoring to the realities of specific authorities, there is no reason to believe their example can’t work elsewhere. This is a direct action campaign to build community resilience and elevate our Third Demand to the scale of UK-wide conversations, sowing the seed at the grassroots level for democratic change and a Citizens Assembly on Climate and Ecological Justice.

Community assemblies provide an opportunity to reach out to and build alliances with local community organisations; this will give local groups a more powerful voice and help to include a more diverse range of people and viewpoints. We are stronger together and unity does not mean uniformity. It is vital that local groups are prepared to extend their comfort zones, listen to the voices of other community groups and ensure that projects worked on together are done in the spirit of cooperation and mutual aid. Adapt, unite, build together!

Hear about the Cornwall success here. Watch this video about community assemblies. Community Assembly Resources on the Rebel Toolkit Tell the movement about your assembly! Local Alliance Building Guidance Community Assembly Telegram Group for support, questions and networking.

Join the group & get in touch - the Community Assemblies team is here to help every step of the way. Email: communityassemblies@extinctionrebellion.uk

  • Relevant authority: Depending upon the local issue that you have identified and the structure of government in your area, the authority that has relevant powers may be your county or borough council, your metropolitan authority (e.g. in London that would be the Great London Authority or the London Assembly), devolved authority (e.g. Welsh Assembly), or even Westminster.

** Relevant decision-makers: These are the people with the power to make decisions in your area. So they could be councillors sitting on your county or borough council, the metropolitan authorities, members of the devolved authority, or your local MP. Do invite them! We want radical inclusivity, so get them onboard. If they say no, at least you know where you stand!

COMMUNITY ASSEMBLIES ESCALATION PLAN

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