Design Elements

The long list of elements to include in your action design. See the index above for inspiration.

Add a 'Polite Notice' to biased newspapers

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This 'POLITE NOTICE' (created by Bod can be printed out to be added to newspaper stands near you!

Download the pdf here

Banner Drop

Art Blockers header- blue background with black line drawings of materials used, with 'Art Blockers' in transparent yellow over the top

Get advice from experienced rebels about banner drops:

Join the Banner Drop Telegram group here

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:

Think about locations with high footfall and traffic. You will probably want to pick a location where the banner has a chance of staying up for a good amount of time and won't immediately be taken down (eg. if it is on private property with security guards).

Recce your location in advance at the time you wish to install and ensure it is safe to position a banner there. Safety concerns to think about are listed below.

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 drivers enter London for work.

Holding a 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.

Ensure that people are prepared to talk to the police / security / public / press should they arrive.

Shifts & using different locations

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.

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

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.

Zip Ties are quicker and easier for novices - ensure they are heavy duty plastic zip-ties (you can get reusable ones).

Safety

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.

The pack down instructions are the same as the set up ones- but backwards!

In terms of potential criminal offences that could be committed by people involved in a Banner Drop action, there appear to be two potential laws that the police have used at protests involving banners in the 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. 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:

If value of damage is over £5,000

*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!

By-laws

Banner droppers should also do some research about their intended location for placing the banner to check whether there are any local byelaws that apply. For example, dropping a banner from a bridge over the river Thames in London would contravene byelaws that apply to the river. There may be similar byelaws in place for particular bridges, so it is best to check.

Further advice and training

All those involved with banner drops 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

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.

They took action inside and outside the attraction, and delivered a letter to the company's CEO.

This action could be replicated at other family attractions that are sponsored by, or encourage children to ai for jobs in, destructive industries.

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Banners, Placards, Leaflets

Banners, placards and leaflets – a group of rebels can have quite an effect, especially to employees of the targets, by staging a low key protest holding banners and giving out leaflets to those entering and leaving the target’s building and conversing with them about the issue.

Bird Skeleton Making Guide

Join the group: XR Skeletons Rebellion

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 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.

bird-skeleton-1.jpg Wood grouse skeleton

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1. Why a bird skeleton?

Shared joy & happiness, fun, beautiful singly and as a group.

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.

3. Which bird species

We have listed endangered species here.

Ideally, the species you make should be easily identifiable and have clearly distinguishing features, eg particular types of beaks and feet. Good examples are puffins and white-tailed eagles.

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).

5. What to make it with

Cheap, easily accessible materials found in your home.

Materials List >

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.

Musician Sam Lee made this soundtrack of birdsong with the RSPB.

Lists of Bird Species at risk

British Trust for Ornithology- list of Birds of Conservation Concern

UK species non-birders are likely to have heard of:

List of Vulnerable birds from wiki (Global)

Types of larger species non-birders are likely to have heard of:

Background information

Birds of Conservation Concern 5 has placed more species onto the Red list than ever before.

Burning Ballroom

The idea for the Burning Ballroom is based on fiddling while Rome burns.

Kit

Banners

Patches - to pin on the dancers’ backs.

Roles - Politician, Police Chief, Media Mogul, Financier, Bureaucrat, Judge, Fossil Fuel Exec. Lobbyist.

Masks-

We used very simple ones, made out of thin white card, bit larger than face shaped, just with eye holes and nose flaps, and a bit of elastic stapled on. The main things seem to be that they’re all the same and blank.

Sound

You’ll need some kind of portable amp/ sound system, and the right leads/ adaptors to connect it to a phone output. It does need to be pretty loud to have impact outdoors.

Outreach

The Burning Ballroom makes a very good vehicle for outreach conversations, so have people- including the dancers- ready for engaging.

Briefing participants

Use the Ballroom Users Manual to brief participants.

Canary in the coalmine

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Canary costumes have been used as attention grabbing props in lots of protests, although they are obviously the most directly linked to actions targeting coal mining.

Ways to make the action more attention grabbing include:

Chalk for the Planet

Grab some colourful chalks and draw images or write messages about the climate crisis.

This is a great way to get children involved on the street- as them to draw the things they love the most about our planet. Their parents may want to get involved too, but whilst the kids are occupied you can talk more seriusly to the parents.


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

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 giant 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. We also know that marginalised communities (including the LGBTQIA+ community) will be hit harder by climate breakdown, and may face increased marginalisation by political moves to the right.

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.

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

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.

Roles
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 it is angled right, then someone is going to get a great photo.

Always be on the look out for the iconic shot

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.

