Design Elements
The long list of elements to include in your action design. See the index above for inspiration.
- Activities for Children
- Banner Drop
- Banners, Placards, Leaflets
- Bird Skeleton Making Guide
- Black Smoke
- Burning Ballroom
- Canary in the coalmine
- Chalk for the Planet
- Climate Crisis Quiz
- Climate Dildo by Rainbow Rebellion
- Climate Theatre Show
- CORPRATS
- Crime Scenes
- Delaying tactics
- Die In
- Dirty Greenwashing lines
- Dirty Scrubbers
- Discobedience
- Fake Coal
- Fake Historical Plaques
- Fake Newspapers
- Fake Oil Recipe
- Laughtivism - Clowning
- Mock Lock On
- Occupations
- Paint the Targets - Chalk Spray
- Paper Boats
- Parliament of Owls
- Pram Rebellion
- Rebellion of One
- Reverse Graffiti
- Safely stop a large truck or fuel tanker
- TROJAN Fish/caterpillar or other animal ?
- Vegetable Costumes
- Wake up Rise up
- We love Tree Huggers
- Yarn Bombing
Activities for Children
Idea for activities
Letter Writing to activists in prison: Create some letter writing templates for children that include their name, how old they are and why they are inspired by the activsit.
Block printing animals: Get some animal block prints and colourful inks and help the children print some designs on the children’s clothes. This could get messy and the children may need a bit of help to get the best print, so it needs to be supervised.
Origami: Get some origami paper and find some animal origami templates of animals that are endangered. This activity is more suited to older children due to the complicated folding instructions.
Lego rebellion: Create a lego copy of a selected XR action that inspired you. This activity is more suited to older children because they may need to focus on making the lego look similar to the photo.
Banner Drop
Banner Drop Briefing
Choosing the right location for your banner drop
When selecting the location where you will organize the banner drop, try to find a place that is:-
- Visible
- Accessible to the activists who will drop the banner
- 'Instagram-able' (should look nice/impressive on photos and videos)
- Safe.
Think about locations with high footfall and traffic. Banners will be dropped on the Friday morning - perhaps in locations where they may remain up for the week or longer.
Recce your location in advance at the time you wish to install and ensure it is safe to position a banner there.
If planning on installing your banner on a bridge over a road - depending on the type of banner you are using please ensure you have a safer Plan B site in mind if the wind is unsafe at your original location. Don't forget to reinforce all of the mounting holes in the banner fabric to tie your rope / zip ties to. You'd be surprised how easy a banner can rip once it's hung and the wind starts blowing. All it takes is extra stitching or clear duct-tape on the reverse.
If installing on road bridges consider the main direction of the traffic, for example around London, banners could be sited above arriving bound carriageways in the early morning as the public leave enter London for work.
Briefing
Before the action can start, plan how many people you will need to hold / install the banner, and where each of them should stand / access the site. During COVID-19, these people should be in a bubble, and perhaps using their daily exercise to install the banner. Please see legal info below.
Ensure that people are prepared to talk to the police / security / public / press should they arrive and check the government website for guidelines during lockdown in advance of the action day.
Shifts - consider staying besides your banner so it does not get stolen and you can do something if there’s a risk of it being damaged by the wind. Utilise this time for your daily exercise by the banner! Also consider moving your banner to another location to get more than one shot for social media, for instance if you have a site like an incinerator in your area you could do a shoot in front of it and then take your banner to a road bridge. If you have a strong team you can take your banner on a tour and leave it at a site where it gets most public views for an extended amount of time.
Installation
Here’s a link to a handy instructional video for installing on motorway bridges
A team of 3 - 4 is best for larger heavier banners. For a 10m mesh banner you will need 5-6 people.
Vinyl banners should be rolled and mesh banners should be rolled from either end to the middle to make a scroll. On a 10m mesh banner you should fix the centre of the banner first and then roll out on both sides, fixing as you go.(see video above).
