Themes for Actions

This section of the Toolkit is a showcase of action ideas on themes. These are not necessarily full action packs, but are here to inspire and provide resources to build your own actions around the same themes. Check out the 'Current Campaigns' section of the Toolkit for our big action packs for campaigns like Dirty Water and Cut the Ties.

Contributing action resources to the Rebel Toolkit

If you have resources, templates, photos or guidance about actions that aren't already in this part of the Rebel Toolkit, then please do get in touch. You can send the content by email or via a google doc - any way you wish -and we'll weave it in to the Rebel Toolkit for you in the appropriate place.

There is some guidance to help you consider what is appropriate here.

To submit content you can email LGsupport@extinctionrebellion.uk or post in the mattermost reception for the Rebel Toolkit.

Biodiversity / Nature

Connect with others focusing on this topic

Restore Nature Now Telegram chat to join with others working on this theme (not all people from XR).

XR Rewilding Facebook group

Action Ideas

Birdsong

Birdsong was once everywhere. Now often hard to hear, bring some birdsong to your action by getting lots of people to download the sound files to their phones and all play together at a re-arranged time.

Info and downloads collated for Restore Nature Now action in London in , but available to use when and where you want.

Blue Plaques for Nature

Based on the iconic English Heritage blue plaques designed to commemorate a noteble person, these plaques designed by the 'Dirty Water' campaign team are to commemorate nature and wildlife - current designs are focussed on promotion before and use during Restore Nature Now on 22nd June 2024.

See full details of how to print, modify and produce these plaques here.

Visiting a garden centre dressed as bees

sheff bees.PNG

This Local Group visited their local garden centre dressed as bees to raise awareness of the disastrous consequences to wildlife of gardeners and farmers using glysophate (often sold as Round Up).

This outreach focused action did not disrupt shoppers, but encouraged them to think more sustainably when shopping, and raised awareness of the scale of the problems to biodiversity being caused by widespread pesticide use.

Parliament of Owls

Owls.PNG

These paper owls look beautiful in a flock and have been made for The Big One (2023) and Restore Nature Now (2024)

They are relatively easy to make as the templates and instructions can be downloaded here. This makes a good group art activity as it is accessible to everyone!

Bird Skeletons

Check out this brief on how to make bird skeletons for actions

Outreach Materials

Bilingual Posters- Welsh

Missing--Red-Squrrel-bi-lingual-jpeg.jpg These bilingual biodiversity posters are available for red squirrels, pine martens, hedgehogs and water voles.

Air Pollution

Resources for Air Pollution themed actions

Graphics info and designs for making these signs like the one below

Flyers to edit and print

These flyers are in photoshop format - so you can add your own Local Group info. If you require support in editing these, then please contact LGsupport@extinctionrebellion.uk by email, or via our Mattermost Reception.

A5 flyers and stickers as shown below

AirPollutionFlyersStickers.jpg

Engaging the public with survey boards

The second board has a map of the local area. Passers by were encourages to scan the QR code (taking them to the addresspollution.org website), enter their address, and add a sticker to the map indicating whether where they lived had very high, high, moderate, or low levels of air pollution. As you can see, nearly all of the stickers added are red, indicating these people are living with 'very high' levels of air pollution.

AP_survey1.png AP_survey2.png AP_survey4.png AP_surveymap.png

Mini-action

Using the green light (for pedestrians) over a crossing on a main road, close to the survey boards, to bring attention to the outreach and amplify the message

AirPollution-action.jpg

Useful Statistics, quotes & resources

A collection of statistics and quotes around air pollution, particularly related to health.

Useful statistics document

Flooding

Flooding Data

Maps of flooding risk

Particularly helpful if you are trying to increase concern at a local level

Flooding Actions

The Department for Ignoring Climate Chaos

photo_2024-01-18_15-11-32.jpg

Find resources to recreate this simple but attention grabbing action by XR Malvern, including placards, desk signs, and press release.
Department for Ignoring Climate Chaos resources

Our Childrens Future / Pram Rebellion

Low risk, high impact visual action that can be done at local group level or by individual rebels.

p-one.jpg

What?