Naming convention

By having a character name it is a useful hook for remembering your persona. We have previously gone with such names as:

Props

Using CorpRats 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.

“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.."

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 rat 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.

climate crime scene 2.PNG

The following props are useful:

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 spicy 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.

You can also combine your die-in with a Climate Crime Scene be covering up the rebels in white sheets.

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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.

Dirty-Scrubbers.jpeg

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A washing line makes a great addition to a Dirty Scrubbers action.

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.

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Instruction Video

Fake Coal

Fake coal is obviously a really useful prop for fossil fuel focused actions. Lots of different types have been made:

Edible fake coal

Homemade Christmas Coal recipe

Versions that can be thrown safely

Version to make larger lumps of coal

Take some recycling - plastic milk bottles, newspaper, card etc, squish it altogether and bind with gaffa tape. 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. This is a very light and cheap method.

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

Dirty Water have used plaques to great success- for more detailed info on making them, and digital templates, see links below.

See also:

Dirty Water Campaign- Blue Plaques for Nature

Dirty Water Campaign- Blue Plaques for MPs

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 meant a risk of arrest, but in general, this is a low spice action.

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

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!

Fake Crude Oil Recipe

Fire Extinguisher Conversion Guide

Flares

Flares – use flares liberally! Flares always make an eye catching picture and usually help increase the viewing of your images online!

Ensure you match your flare colour to the rest of the colours of the action- for example black ones work great with the Cut the Ties branding, and pink ones are perfect for the Upgrade Democracy branding, and blue ones are best for Dirty Water actions.

Laughtivism - Clowning

SeptemberRebellion_London_ChrisJerrey_03092020_020 (2).png

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

Lego Rebellion

Four images of lego people on a march, holding signs such as 'Climate Justice Now' and 'Burn Ognorance not Coal'

Lego Rebellion is full of inspiration for getting our point across in a fun way, that's also really engaging for children.

Kids (and adults!) might want to find a photo of their favourite action and then recreate it in Lego*. Make sure you have a few different pictures so you can add different elements of the action.

Here's another great example:

A lego swampy climbs a lego Marble Arch to hand a large XR banner. Lego police are standing at the bottom with their arms up in the air'

*other block based building games are available.

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.

Occupations take a lot of planning so check out the Action Planning guide.

Paint the Targets - Chalk Spray & Reverse Graffiti

Chalk Spray

Paint the targets – in a similar vein to Paint the Streets, cover your target in your action 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

Buy Chalk spray

Reverse Graffiti

Clean the streets in style and leave a design or message behind!

Paper Boats


Origami can be used to great effect to send messages to people in positions of power.

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.

Political Letter Writing

On this page: Letters and templates of letters which you can use to help you when you are writing to your MPs, Local Councillors, Mayors or the Prime Minister

Letter writing tips

Additional Suggestions For Lobbying MPs
Typical MP positions and suggested rebuttals

MP: The government’s current plans on climate change, to become carbon neutral by 2050, are ambitious enough to stop the climate crisis.

You: The government’s own Committee on Climate Change recently found these steps to be inadequate for tackling climate change. A 4 degrees rise in temperature, rather than a 1.5 degrees rise has been predicted, which would be devastating.

MP: Next year, the government’s 10-Point Plan will put £1 billion into insulating homes and buildings to make them more eco-friendly.

You: To bring all housing up to scratch and combat fuel poverty we need a 10-year programme, with much greater investment.

MP: The government is planning to create 600,000 heat pumps a year by 2028.

You: We need to fit at least 10 million heat pumps by 2030 to prevent climate disaster.

MP: The government has promised to quadruple offshore wind power.

You: The government has failed to address that onshore wind and solar power is being held back by a planning regime biased against it.

MP: The government is investing an extra £200 million in carbon capture projects.

You: Great, but this should not be used to supplement continuous use of fossil fuels. Even if we could capture all the carbon dioxide at the point of use (which we cannot at the moment), fossil fuel extraction still releases lots of greenhouse gases. The government needs to address this.

MP: The government is promoting more active travel, with an investment of £5 billion over 5 years.

You: Brilliant, but we are still far behind countries like the Netherlands and Denmark, and our current plans do not put enough money in. We should be spending £2 billion a year on cycling alone, and not relying on electric cars which still clog up our towns and create some carbon pollution through electricity, as well as air pollution through particulates.

MP: There are considerable benefits to the UK economy from coal and there is potential for the creation of many high-skilled jobs.

You: Science and the government’s own plans show that such things can be done with renewable energies like wind and solar too. Jobs and climate can go hand in hand, if the government wants them to.

MP: The government is investing in other forms of clean energy, like hydrogen and nuclear.