If installing above a road, wait for a gap in the traffic so that drivers aren’t distracted by the installation. If the location is busy, consider installing very early in the morning. Be aware that wind increases significantly as large trucks pass under the bridge.
Stay beside your banner so it does not get stolen and you can do something if there’s a risk of it being damaged by the wind.
If you’re not 110% sure it will be safe, hang the banner somewhere else.
Use heavy duty plastic zip-ties and install the banner on the inside of the railings ensuring it is attached along the entire length of the top edge (mounting holes should be no more than 50cm apart for vinyl banners and 1m apart for mesh banners.) Wait for a gap in the traffic and flip the banner over. Fix the remaining edges of the banner in place.
Pedestrian footbridges are easier and safer than road bridges (especially if cycling to location).
Knots. If you don’t want to use plastic zip ties, either get someone experienced with climbing or sailing knots or go online and learn a few basic knots such as a figure of 8, bowline and round-turn with two half-hitches. Practice somewhere safe first.
- Round turn and two half-hitches (for tying onto a pole or bar) instructions
- Bowline instructions
- 1 Figure of 8 loop (takes more rope, but easier than the bowline) instructions
Zip Ties are quicker and easier for novices - ensure they are heavy duty plastic zip-ties (you can get reusable ones).
Safety
- If you are hanging your banner above a road on a bridge, safety is the highest consideration. If you’re not 110% sure it will be safe, hang the banner somewhere else.
- Ensure all edges of the banner are fixed in place with secure fixings.
- Material strength. Whatever your banner is made from, be sure it is strong enough not to rip in the wind and that attachment points are also strong.
- If installing above a road avoid using padlocks or carabiners which could potentially be dropped. Mesh banners do not need weights when hung from road bridges.
- At the very least tie part of the banner on before you put it on the outside of the bridge. Get the knots at the top of the banner tied with some slack while the banner is sitting safely on the ground at your feet. That way if anything goes wrong or you need a rest, you’re not stuck trying to hold the banner so it doesn’t fall. Again, practice this somewhere safe.
- If the site allows, ideally install all the top fixings along the length of the banner on the inside of the railing and then flip the banner over to the outside. Ensure the fixings can easily take the weight of the banner and are not in a position that they will rub and wear in high winds.
- Fix the rest of the banner in place, ensuring all edges are secure.
- Wind on motorway bridges can be significant and increases as large vehicles pass underneath. If this makes fixing the banner difficult or you think it might rip, have a backup location in mind. Possibly on some railings besides a road, at ground level.
Pack-down
Ensure that you use the same levels of safety when you remove your banner as you did when you installed it. If your banner is installed above a road, wait for a gap in the traffic to remove it - making sure nothing can fall into the road from the bridge.
Here’s a link to a handy instructional video
Legal Information
In terms of potential criminal offences that could be committed by people involved in a Banner Drop action, there appear to be two potential ones that the police have used at protests involving banners in the recent past.
The first is:
Section 22A Road Traffic Act 1988 - Causing Danger to Road Users. The relevant part of this piece of legislation is:
(1) A person is guilty of an offence if he intentionally and without lawful authority or reasonable cause -
(a) causes anything to be on or over a road, in such circumstances that it would be obvious to a reasonable person that to do so would be dangerous.
It goes on to define dangerous: “dangerous” refers to danger either of injury to any person while on or near a road, or of serious damage to property on or near a road; and in determining for the purposes of that subsection what would be obvious to a reasonable person in a particular case, regard shall be had not only to the circumstances of which he could be expected to be aware but also to any circumstances shown to have been within the knowledge of the accused.
So, the key here is to make 110% sure that there is no chance of the action being ‘dangerous’. It seems pretty clear that if the banner drop is done safely, as illustrated in the previous sections, there would be no offence committed under this section of the Act. This is an either way offence, so will depend massively on where it is tried (magistrates or crown court). There is a chance of prison time for this (7yrs if tried in crown court).
