IOS Week of Action

Starting 28th Oct in London and also UK wide. Insure Our Survival campaign's week of action targeted at the insurance industry.

Action round up and original promo videos
IOS Press Coverage
Daily Action Plans
Volunteer Roles at Insure Our Survival
Travel and Accommodation
IOS Training, Workshops, Meetings
Take IOS Action From Home

Action round up and original promo videos

The week of action was contributed to by many local groups as well as the 3-day London action.

A full round-up of the week of action can be viewed on the XRUK website.

Chris Packham has a message for you!

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"This is Red Rebel leader, I'm approaching the target..."

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IOS Press Coverage

Online coverage

Print coverage

The Daily Telegraph, 29/10/24

Financial Times

The Times, 29/10/24

The Guardian, 2/11/24

Daily Action Plans

We follow the 'Rebel Agreement' to guide us whilst taking nonviolent direct action.

Watch the XRUK livestream on YouTube here:
Monday - Tuesday - Wednesday

Read the demand letter issued to insurers 14 days ahead of the action.

Key facts on insurance, flooding, carbon bomb projects and more to help you talk to your friends, family and to do outreach at these actions, or maybe even speak to the livestream crew! Read the outreach briefing doc here.

London (28-30 October)

Key info

Overview

Actions take place from Monday to Wednesday in the City of London. Each day will start at 11am in Trinity Square Gardens (EC3N 4DJ). In addition to this there is an early action starting at 7.30am on Tuesday. End times are likely to be towards the end of each working day.

There will be ways for everyone to get involved. Think visits to insurer HQs, holding space, performances, music, Flash Mobs, drumming, outreach - cheeky and fun, but focused and determined to get our message through.

Details of each day will be added to the sections below and posted on the Rebellion Broadcast on Telegram.

Food

Lunch will be provided by 'Food For All' each day at the mass actions.
Please remember your tupperware and spork to eat with, we will not be providing disposable plates.
💚 XR is supporting FFA and Euston Food Bank through our main fundraiser - please click here to donate.

Briefing video for London actions (30mins)

Get ready to take on the Fossil Fuel Death Star!
With BSL interpretation and closed captions.

Accessibility

We are committed to being as inclusive as possible.

March routes each day are step free. Current lengths:
Mon 1.8km several stops along the way.
Tue 1.1km stops along the way.
Wed 1.5km stops along the way.

There will be facility to charge power chairs and scooters.

Accommodation and travel information and support available here

To request BSL interpretation, other support, or to discuss any access needs please contact wellbeing@extinctionrebellion.uk or call 07773 193704

Monday - Flooding

The Floods Are Here - our actions, design and messaging will balance light and dark, death and hope, bright colours and black and white to dramatically show the public and media how insurers are greenlighting fossil fuel crooks to flood our homes and our lands.

Meet 11am Trinity Square Gardens, EC3N 4DJ (nearest underground station is Tower Hill). Join a march to visit some of the insurers, demanding they cut ties with the fossil fuel industry. March leaves 11.30am!

The look of the action - help us recreate a scene of flooding with inflatable life rafts, flood warning signs, climate crime scene and flood levels. There will also be a die in.

What to bring/wear - dress up as if being evacuated in life jackets or extreme wet weather gear. Maybe buoyancy aids, wetsuit and flippers. Or bring your umbrellas, waterproofs, wellies or souwesters.

Food/water - lunch will be provided around 14.30, so bring some snacks to share and get your through!! Please remember your tupperware and cutlery; there will be NO DISPOSABLE PLATES. And remember to stay hydrated - fill your bottles up when you can!

Placards suggestions

Insuring Our Future? More Like Drowning It!
Insuring Oil = Drowning Lives!
Fossil Fuels Get Insurance, We Get Floods!
Fossil Fuels = Floods. Thanks for the Uninsurable Future!
Stop Insuring Climate Chaos
Floody Hell
Flood Alert
The floods are Right Here, Right Now

This is an emergency - and we are the response.

Tuesday - Food Shortages

After the floods - food crises and wrecked lives. Actions and messaging will drive home the impacts of the floods on everyday lives as the rising waters wreck farming lands, biodiversity and food supplies, homes and communities, rendering whole areas uninsurable and therefore uninhabitable.