You: But the government has not addressed whether hydrogen will be produced from natural gas or not. The government’s commitment to invest £525 million in nuclear energy is both expensive and dangerous, compared to renewable energy, hydrogen, and batteries. Furthermore, the government has recently allowed a new coal plant to be built in Cumbria, which seriously undermines their commitment to clean energy.

MP: That coal plant in Cumbria reduces the amount of carbon in terms of taking coal to the steelworks.

You: But should our steelworks still be reliant on coal? The Executive Director for Economy and Infrastructure has said that "This would be expected to remain the case until more environmentally friendly methods of steel manufacture and transportation are developed to be commercially viable." That suggests that, rather than building a new coal plant, we should be developing more environmentally friendly methods of steel manufacture and transportation that are commercially viable, rather than opening a new plant to deal with short-term costs. This is sort of thinking is meant to be at the heart of current government policy regarding climate change.

MP: The coal plant in Cumbria was a local decision. The Housing Secretary may ‘call-in’ planning applications but only in situations where the application conflicts with national policy in significant ways.

You: Does this suggest that the government's plans to spearhead a green economy are not significant enough for national action? That is not the attitude I would expect from the government regarding this crisis, especially as you have already declared a climate emergency.

MP: The government has plans to support greener energy usage in the maritime and aviation industries.

You: This does nothing to deal with frequent fliers, who will need to be dealt with to meet the government’s own carbon reduction goals.

MP: The government plans to plant 30,000 hectares of trees every year.

You: This is half of the trees that are needed.

MP: The Climate & Nature Bill is unrealistic in its goals.

You: The bill’s goals are 100% realistic, and have been largely approved by the scientific community. There is the potential for a wartime level of mobilisation, certainly possible if governments around the world act now.

MP: The Climate & Nature Bill will be disruptive to the economy and society.

You: The disruption faced by human society from climate change is far above any short-term disruption from adopting the goals in this bill. Hurricanes, flooding, refugee crises, these are all issues which are already being felt by the impact of climate change and this will get much worse if the goals of the Climate and Nature Bill are not carried out now.

MP: The Climate & Nature Bill threatens the economy, putting many people who work in the energy sector out of a job.

You: Saving our planet could easily go in hand with getting people back to work by creating new jobs in the 'clean' energy sectors. Also, the economy will not matter so much if everyone on planet earth is dead.

MP: The idea of a Citizen’s Assembly is unnecessary and does not work.

You: The climate crisis will affect ordinary people so ordinary people deserve to have a say. Ordinary people can have a say on the right way forward via an advisory Citizens’ Assembly. A recent Climate Change Commission video presentation accompanying the release of the Sixth Carbon Budget Report (which can be found online) has argued that such a move would give the public a chance to express their views after being provided with sound information not available from other sources. This is nothing radical. Citizen’s Assemblies are a tried and tested means for governments around the world to hear the public consensus on certain controversial matters. They have already been used in the UK to decide on issues within the NHS, and in France a citizen’s assembly on climate change recently published its first formal report to great public approval. It was also used to help resolve the question of abortion legality in the Republic of Ireland. The public is clearly lacking confidence in the government’s actions on climate change, and consulting the people on this matter in an impartial way will resolve this.

Contacting MPs

Find your MPs contact details here.

Here's a list of all MP email addresses in one place.

Useful resources to inform your letters

Contacting difficult MPs

Some of us are in strong Tory seats or with MPs who have had very poor records on Climate. But that doesn’t mean we give up! If anything we fight harder for representation.

If you have made any progress with your difficult MPs please tell us what you did and how you did it! Contact Political Circle via Mattermost or email political@extinctionrebellion.uk

Top Tips

Make sure you have done your research and approach with a specific ask (eg. Support the Climate & Nature Bill or for them to take action against local sewage problems.)

Another ask may be to forward it to Ministers in relevant departments, such as the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial strategy (BEIS), Department for Transport (DfT), Department for Environemnt, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA), or meet with you to talk about it further.

Common reasons they may not be supportive:

Example Correspondence

Tips when talking about the Climate and Nature Bill

Make sure you include:

Critics of the Climate & Nature Bill may claim that the UK has recently held a Citizens’ Assembly (CA) – Climate Assembly UK – and there’s no need to hold another one. Don’t leave this unchallenged!

Climate Assembly UK, whilst recently giving an interim briefing about the post-COVID recovery with some positive findings, has no binding powers. In other words, it has no teeth. It also has the fixed objective of how to meet carbon net zero emissions by 2050.