The second is Criminal Damage:
Criminal Damage is the “deliberate or reckless damage” of property without lawful excuse. The damage does not have to be permanent – people have been accused of this offense after using chalk on paving stones. It includes interfering with property in a manner that causes loss, which could include loss of profit (e.g. by setting off a fire alarm). Defence can often hinge on the ‘lawful excuse’ aspect of this offence. This offence is divided into two: Damage below or above £5,000.
If value of damage is under £5,000 Sentencing starting point: conditional discharge and compensation order (i.e. you may be asked to pay back the costs of cleaning and repair), tried in a Magistrates Court. Maximum sentence: custodial sentence of up to 3 months, £2,500 fine
If value of damage is over £5,000 Sentencing starting point: a suspended sentence* and compensation order, tried in either a Magistrates Court or Crown Court. Maximum sentence when tried in Magistrates Court:
£5,000 fine and six month custodial sentence. Maximum sentence when tried in Crown Court: custodial sentence of up to 10 years.
*A suspended prison sentence is the term given to a prison sentence imposed by the court, and then suspended (i.e. ‘delayed’). The court may decide to delay the prison sentence to allow the defendant a period of probation, or to undertake treatment for an addiction, or to meet conditions in the community. If the defendant breaches the terms of the suspended sentence, or commits another offence, they are likely to be sent to prison to serve the original prison term imposed.
Having items with intent to cause Criminal Damage
Activists found on their way to an action with bolt-croppers have been charged with having items with intent to cause Criminal Damage. The most ridiculous arrests we’ve seen for this were for having permanent markers!
In simple terms it is an unlawful act which interferes with the lives, comfort, property or common rights of the general public. In practice, it appears to be the fallback legislation that the police use if they can’t think of anything else to use to deal with issues!
All those involved with the banner drop are advised to have completed a Know Your Rights training, understand and adhere to the principle of non-violent direct action, and can seek further information and advice through Green and Black Cross
Example Children's banner drop
The Kidzania indoor kids city was targeted by children protesting against outdated job opportunities sponsored by British Airways and Shell, as they loudly demanded to choose their own futures.
Banners, Placards, Leaflets
Bird Skeleton Making Guide
As the Climate & Ecological crisis deepens around the world our beautiful feathered friends are dwindling in numbers. Join us in making a skeleton model of an endangered bird, using (mainly) recycled materials from your lock-down household. Exploring the anatomy of a creature and how it is structured can bring us closer to understanding the life around us we are losing, and closer to ourselves. It is a journey which invites focus and accuracy, connection and reflection. The birds which we create can hang from our living room ceilings or be turned into animated puppets to bring out when we next fly together in the street.
1. Why a bird skeleton?
Momento Mori appropriate to our current coronavirus situation.
This activity can be done by anyone with no previous experience, it helps to keep the mind calm and focused, gives an uplifting visual image, a symbol of liberation and raises awareness of particular Red list bird species. These are lots of important messages plus beautiful images for social media shares.
In the future: audiovisual immersive performances using shadows of skeletons.
2. Who can do it?
Anyone! It takes some time and patience but is rewarding, if you’ve never made objects before and are clumsy or if you’re a pro-sculptor.
You can choose to make a full bird skeleton or a paper one. For example, there's a little paper crow.
This excellent link from Dorling Kindersling ‘Inside a Bird’ shows simply what a bird skeleton looks like.
3. Which bird species
We have listed endangered species at the end of this document. Species need to be easily identifiable and have clearly distinguishing features, eg particular types of beaks and feet. For example: Puffin, White-Tailed Eagle
4. How big and how detailed?
Life size models have the best visual impact & fits the skeleton group ethos. Technically it’s easier to make medium and larger birds, ranging from Puffins (wingspan up to 63cm & body size 30cm including feathers) to Wandering albatross (wingspan up to 3.5m and body size up to 135cm including feathers)
It needs to work at a distance and cast an interesting shadow
Ribs, breast bone, vertebrae need to be stylised because the bones are so fiddly
Skull, legs & claws: realistic and detailed. Eye catching and very recognisable in images
Wings: I think that bones alone are probably ok, no need for feathers. Wing bones likely to bend and break if flying, especially at flapping-rod contact points - will need internal structure - wire?