Mass Action - holding space at iconic locations, using performances and images to convey the insurance industry's complicity in climate breakdown. There will be a focus on food shortages with a giant ‘Last Potato’ with a huge price tag being paraded around.

What to wear/bring? - come as you are or wear business attire if you feel comfortable doing that. Bring a bowl - you will be given a single symbolic pea (to bring to mind disaster-zone food distribution). Food/water - lunch will be provided around 13.00. Please remember your tupperware and cutlery; there will be NO DISPOSABLE PLATES. And remember to stay hydrated - fill your bottles up when you can!

7.30am - Already in London? - meet early for this exciting ‘early shift’ - please make it if you can. Meeting location is the gardens at the corner of St. Mary Axe and Leadenhall Street (next to the Leadenhall/’Cheesegrater’ Building).
Location on map: What3words tender.valve.deck or Google maps pin

11.00am - Join us later in Trinity Square Gardens, EC3N 4DJ (nearest underground station is Tower Hill).

1.30pm - Letter Delivery Action - under the Leadenhall Building, EC3V 4AB Details of the action here

4.30pm - XR Families bring some sunset fun on Tuesday with illuminated ghosties at the base of the Walkie Talkie building on Fenchurch Street. We will be making paper ghosts (it’s super simple) and taking them for a walk around the skyscrapers to say to the insurers: DON’T GHOST OUR SURVIVAL!

Placard suggestions:

I predict a (food) riot
Stop Insuring Climate Chaos
Insure our Survival
No food, no future
Floody hell

Wednesday - System Collapse

We Predict a Riot - mass action.....a zombie apocalypse! A wide range of creative actions will highlight what social collapse will look like in the UK as the population begins to panic in the face of repeated floods and food shortages over the next decade. The look of the action - Zombie die-in with flashmob, zombie insurers stumbling around.

Meet 11am - Trinity Square Gardens, EC3N 4DJ (nearest underground station is Tower Hill).

What to wear/bring - Business attire with a zombie twist! No specifics items to bring for this day. Face-painting will be available.

1.30pm Letter Delivery Action - Under the Leadenhall Building, EC3V 4AB Details of the action here

Food/water - lunch will be provided around 15.00. Please bring some snacks to keep you going til then and remember your tupperware and cutlery; there will be NO DISPOSABLE PLATES. And fill your bottles up when you can.

🧟 Time to dance! - Driller Killer: Zombie Mass Dance Discobedience
This is the undead dance for life! - wear business suits with a zombie twist. We are the undead, dancing our way through the halls of power to expose the profiteers of destruction!
Watch the tutorial Video, join the Whatsapp chat and check out the zombies at COP26 for inspiration

Placard suggestions:

We predict a riot
No Food, No Future
Insure Our Survival

Events outside London

Wednesday 23rd Oct

Oxford

Tuesday 29th Oct

Glasgow

Wednesday 30th Oct

Thursday 31st Oct

Friday 1st Nov

Birmingham Action Briefing

12.30 - 3.00pm
Meet: Cathedral Sq/ Pigeon Park (Temple Row side)

Please Join the public Signal group if you're planning on joining the march and would like to stay updated.

Volunteers needed - Mass participation performance actions with a theme of “Bringing the Climate Crisis to Them” (the insurance companies) are planned including a flood themed event, mass letter writing and a forest fire event.

What to do and how to contribute
1️⃣ Make a placard with your message on the front with an image of fire on the back.
2️⃣ Dress up in business suits.
3️⃣ Offer to be inside a giant monster.
4️⃣ Action support: stewards, well-being, de-escalation volunteers are needed - volunteer here.
5️⃣ Join as part of the drumming band (XR Rhythms).

More details in this recorded briefing call - watch here.

Saturday 2nd Nov

Volunteer Roles at Insure Our Survival

We would really love everyone who attends to sign up for a role if that's possible for you. So if you can volunteer then yes, please do! Whilst most roles are mobile we also have some static roles and some at-home roles if you cannot physically attend the event.

For planning your travel to London, rebels muster each day at 11am so as crew we suggest you arrive 10am onwards if possible. Events are expected to last until the end of the working day so if some of you can stay until 4-6pm that will be helpful too. We appreciate that some of you will be travelling in each day and we still want you to volunteer for whatever time you can contribute.