In contrast, the CA proposed by the C&N Bill:

Is not constrained by a target date for carbon net zero, ensuring action is based on scientific urgency and not political viability. The proposed CA will consider how the UK ensures it does its fair share to avoid going over critical rises in global temperature. In essence, it will be answering these questions:

Examples of letters written to MPs about the Climate and Nature Bill

Note: These letters refer to the CEE Bill or the CE Bill. These are both previous titles of the Bill now known as the Climate and Nature Bill.

1- General email asking a local MP to support the Bill

Dear Mr Burghart,

The science is clear. The UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change is clear. Putting it into somewhat colourful language: the world is maxing out on its CO2 credit card and leaving it to future generations to pick up the escalating bill.

This country made commitments through the UN Paris Agreement to act to limit our CO2 production in order to make our contribution to keeping the rise in global temperature to below 2 degrees C, with an aim at below 1.5 degrees C. We agreed on the need for us to move faster than some other countries.

We are not meeting those commitments.

A Climate and Ecological Emergency Bill will be introduced to Parliament with the aim for us to live up to our commitments and to limit the damage to the world and to future generations of runaway climate heating.

I urge you to endorse and support this bill.

In making your decision on your support for this bill I ask you to: look beyond the horizon of the current government, look beyond the horizon of your career as a conservative MP, and look to the horizon of what the world will be like to live in for your children and their children, and so on. Thank you for taking the time to read this email and I look forward to hearing from you that you will support this bill.

Yours sincerely

XXX

2- Example email: Extreme weather, Carbon footprint and example of action taken in a news article.

Dear James Cleverly MP,

I write to ask you to support the CEE bill, I am one of your constituents..... and have been in contact with you about several matters during your time as my MP. We are consuming way too many resources for what the planet can provide and we are seeing the effects of global warming and more extreme weather in August along with 37 degrees for several days and now cold weather and rain for the bank holiday. I could list far more devastating impacts of how our western culture has wiped out species and habitats, but it’s too painful to provide examples, we need action on rectifying the damage. If we do not act with more swift and directed action we will be eaten up by nature. Therefore, I am asking you to support the CEE Bill, which includes passing the CEE Bill to ensure that:

Our entire carbon footprint is taken into account, including all of the emissions linked to the production and transport of goods from overseas that we consume in the UK. We don’t depend on technology (also known as NETs) to save the day as an excuse for inaction. We focus on nature as much as climate, protecting and conserving habitats in the UK and internationally on supply chains. Citizens are central to deciding how to move forward, in a Citizen's Assembly with real teeth.

I was so happy to read this newsletter (https://mailchi.mp/5f024edea73f/welcome-to-cens-newsletter?e=d0338c2bc0), filled with good news and real action on ways to help solve this crisis and restore faith in your party. But sadly you are not in it. When will you be?

Thanks and Regards

XXX

3- Example to Conservative MPs

Dear Mr Howell,

It is vitally important that you support the Climate and Ecological Emergency Bill, written in close partnership with, and backed by prominent scientists, lawyers and academics. This is a hugely important issue in the Henley constituency and many of us are extremely worried that nowhere near enough is being done about the increasing climate crisis. We need your support for the Bill. Your various additional governmental positions increase your ability to go down in history as helping create the change that we need and want.

The Bill will ensure the UK delivers the serious, emergency plan vital to do everything needed to halt critical rises in global temperatures and the subsequent increased devastating consequences, that we are already sadly witnessing globally, including in our constituency. The CEE bill would mean that the UK would have to take responsibility for its entire carbon footprint as well as actively conserving and restoring the natural world, and promoting green economic growth that is fully compatible with capitalism, as well as reducing the cost of the NHS by improving the population’s health. It will ensure the Government acts with urgency - as well as involving people from all walks of life in the process via a Citizens’ Assembly.

A new Alliance has launched to advance the Bill, backed by prominent scientists, lawyers, academics and activists including those who led the successful Climate Change Act campaign in 2008, as well as increasing numbers of MPs. Are you willing to represent Henley constituency by supporting the Bill? Plans are being made to introduce the Bill as soon as possible. If you do want to find out more information or support the bill you can get in touch with the CEE Bill Campaign at political@ceebill.uk, and/or see https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1PRO_OhRvRTYzf5JHM8os53wwQGtn37TT for further details.

Thank you for your time. Please research the facts and then support this vital bill. Sincerely,

4- Another example to Conservative MPs

Dear ZZZ,

It is incredibly vital that you look into and support the Climate and Ecological Emergency (CEE) Bill, contributed to by leading economists, climate and environmental scientists, lawyers and academics. This issue is hugely important to Henley constituency, with key information from leading scientists around the world as well as the University of Oxford. We are facing the 6th mass extinction including loss of species within our own constituency. Flooding has started to cause trouble in the area, as has ill-health from the air pollution, food insecurity from chaotic climate, and this is just the beginning if we do not act now. We need you to support the CEE Bill. You have held such a variety of governmental positions, which increases your ability to go down in history as someone prepared to do what is needed.