Top part of the mandible (beak) is attached to the skull, which makes it easier to construct strongly - only the bottom mandible moves (same as people etc). Unusually some birds eg cormorants are the other way around so it’s easier for them to catch fish.
5. What to make it with
Cheap, easily accessible materials found in your home.
Materials List >
- Newspaper
- Loo roll of course!
- Wire
- Glue / paper mache glue
- White paint (acrylic works well or xx)
- Wire coat hangers or similar strength eg garden wire
- Main skelly v strong, use coat hangers
- Milk/oatley carton lid hole perfect for eyes of fish skeleton also maybe also birds
- Stick with masking tape, sticky tape, modelling paper
- Rolled paper tech (see skelly fb page)
- Constructions must dry fully before any paint applied
Must be waterproof - varnished in the end.
Recycled stuff needs to be primed so the paint won't flake off.
6. Flapping/ talking / calling / singing?
It would be great if they fly: simple rod-puppet technology to flap wings? Just flapping the model up and down might be ok for little kiddies' basic paper cut out birds.
Advanced models could talk perhaps - how big does a skull need to be to house servos etc to move the bottom part of a beak up and down for mobile controlled conversations.
Musician Sam Lee made this soundtrack of birdsong with the RSPB. We could make a sound track like at Chris Packham's dawn chorus on everyone's phone used outside Downing St at the demo a couple of years ago. Best if species specific more interesting, research would engage people. eg alarm calls, contact calls, songs
Lists of Bird Species
RSPB species at risk - list of Birds of Conservation Concern 4 (BoCC 4)
accessed online accessed online 29 march 2020
UK species non-birders are likely to have heard of:
- White-tailed eagle
- Hen harrier
- Lapwing
- Curlew
- Puffin (quite small)
- Turtle dove also on IUCN red list (too small))
- Cuckoo
- Starling (too small?)
- Nightingale (too small?)
- Skylark (too small?)
List of Vulnerable birds from wiki
accessed online 28 mar 2020
Types of larger species non-birders are likely to have heard of:
- Wandering albatross
- Black crowned crane
- Great bustard
- Salmon-crested cockatoo
- Hyacinth macaw
- African grey parrot (too small?
- Ascension frigatebird
- Shoebill
- Dalmatian pelican
- Great spotted kiwi
- Great hornbill
- Beaudouin's snake eagle
- Snowy owl
- White-tailed hummingbird (probably too small to make)
- Channel-billed toucan
- Andean flamingo
Background information
Birds of Conservation Concern 4 has placed more species onto the Red list than ever before.
- Three species have moved to the list of former breeders.
- The wryneck is the first once-widespread species to have been lost as a breeding bird from the UK in nearly 200 years.
- Farmland birds are still a major concern. Twelve farmland species remain on the Red list and some, such as the turtle dove, are continuing to decline alarmingly.
- There are more birds of woodland on the Red list than of any other habitat. The woodcock, nightingale and pied flycatcher are the latest additions.
- The largest growth in the Red list was in upland species, with five new species including the curlew and dotterel.
- There is cause for concern for our breeding seabirds with the addition of puffin, kittiwake and shag to the Red list. In global terms they are amongst the UK’s most important birdlife.
- The number of long-distance migrants on the Red list, particularly those that winter in sub-Saharan Africa and more specifically in the humid tropics, continues to grow. Whinchat and pied flycatcher joined the cuckoo and wood warbler on the Red list.
- Climate change may be having a negative impact upon some of our Red-listed birds, disrupting marine food chains for seabirds, moving the suitable climate space for northern breeders out of the UK, and affecting migrants throughout their flyways.
- There is some cause for hope, as the review demonstrates that conservation can work if properly targeted and funded. Two species, the bittern and nightjar, have moved from Red to Amber thanks to the creation and management of suitable habitat, stimulated by species action plans.