Roles will also be required outside of London for UK-wide actions, which are likely to be on Thursday, Friday or Saturday. Information on these events is being planned right up to the last moment so it's best to check the Movement Calendar of IoS events or the IoS Daily Plans page for the latest details and just turn up as crew.

Within each section below is a link to register your availability for specific days in London, Birmingham or Manchester, you can come back and update your registration at any time.

I had a great time and volunteering forced me to talk to people, feel really involved etc, without this I would prob have turned up and marched and gone home while being too shy to talk at all!

Production crew, Restore Nature Now 2024

Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed being a steward at the event and I would love to do more! Everyone was so friendly and helpful, it made doing it on my own and for the first time great fun! Thank you all for all of the organisation, it was fantastic

New Steward, Restore Nature Now 2024

Training is available for all these roles and we aim to buddy crew up so you can work with someone more experienced if you are new to a role.

Here is a brief explanation of each role, together with links to find out more.

Stewarding

General Stewards provide a friendly welcome, help answer questions and direct rebels to other crews, facilities and what’s on. One of the key parts of this role is simply to provide a visible presence that helps rebels feel safe and secure. There are opportunities for Lead Stewards who manage a small team of 10 General Stewards.
Access Buddy Stewards support those with access or inclusion needs to be able to participate fully in the event.
Additional information here
Contact stewarding@extinctionrebellion.uk

Roadtaking

An essential part of marches and processions, this crew move ahead of the march to ensure traffic doesn't conflict with rebels. This is a role that requires mobility and usually we aim to work with DeEscalators in the team.
Additional information here
Contact stewarding@extinctionrebellion.uk

First Aid

First Aid crew briefing

We all hope we will never need it but minor accidents do occur and so if you have a current First Aid certificate then please volunteer for this specialist role (part of the Wellbeing team).
Additional information here
Contact actionwellbeing@extinctionrebellion.uk

Outreach

Even brief conversations with insurance workers can make a huge difference and we want to hear about them. Please share what you learn on the Outreach telegram chat. If anything is confidential or sensitive, email insureoursurvival@extinctionrebellion.uk.

We may encounter employees with real power, or those who feel they are tiny cogs in the machine. We will meet various kinds of employees, and all of them may have perspectives and information which can be valuable to us, from frustrated employees working in sustainability, to those suffering cognitive dissonance because of the climate and nature emergency. Many employees are loyal to their company and want them to do the right thing on climate, but will often be reluctant to put their head above the parapet. Some employees may be prepared to go further in applying pressure and/or might be considering leaving the industry and willing to take bolder steps.

We will have two leaflets for actions in London, which will come into their own depending on location and context:

a flyer for insurance workers inviting them to join an online workshop on Wednesday 6th November at 7pm to discuss how they can help save the world!
a flyer for the public inviting them to learn more about the IOS campaign and/or sign up to hear more from XR.

Try and get insurance workers to sign up to the special IOS email list so they can access the zoom link for the online workshop. The Insure Our Survival team will support, empower and encourage them to make positive change in the industry!

Guidance for Outreachers on key messaging for this action

Contact actions.outreach@extinctionrebellion.uk

Wellbeing

Action Wellbeing supports the physical and emotional wellbeing of everyone involved in XR actions. Look out for us in our blue hi-vis. Providing water, hand warmers and snacks (chocolate!), accessibility support, as well as a listening ear and a friendly smile. Rebels come to us for all sorts of things, including: information on the nearest toilets, rain protection, conversation, blankets and pillows, warm tea, songs and chants, support during arrests and countless other useful things!
Additional information
Contact wellbeing+awb@extinctionrebellion.uk

DeEscalation / Embedding Nonviolence

This role uses techniques to manage the tension in situations. Often called in to defuse confrontation, you will learn skills based on empathy and listening to manage tension during a confrontation between parties on the street.
This can involve members of the public, police or protesters. By intervening in hostile encounters we may be able to recognise feelings of alienation and agitation and help them transform into solidarity and optimism.
Additional information here
Contact deescalation@extinctionrebellion.uk

Production (Logistics, Food etc.)