The CEE Bill will ensure the UK delivers a serious, emergency plan vital to do everything needed to halt critical rises in global temperatures and the subsequent increased devastating consequences that we are already sadly witnessing across the world and even in our own constituency.

The CEE bill would mean that the UK would finally take responsibility for our actual carbon footprint as well as actively conserving and restoring the natural world that we all get so much from, and relied upon during the pandemic. The bill would promote green economic growth that would allow us to rebuild our economy in a way that is fully compatible with true capitalism and conservative principles, as well as reducing the cost of the NHS by improving the population’s health. It will ensure that this and future Governments acts with the necessary urgency - as well as involving people from all walks of life using a Citizens’ Assembly that is informed by scientists, health professionals and economists.

An increasing number of MPs are backing this bill. Are you willing to do the same?

If you wish to find out more please kindly get in touch with the CEE Bill Campaign at political@ceebill.uk, and/or see www.ceebill.uk for further details.

Please research the facts and then support this vital bill on our behalf.

Sincerely,

XXX

5- Example email replying to an MP who simply stated the bill should not have been a presentation bill, and that there is time to see what happens before it is due to be heard

Dear ZZZ

Thank you for your reply. I am confused that your reply focuses on the method used to raise the CEE bill, since presentation bills can, as I am sure you know, be taken up by government and moved forward quickly into law (e.g. the Protection of Birds (Amendment) Bill). The 2008 Climate Change Act, was also a presentation bill, and although it took longer to become law it was such a success it was copied around the world; surely the Conservative party would like such recognition too!

The content of the CEE bill and the increased quantity of scientific and economic understanding of the climate crisis surely show that we cannot let the presentation method of a bill dictate its success and speed. The wealth of research and opinions from leading academics, economists, scientists and big-business leaders arguing that delivering net zero carbon is an “environmental necessity and an economic opportunity” leading to a “stronger, more resilient economy” surely should not go ignored! Many business leaders have stated in the May 2020 essay collection “Delivering Net Zero”, that the government “can show real leadership” on this issue (this specific quote is from the CEO of Heathrow).

The government have made promises, but does not seem to be taking this issue as seriously as required and it is behind on numerous self-set target, most specifically shown by the economic “boosts” chosen during this pandemic that are mainly polar opposite to the “green recovery” shown to be necessary by economists and academics alike. Economic reports (such as from the Smiths School) as well as guides from the CFRF and Bank of England clearly show the climate change poses significant financial risks that increase the longer we dally on this vital issue. This is also at a time when there are increasing links between the climate crisis and pandemics. The CEE bill could help avoid another health and economic crash such as we are currently experiencing.

I notice that your email does not suggest whether you support the bill either in the whole or in part. Are there elements of the bill that you do support and could push to be included in government strategy? What are you doing as the representative for our constituency to address this urgent crisis? The CEE bill is still in development, and you could contribute greatly to make it successful and achieve the necessary goals.

Thank you for yourtime, I look forward to hearing back from you,

Sincerely,

XXX

Email against Gas Power Stations From a campaign against the construction of a new Gas Power Station or to lobby a Government to prevent these power stations from even getting considered by Local Authorities.

Email written and used by XR Bangor, XR Cymru (Wales).

Peat Ban letters George Eustice has announced that DEFRA is starting a consultation on banning the sale of peat-based composts with proposals for a ban within three years.

You can use these templates to write to your MP supporting a ban on peat extraction.

Example 1

Dear (MP)

It is great to hear that at last moves are being made to stop peat extraction. The industry has totally ignored the voluntary phase out by 2020, as previously agreed. They haven’t even been putting the % peat content on the labels of bags of compost to enable buyers to make a choice. Please tell me you will support the banning of peat and peatlands rewetting to reduce carbon emissions and for wildlife.

Yours …

Example 2

Dear (MP)

I am delighted to learn George Eustice is starting a consultation to bring peat exploitation to an end – it is long over due.

Please assure me that he will include the Cambridgeshire Peat Fens and rewetting of these.

The “Great Fen Project” near Ramsey has long been stalled, incomplete and sadly unable to operate as was planned. It would serve as a pilot project for further rewetting and needs to be run as intended. Please could you lobby for this to be given priority.

Yours ……

Example 3

Dear (MP)

Hurray! The Government is actually going to stop peat exploitation. Or - is this just another round of green wash prior to COP26? A paper exercise to be forgotten as soon as November’s conference is over?