- A net increase in the Green list of 14 species is also good news, a consequence of the eight species moving to Amber or Red being outnumbered by 22 species moving from Amber to Green. Nine of the moves to Green were due to changes in the assessment process, but 13 were genuine improvements in status.
The full details of this assessment can be found in Eaton MA, Aebischer NJ, Brown AF, Hearn RD, Lock L, Musgrove AJ, Noble DG, Stroud DA and Gregory RD (2015) Birds of Conservation Concern 4: the population status of birds in the United Kingdom, Channel Islands and Isle of Man. British Birds 108, 708–746. Available online here
By Claire McCormack & Kat Brendel
Black Smoke
Black smoke – use black smoke grenades liberally! They work excellently with the CUT THE TIES branding and ensure your protest is seen far and wide.
Burning Ballroom
Ballroom Users Manual
DIY Burning Ballroom guide
Burning Ballroom video - watch to the end
There is a telegram group - but needs an invite link to be created by an admin
Canary in the coalmine
Make a load of canaries similar method to owl template / dress as human canary make a giant canary gather with groups associated with clean air / end fossil fuels etc - play canary bird song - make some fake coal carry on site in sacks - people in black suits throw coal in front of canaries - let off black smoke flare - canaries fall to the ground as a die - birdsong fades to silence. Can be used for end fossil fuels outside specific associated locations.
Chalk for the Planet
Grab some colourful chalks and draw images or write messages about the climate crisis.
Chalking can be classed as criminal damage in some cases. Please use your discretion about where you plan this activity. Usually, you get a warning and are told not to do it again
Image from : Tgordievskaya / Getty Images
Climate Crisis Quiz
This interactive quiz is designed to engage the public in thinking about the climate and ecological crisis and then taking action.
If designed to be used online via social media posts or perhaps suggesting that rebels add it to their email signatures.
BUT
- you could use printed paper versions as part of outreach at in-person events.
- you could craft a bigger version for people to interact with
- You could run it like a pub quiz with teams, either in-person or in zoom meetings.
Contact the Crisis Quiz team for help or if you would like a personalised versions of the quiz creating with different sets of questions / answers.
Climate Dildo by Rainbow Rebellion
Rainbow Rebellion created a papier mache climate dildo.
It is fully transportable and on wheels, so it can be moved around a protest very easily. We know that climate wrecking companies are trying to sponsor and involve themselves in LGBTQIA+ events such as Pride In London and the LGBT Awards. This prop is perfect for actions where you might need a bit of playful humour. If you are near London, you could contact the Arts Factory to borrow this prop or make your own version.
Climate Theatre Show
Make your own theatre production with puppets or the children as actors. This could involve climate ‘villains’ and some interactive elements where the audience have to make choices to influence the play. The scale of this is up to you - this could be something small you could organise inside a climate wrecking project with a small kids theatre set or a BIG production with lots of planning, costumes and rehearsals.
Image from: Pixabay
CORPRATS
CorpRats are a pantomime mirror designed to reflect the ugliness and cruelty of putting profit over planet back onto the those who chase money at the expense of a sustainable planet, over the health of people, over the health of ecosystems.
The CorpRats are personification of the system and how it self-sustains, there is no global conspiracy of bankers, instead we have a culture that praises/reinforces greed, cunning, short termism and hoarders at the expense of a sustainable future.
When Being a CorpRat
- The CorpRats own the Media
- The CorpRats own the Government
- The CorpRats own your dreams
- The CorpRats bribe, corrupt, pollute and kill
Yet the CorpRats are what society aspires to be, Scrooge has taught us nothing!
So revel in your worst selves, no truth will hold you to account. You will always win, you cannot be cancelled, money conquers all!
The original narrative of the CorpRats is: sell gas, sell coal, sell oil, for the climate crises effects the poor. And when the poor come for us, we sell Walls, we sell Guns, and Bombs.
For Dirty Water
The CorpRats are destroying our waterways because of their corporate greed, they don’t care about the loss of biodiversity or the hazards to human health and mental wellbeing of the destruction of our natural environment.