$flags awaiting collection$

Looking after the safe handling, transport and storage of XR’s amazing action kit and equipment; literally bringing all the toys needed for any actions.

Whilst most of these roles do require manual handling, we also have need for administrative support in the team.
Additional information here
Contact production@extinctionrebellion.uk

Sound & Power

Providing mobile PAs, sound systems, pop-up stages and solar-power set-ups; essentially bringing the vibes to any action!
More information
Contact production@extinctionrebellion.uk

Rhythms/Drummers

Rhythms are the thundering heart of the movement. We play simple percussion music inspired by Brazilian samba. Bands can help rebels claim and hold space for protest, attract attention and create a positive and fun atmosphere.
More information
Contact info@xrrhythms.uk

Join the team responsible for the visual choreography of an action. You will be helping carry and hold beautiful flags and banners, transmitting the vibe and message of the action. These designs bear XR’s messages for the public and press to see and are a key part of making an action a success! No previous experience necessary.

Street Speaker

Street talks are a fantastic way to quickly engage, inform and empower new joiners and existing rebels. They can be completely spontaneous and given to small groups 'on the street'. Street Speakers are self-organising and you can access a range of Street Speaker Scripts that can be delivered anywhere, at any time you choose. The scripts are designed to be delivered by anyone without the need for training however, we're here to support you!
Additional information here
Contact XRUK Talks & Training at eventsxr@gmail.com

Police Station Support / Back Office Call Centre

Whilst arrests are not planned, we need crew to monitor the virtual call centre phone to receive reports if this does happen so that we can offer and coordinate appropriate support to those affected. This role can be done at home on a laptop or PC with internet connection.

We also need rebels able and prepared to wait outside Police Stations so that when activists are released, they are met by a friendly face and supported to get home safely.

All PSS & BO roles are run by co-ordinated rotas; each volunteer offering as much time as they can - minimum hour slots.

Offsite/Backoffice/Pre-event/Other Roles

As well as the main support roles listed above we have the need for some additional support crew:
Pre-event location recce. Involves photographing sites, possibly talking to local cafes/pubs etc. to find small hub spaces etc.
Action Support Back Office. During the event working from home, keeping an eye on various Signal and Telegram chats and making sure people get answers to questions or connected to those who can help.
Digital Mapping. Pre-event we need help to maintain the digital maps of the event, site, march routes, accessibility etc. Other If you feel you have the skills and experience to offer this event that is not covered in one of the roles above, please do tell us more via the signup link above.

If you feel you could help with these roles, signup or get in touch actionsupport@extinctionrebellion.uk

Travel and Accommodation

Travel

🚂 To be as inclusive as possible, a subsidy is available to Rebels who may find it difficult to meet the costs of travel, such as those with accessibility needs or who are on a low income.

🛵 If you provide receipts for the cost of your travel, we may be able to reimburse you - apply here.

🚌 Is your group looking for support in paying for a coach? We may be able to offer your group a loan to support the cost of hiring a coach.
Get in touch: transport@extinctionrebellion.uk

If you'd like to support this provision, then you can donate to the IOS crowdfunder via this link.

Accommodation

We are working with Community Home for this action.
They match activists up with hosts for homestay accommodation.
If you'd like to support this provision, then you can donate to the IOS crowdfunder via this link.

IOS Training, Workshops, Meetings

Outreach at Insure Our Survival

Calling all outreachers! We are building a team to have those all-important conversations on the streets. No more training session before IOS, but please feel free to join us!

Stewarding Training

To access video recordings - click here.

Insurance Briefing

Here’s a briefing on why we are targeting the insurance industry from our allies at the Insure Our Futures coalition.
Watch the briefing video here (22mins)

Action briefings

Watch the London Action briefing video recording (30mins, BSL and closed captions)

Initial Open Call

WATCH the recording of the Zoom call from Tuesday 24th September. This covers why direct action targeting the insurance sector is effective and overview of the plans that were known at that point. (with BSL interpretation and closed captions.)

Take IOS Action From Home

If you can’t get to the action on the streets, join Digital Rebellion for daily do-it-at-home actions including mass phoning, social media storms, a letter campaign and more!

Join us from home to add pressure and spread the message. Go to the on the Digital Rebellion website for some powerful ways you can get involved!