Please tell me that the Government is genuinely intent on stopping peat extraction and that the consultation is just about setting the terms for winding the industry down and restoring peat land. Given that the industry agreed to a voluntary phase out by 2020 which it failed to honor, its end must be in sight, surely?

Please tell me you will support the stopping of peat extraction – this is so important in reducing green house gas emissions and for wildlife.

Yours …

Writing to the Mayor of London about MET police overreach Email: enquiries@mopac.london.gov.uk

Dear Sir/Madam,

I am writing with great concern about the actions of the Metropolitan Police last night and more generally across the whole of this round of Extinction Rebellion protests. From the start of this action, the Metropolitan Police have tried to dissuade people from joining these peaceful protests, aimed at pushing the government to take critical action to prevent the climate catastrophe which has already started. Statements put out that appear intentionally vague or designed to deter people from joining the protests, have included:

  1. A written threat in advance of the protests citing Coronavirus regulations that did not apply to their action

  2. A notice issued on the eve of Rebellion that appeared to effectively ban protest across London. Following a legal challenge by Extinction Rebellion lawyers, the Met backed down, blaming a misunderstanding

  3. A threat to impound the lightship “Greta” under conspiracy laws

There have also been reports of disproportionate and aggressive arrests, and lets not forget that Extinction Rebellion was of course infamously included on a list of extremist ideologies under the Prevent programme.

Last night on Lambeth Bridge, a critical mass of around 200 cyclists were kettled by the police, leaving them unable to get out, and they were then rounded up and arrested en masse. Their bicycles were also confiscated. This is a misuse of police power and is clearly illegal.

This action has clear echoes of a 2012 protest when 182 protestors were arrested for supposedly straying too close to the Olympic Park. This was also found to be illegal and the police were eventually forced to compensate everyone who came forward afterwards. Extinction Rebellion's successful Judicial Review against the Met’s policing of their October Rebellion last year cost the public tens of thousands of pounds – in processing illegal arrests and High Court costs – and exposed it to further costly false imprisonment claims.

The Extinction Rebellion Legal team is working on a case for those arrested last night and when it is found to be illegal, once again tens of thousands of pounds of taxpayer money will be spent compensating those that were arrested. Is this a good use of public funds, stemming as it does from an entirely avoidable and illegal action by the police?

The legal right to protest is enshrined in the British constitution and I urge you to urgently ensure that the Metropolitan Police stop trying to shut these protests down and instead fulfil their role of protecting the right to free assembly.

Many thanks for your time, I look forward to your reply with interest, hoping that will be soon given the urgency of the matter.

Sincerely,

Political - Speak to your MP at Parliament

How to 'Green-Card' your MP to speak to them in person

If you happen to be around the Houses of Parliament you can green-card your MP. For times, try calling the Commons Enquiry line on 020 7219 4272.

What you need to do:

Positive Solutions Jigsaw Puzzle Pieces

Positive Solutions Fabric Jigsaw Puzzle Pieces (for wall hanging)

Much like a patchwork quilt, this collaborative piece involves individuals making puzzle shaped artwork, which is then brought together and displayed as a bigger display.

You could use a wide variety of crafts to create your positive solution to the climate and ecological crisis. It can be something global, national or local.

You can print this template (it’s A3 size so you may need to print over two A4 sheets and tape together) and cut your own material. It can be useful if someone can pre-cut some puzzle fabric and post out to those who don’t have access to a printer.

If you’re not sure how to print the template at home if you have an A4 printer, follow these instructions

IMPORTANT DIRECTION: All puzzle pieces must face the same way when completed so they can fit together as a giant wall hanging jigsaw.

When collecting puzzle pieces it could be useful to get name, age, location, contact details (MM, email) and a short blurb describing the design if you want to write a descriptor for the pieces when on display. Once all pieces are collected fit them together to create a large wall hanging/ banner. This can be displayed at actions, or in a local public place. It can be a good community engagement tool by inviting people in your local communities to add their own pieces.

coat of hopes 2.PNG

Pram Rebellion

Low risk, high impact visual action that can be done at local group level or by individual rebels. Pram Rebellion has now been carried out in different ways in many different countries all over the world.

Telegram chat

Please join the telegram chat for the Pram Rebellion - Children's Futures, for any updates, support, tips and a place you can ask questions. There may also be the opportunity for 'borrowing' ready prepared prams\buggies. Please jump on the chat below, to ask if there's one near you.

Why?