Roles
- Corprat - to be loud, scene stealing, walking egos
- Unpaid Interns - to carry props, to take photos and to be bullied by the CorpRats
A picture tells a millions words
Whilst it is the role of the CorpRats to entertain the protestors and have bankers/etc question who they are. It is the photo that will live on.
Stay in Character,even when walking around and not engaging with people if you have a speech bubble up and angled right, then someone is going to get a great photo.
Always be on the look out for the iconic shot
- Decide on the narrative prior to the action
- What to have in the background
- If you want the speech bubbles a certain way/order
- What props you want in shot (aka massive pile of sh*t)
Once you have a shot you think will work, if you need to attract photographers let off a smoke flares.
Environment
The police/judiciary/the infrastructure are all yours, make it clear. You can give the illusion of giving orders to the police, so as to highlight them being the puppets of the natural environment-destroying institutions. Give them Praise, bribes and promises of recognition.
Protestors
You are not there to attack the protesters, but to highlight the truth of their actions. There is no calling them jobless, instead praise the plebs for paying their taxes to fund the police, who will spend the day protecting the CorpRat assets. Cause after all there would be no police if they relied on the CorpRats to pay any taxes.
This has the double effect of highlighting to passersby the truth of the situation and also demoralising the police who will spend the day stood around protecting the assets of millionaires whilst people who care about the future are paying their taxes whilst also doing the protest.
Making boasts about how the media are portraying activists as jobless scroungers and doing what you told them, and it's much easier to gang up on people once they are vilified in the press. Just look at the refugees.
There are plenty of crimes you can boast about as a CorpRat but be thanking the police for arresting protestors.
For Dirty Water
“WHO CARES IF WE PUMP SHIT INTO THE RIVER?” ONLY THE IDIOTS THAT WANT TO SWIM IN IT, I PREFER TO FLY TO SOMEWHERE NICE FOR A SWIM..
Naming convention
By having a character name it is a useful hook for remembering your persona. We have previously gone with such names as
- Genocide
- Ecocide
- Greed
- Patriachy
- Exploitation
Props
- Specific Action Prop (We have had the energy charter, Media Blackout banner, a Rocket Launcher/Arms Fair leaflets)
- Speech bubbles
- Briefcases
- Lots of Brown Envelopes with ££££ on them, and prop money sticking out
- Big Piles of shi*t
Important
Speciesism - by Dr. Steve Cooke, Associate Professor of Political Theory, University of Leicester.
Nonhuman animals suffer serious and systematic harms at the hands of humans. Part of the reason for this is that their moral status is downplayed or not recognised.
Something that’s both a symptom of way nonhuman animals are valued, and sometimes a cause of it, is that of names animal species are used pejoratively. Calling someone a cow, a chicken, or a raassociatt is a way of drawing upon negative attitudes associated with that animal. These insults can serve both to dehumanise the people they’re aimed at, and to reinforce negative views of the animals they reference.
Obviously, a small group of activists drawing upon negative associations of rats to shine a light on corporate practices is vanishingly unlikely to contribute in any meaningful way to harms to other species. This is especially true given the environmental nature of the protests. Any harms would be tiny in comparison with those done by your targets, and very likely to be outweighed by good achieved. However, it is worth keeping in mind, particularly when you think of the kinds of associations you want people to draw from your performances. Perhaps focus on attributes that are good for rats, but not what we want in corporations: stealthy, cunning, hoarders, sneaky, etc. rather than drawing upon other common associations: untrustworthiness, dirtiness, vermin etc.
Crime Scenes
Crime scenes – another great theatrical way to get your message across. Best used for targets who get a high footfall of people passing your protest.
Delaying tactics
Delaying tactics - methods that require specialist police teams e.g. height removal, among others.
Die In
A die-in is a peaceful, non-violent protest wherein participants lie on the ground for a specified amount of time: a solemn act that symbolises the kind of future we face without government action on the climate crisis.
This can be 🌶️ or not depending on the location.