This is a hard hitting action, designed to touch people’s hearts and engage their emotions. Children are already dying from pollution and the Climate Emergency. More children will die if we continue this current trajectory. We, XR, have a moral duty to TELL THE TRUTH. We criticise the government and the media for not telling the truth. We will not be liked for it and we may hurt some people by telling it. This is a difficult truth to tell. It still needs to be told. Having done this action a few times now, the reaction is generally shocking and moving, but there’s been little negative feedback.

We have fully considered valuable feedback from many circles, including from Rebels who have personally experienced child bereavement. Elements of this action were changed as a result of acknowledging that people who have experienced child bereavement may have their trauma triggered by the sight of a mysterious empty pram. We are truly sorry to trigger anyone's pain. By carrying out this action, we are trying to avoid other families suffering the same tragic experience.
If you are affected by this installation, please contact www.childbereavementuk.org

In person action

See the video above or watch this livestream

Location- head to a local authority building, or some other institution which you think just isn't listening or acting as they should.

Dress and Demeanour

This highly theatrical action pulls on the heartstrings of the observers. To be truly effective Pram Rebels should dress in style and stay in role. Wear black, think victoriana, gothic or steampunk. Think veiled faces and top hats. It can be plain and simple or you may like to spend more time and enjoy preparing your costume. Once in role, stay silent, if you need to speak, keep it to whispers. Move slowly, do not rush or joke. This is a funeral for the children of the future.

Outreach

Once you have your pram and costume, be brave! Take your pram and a buddy, then walk alone or in pairs in a busy place or to a 'place of particular interest'. Make a bold statement/have a placard, do a photoshoot and put it on social media. It’s easier for a rebel not pushing a pram to engage in outreach discussions or to give out leaflets and this allows you to stay in role.

Lock & leave action

Paint a pram or buggy white (or another colour), put a printed message in it, lock it and leave it in a town, or where there is high footfall. If it isn’t removed by the authorities, retrieve it at a later time/day.

Designed to pique the general public’s inquisitive mind.

The buggies seem to be tolerated if left in a place for 2 or maybe 3 days, then you could always find another location to move your artwork to. Experience has shown they tend to be removed pretty quickly if situated in a shopping centre (private land), so maybe try somewhere on public land.

Some buggies got media attention when they were locked in places children go - play areas\schools. These are just suggestions - you can place your artwork wherever you like. We'd also recommend siting them near a light source, so passersby can read them after dark - they also look really mysterious in the dark, partially lit by street lights\lit buildings, etc.

Other ideas

All of the above have been done at some point.

Making your pram

1. Painting

A pram, painted white

Find a pram, buggy or even car seat. Cheapest method, find an abandoned one (XR Woking found 3), or freecycle. Charity shops or eBay for those with slightly deeper pockets. Prams look best but are more expensive than buggies. Get rid of any accessories or straps that don’t need to be kept, less to paint.

You may get the Pram back after the action, best to assume you won’t - though you might be lucky. One that was removed by a local council was returned after the Police tracked it down! Painting

We believe painting your pram\buggy a white colour may look the most impactful, as it looks quite mysterious. But you are autonomous, so you can paint it any colour you like. Bright, shocking pink is also a good choice.

Remember: Perfection is the enemy of done.

It’s a nice idea to give plastic/metal parts a bit of a rub with sandpaper, just to ‘key’ it, so the paint sticks better.

We’ve used aerosol paint, we’ve used tins of any old white paint we’ve had kicking around. Bosh the paint on, let it dry, bosh some more on - done! Worry not about drips and runs. It’s not an art competition. As you’ll probably need to push the buggy around at some point, maybe avoid painting the wheels? Some paint may flake off - but this is a small price to pay for the big picture issue - the Government is killing our children!

Some rebels cleverly wrapped their pram in white cloth - so the pram could continue to be used for its original purpose.

There may be some pre-prepared buggies\prams you can borrow. We have leaflets you can print\we might be able to send. XR South East has a banner 'GOVT CLIMATE FAILURE IS KILLING CHILDREN' you can borrow, which needs 3 people to carry it. We have a template press release you can have. We have template posters you can place inside your buggies, for messaging. (For loans and files, please ask on the telegram chat.

2. The message inside the pram

A pram, painted white, with a black and white message inside

The easiest option is to print on a piece of A3/A4 paper, laminate it & glue it or staple it to the pram.

Fix the messaging board into the pram or buggy by drilling some holes and attaching with white or clear cable ties.

You can get an email ready QR code here (it’s surprisingly easy!): QR Code Generator

3. If you are 'locking and leaving' your pram

If you are ‘locking and leaving’ your pram, you need a bike lock to secure the pram in the target location. Try one of these (cheap, but can be easily cut with bolt cutters). You could also use a chain and padlock, or a D lock.