Following the success of the mass die in at The Big One, consider using this in your action. It can be very powerful especially if used after a lot of noise has been made. The contrast of noise to silence encapsulates the issue and is a theatrical way to show the status quo (the noise) and what happens will happen if we don’t affect change (we die!). Security and police are unsure what to do with a group of rebels lying on the floor, which could help to prolong your action.
Image from : The Guardian
Dirty Greenwashing lines
Dirty Greenwashing lines – can work well with the Dirty Scrubbers but also on their own as an easily recognisable way of highlighting greenwashing.
Dirty Scrubbers
For anyone wanting to perform DIRTY SCRUBBERS
How to be a Dirty Scrubber document
The dirty scrubbers are amoral, they add green-wash to hide the crimes of dirty business. They will ‘clean’ anything for money.
Dirty Scrubbers – are great for representing the greenwashing issue. Adds a level of theatre which makes your action more approachable for members of the public and gives them something to stay and watch for, rather than just walk by.
Discobedience
Discobedience is a flash mob action that can be done in a public place for maximum impact. “Stayin’ Alive” by the Bee Gees is commonly used, but it is up to you what song you choose. Instruction guide here
Fake Coal
Edible fake coal
Homemade Christmas Coal recipe
Versions that can be thrown safely
- Sponges and thick paint
- Chunks of scrap polystyrene. Paper mache. Pva. Paint (Gloss black will catch reflections)
Version to make larger lumps of coal
Take some recycling - plastic milk bottles, newspaper, card etc squish it altogether and bind with gaffa tape ( pref the eco variety ) cover the lump in recycled paper and paint with black paint mixed with pva - or if in a hurry and no time use black bin liners to cover the lumps -very light and cheap and recycled - can make small or large
Existing stock
There are also a lot of large chunks of fake coal in the warehouse available for use, contact Creative team
Fake Historical Plaques
This action is a clever play on plaques that show where famous people have lived. A similar design could be made out of cardboard and attached featuring the target of a local campaign.
This is unlikely to result in arrest if discreet and made with removeable materials
Fake Newspapers
This is a perfect example of how you can do a creative action with very simple props, such as chairs and tables.
Inspired by Suella Braverman’s outburst about the “Guardian reading, tofu eating wokerati” Animal Rising took this action in Trafalgar square in London. This location gives risk of arrest.
Here are some design ideas for newspapers for an action, we printed them off and glued them to large folded white card to look like a broadsheet.
Examples from the Dirty Water Campaign
Note these images have been generated from the PDF files and reduced in quality to display in Rebel Toolkit
Fake Oil Recipe
Fake oil – whether it’s sprayed, poured or used in as yet unthought up ways, fake oil is great for visuals. It’s a problem for the companies as well as they have to clear it up! USING FAKE OIL IS LIKELY TO GET YOU ARRESTED!
Laughtivism - Clowning
Laughtivism – Creating funny actions that poke fun at the target are a fantastic way to bring people onboard at an action. Laughtivism can be one of the most effective ways of protesting. The general public are often far more supportive of actions that focus on this rather than disruption or damage. These are also some of the most creative actions.
Here's a great TED talk about Laughtivism
Mock Lock On
Make a paper chain and mock on to something / use a cardboard tunnel to lock on cardboard padlocks.
This is a thought provoking way to protest the changes in law, which affect protesters.
You could experiment with this idea by using different materials such as knitting or kids toys
Occupations
Occupations – great for disrupting the target and the ability of employees to get to work, higher spice choice since the PCSC and Public Order Bills but for those wanting spice occupations are still a great choice.
Paint the Targets - Chalk Spray
Paint the targets – in a similar vein to Paint the Streets, cover your target in CUT THE TIES messaging, be it with stickers, spray paint (we encourage you to use chalk paint) or any other imaginative ways you can come up with. WARNING – THIS IS LIKELY TO BE CONSIDERED CRIMINAL DAMAGE AND ARRESTS ARE LIKELY
Paper Boats
This protest was outside The Home Office and was in support of migrant justice and climate refugees. A template was created and each boat contained a letter for Suella Braverman, the Home Secretary. The pink colour made it stand out and the amount of boats added to the dramatic effect.