We have also attached a “public artwork” laminated disclaimer, which you may add a date and photograph once the pram is sited. The reasoning is it makes it clear that your intention was not dumping rubbish, in the unlikely event of being identified and a potential flytipping prosecution.

Messaging

#WeAreWatchingYou
#PramRebellion
#OurChildrensFuture
#AirPollution #TellTheTruth

This action can be used for many different messages, ideally where there is a link to children’s health and the climate and ecological emergency, eg fossil fuel or incinerator pollution.

You may find this Daily Mail (sorry!) article linking children’s health with pollution helpful.

Post pictures of your prams in their locations on social media channels. Include your messaging in the text, along with any relevant hashtags to your messaging (eg #UniteToSurvive #EnoughIsEnough). Share other groups and rebels' posts and help amplify their messages. Post your images on the UK Live Action Channel so everyone can admire your handiwork!

Press

Send photos (send 3 in landscape orientation) to your local newspapers, along with a press release (you can edit our template, ask for it in the Telegram chat). For TV news, they like the press release plus 3 X 20 seconds worth of video, filmed in landscape - one at a distance, so viewers recognise where the action is, one middle distance and one close up. All press like visuals as early in the day as possible - they can then be reporting on today's news.

Find more info on working with your local press here

Technically, as someone would have to be paid to cut the lock and remove the pram, it could be Criminal Damage. Or possibly some sort of Obstruction Of Highway, depending on location. The authorities would obviously need to identify the perpetrator (CCTV footage of it being removed from a vehicle, for example).

Here is the full legal briefing on Criminal Damage

Here is the full legal briefing on Obstruction Of The Highway

There is a risk. The risk is low, it is up to you to be fully informed and decide whether or not you want to take that risk by doing this action.

After the action

If your pram is still there after a few days, lucky you. Simply re-site at a different location. Or walk around with it on an action. Add some solar fairy lights. Take it for a walk to Parliament. The only limit is your imagination.

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.

It is essential to have a support crew in the background looking out for them.

Rebellion of One - The Preparation Pathway

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/

https://www.cityam.com/london-six-arrested-amid-extinction-rebellion-protests-as-olympians-scale-oil-tanker/

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2022/apr/17/six-arrested-after-climate-activists-scale-oil-tanker-in-central-london

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 / Sounding the Alarm

Raising the alarm on climate emergency (could be expanded for a March/protest or next rebellion)

This type of protest has a long and colourful history and has was used at a large scale by XR's Deep Water campaign during their Call the Alarm action in the run up to COP 26.

🌶️

To add a slightly spicier element choose a location where this action might be disruptive, eg. Government or council offices, outside your local BBC office etc.

You can also add louder and more eye catching elements such as domestic smoke alarms, smokeflares and/or a die in.

Washing lines

Washing lines – can work well with the Dirty Scrubbers and also on their own as an easily recognisable way of highlighting greenwashing.

As well as highlightly greenwashing, you can use childrens clothes on washing lines, printed with the message of your action (1 letter per item of clothing). This is a really hard hitting visual as it is immediately obvious that children are the ones who will be dealing with the worst impacts of climate change, despite having done the least to cause it.

Ensure that you have something secure to attach your washing line to. If you are bringing free standing posts ensure in advance that they will bear enough weight for the line not to sag too much.

We love Tree Huggers

This action was designed in Response to Keir Starmers negative outburst “I hate tree huggers!”

🌶️🌶️🌶️To add spice gather together a forest of tree huggers and plant yourselves outside a topical location and make some noise! You could then even chain yourselves together with crocheted leaves/ivy/ daisies

Writing to Activists in Prison

This can be an effective element of an action to do at a local group meeting, at an outreach stall, or with children.

On outreach stalls

Sending postcards to activists who are in, or have just come out of prison, can be a really great element of a stall, and can generate extensive conversation. Often people don't realise that climate activists are even taken to court for their actions, never mind imprisoned for them.

It can also be a good conversation starter if there has been a high profile case recently that they have heard about, and would otherwise have no way of reaching out to that person.

Doing this activity with children

Children may want to write to activists they have been told about explaining how they inspired them or what they thought of their actions. You can write a template to help the child do this, encouraging them to include their name, age, reason for wanting to write, and maybe a picture they have drawn.

How to write to Activists in Prison

A list of current activists who are in UK prisons is maintained by Rebels in Prison Support (RIPS). Find it here.

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 or call out local polluters.

You could also use your craftivism skills to make 3D versions of iconic XR actions or designs. Be inspired by Lego Rebellion.


Get started by joining the Facebook group