Parliament of Owls
Flock of paper owls on sticks previously appeared at the biodiversity march at The Big One in April 2023.
They can be made at home or in group workshop.
Pram Rebellion
Action Doc: Pram Rebellion, Our Children's Future
Pram Rebellion in London Video
Optional - Flambe 🌶️ 🌶️
Rebellion of One
Rebellion of one – a solo rebel holding a protest at the chosen target. As simple as holding a placard and sitting in front of their main doors. Rebellions of one are very effective as the solo rebel is putting themselves in a vulnerable position, apparently without support and at the mercy of security guards, police etc. Essential to have a support crew in the background looking out for them.
Rebellion of One - The Preparation Pathway
Reverse Graffiti
Clean the streets in style and leave a design or message behind!
Here is a video we made earlier
Safely stop a large truck or fuel tanker
How to stop and ride a dinosaur 🦖
Action plan and guidance for Surfers, Barnacles, Spotters, Stoppers, Videographers on dinosaur hunting here on how to safely stop a fuel tanker for many hours (the no car method).
Examples
https://www.lbc.co.uk/news/olympian-arrested-oil-protest-extinction-rebellion-hyde-park/
TROJAN Fish/caterpillar or other animal ?
A large scale puppet/sculpture that can be made in sections and brought together for a March/protest or occupation. Can potentially also be stuffed full of flags/placards/tents for a surprise occupation EG: sections of the animal made in regional /central workshops using same method and bright on site to create large sculptural piece in line with whatever theme is current - dirty water /bio diversity / extinction
Vegetable Costumes
Protests in veg costumes were made popular at protests by Animal Rebellion. Who could ignore a group of people dancing dressed up as vegetables? This is a great way to get noticed and go viral quickly, just like Mr Broccoli (from Animal Rising). He managed to make it on Good Morning Britain because of his costume.
🌶️🌶️ Optional - Add spice by doing something to push the boundaries in your Veggie costume.
Wake up Rise up
Raising the alarm on climate emergency (could be expanded for a March/protest or next rebellion)
👁️ Rebels gather outside at specific time and location dressed in nightware , pyjamas, nighties, dressing gowns, night caps, etc carrying alarm clocks. Accompanied by Placards painted with alarm clocks (wakey wakey) and eyes ( open and closed/ awake/ asleep) on sticks 👁️ (easy to make and painted on cardboard or flags printed with XR eyes block) at specific time the alarm clocks will be wound up and ring sounding the alarm for people to wake up to climate crisis reminding them to Rise.
Action can be repeated over and over thro a March or static location - outside the 🌶️🌶️🌶️ for more spice choose more Spicey location eg 10 downing st / gov offices / council offices/ bbc etc and add domestic smoke alarms / ringing bells etc and smoke bombs to suggest house/ planet on fire followed by die in. Live Music /Sound track related to sleeping
We love Tree Huggers
In Response to kier stammers negative outburst “I hate tree huggers!” Turn up at location/march/action with a real or metaphorical representation of a tree. Make a Cardboard cut out of a tree to hug, carry a real tree branch /knitted tree / papier mache etc go crazy make a tree! 🎄 dress up as a tree and hug yourself! Accompanied by Placards with trees - sing about trees - poetry about trees music about trees -. Rallying speech from a tree hugger or green man/woman Hang out and hug your tree or March with your tree.
🌶️🌶️🌶️To add spice gather together a forest of tree huggers and plant yourselves outside kier stammers house/ Labour HQ /Labour conference in liverpool October 8-11th / DEFRA, etc and make some noise then chain yourselves together with crocheted leaves / ivy / daisies/ read poems let off green smoke flares.
Yarn Bombing
Yarn bombing is a fun creative project for all those who love to knit or crochet.
The possibilities are endless! This could be a great way to highlight certain aspects of your local campaigns, calling out local polluters.
You could also use your craftivism skills to make 3D versions of iconic XR actions or designs.
Get started by joining the Facebook group