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.

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.

Where?

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 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.

Why?

This is a hard hitting action, designed to touch people’s hearts and engage their emotions. Children are already dying from pollution & 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.

Issues

We have fully considered valuable feedback from Action Circle, XR Families, XR Southampton, M&M, Arts teams & other individuals, including from Rebels who have personally experienced child bereavement. We have changed elements of this action as a result of acknowledging that people who have experienced child bereavement may have their trauma triggered by the sight of a mysterious 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.

How to...

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. You may get the Pram back after the action, but assume you won’t. Get rid of any accessories or straps that don’t need to be kept, less to paint.
We would suggest not adding any soft toys to the pram\buggy.

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.

Important note: Perfection is the enemy of done. Yeah you could rub it all down with wet and dry paper to provide a good key for the primer. Yeah you could use masking tape to mask off each individual component. Or you could just get the job done.
Can of aerosol white plastic primer on the plastic bits, can of (usually light grey) aerosol etch primer on the metal parts. When dry, spray them again if not white with any white aerosol paint (I had some old appliance gloss white, and also some leftover white primer). Feel free to go over the edges. Worry not about drips and runs. It’s not an art competition. Cloth parts you paint with a brush – I used some matt vinyl emulsion I had left over, and also some outdoor white primer/undercoat. These will last long enough.

Messaging

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:

This is an ideal action to put pressure on MPs to 'Back the Climate & Ecological Emergency Bill'. Let's make it really easy for members of the public to email their MP, by using a QR code they can scan which has a pre prepared email all ready for them to send. It's surprisingly straight forward to do - honest! You can choose to use either of the following texts, or you can adapt it/make your own, to be more specific to your location. You can choose whether to put the XR logo on, or not.

Message Option 1

MORE THAN 90% OF THE WORLD’S CHILDREN BREATHE TOXIC AIR EVERY DAY (i)

ASK YOUR MP XXXXXXXXXXX TO SUPPORT THE CLIMATE AND ECOLOGICAL EMERGENCY BILL SCAN CODE ON SMART PHONE TO SEND THEM AN E MAIL (put QR code here) OR USE:

XXXXXXXXX.MP@PARLIAMENT.UK (find your local MP's email address at www.theyworkforyou.com

#OurChildrensFuture

#PramRebellion

#CEEBill

#AirPollution

XR LOGO - you can use a sticker.

If you have been affected by this installation, please contact www.childbereavementuk.org

(i) WORLD HEALTH ORGANISATION REPORT 2018

Message Option 2

'THE CLIMATE AND ECOLOGICAL EMERGENCY (CEE)

WHAT'S REALLY AT STAKE HERE?

SCAN THE QR CODE TO EMAIL YOUR MP TO BACK THE CEE BILL.

2050 UK NET ZERO IS TOO LATE!

#PramRebellion

#CEEBill

#OurChildrensFuture

#AirPollution XR LOGO - you can use a sticker

If you have been affected by this installation, please contact www.childbereavementuk.org

Printing your message

Use a hardy surface, like old hardboard, to make the surface for the messaging. Won’t last forever outdoors, but easy to cut and drill. You could use any scrap plywood, mdf, plastic or even cardboard (although this won't last as long outdoors). Paint it. Black looks best for prams, white best for buggies and car seats. Write your message onto the board with black permanent marker, or a white paint pen, or a fine paintbrush or spray stencil. Stickers can provide XR logo. I printed the QR code and secured it under some clear reinforced tape (recommend a test first to ensure it works fine). You could also laminate it and glue or tape it on. I then sprayed some matt varnish over the lettering to give it some rain protection.

p-two.jpg

Fix the messaging board into the pram or buggy by drilling some holes and attaching with white or clear cable ties. Or you can print on a piece of A4 paper, laminate it & glue it or staple it to the pram. You can get an e mail ready QR code here (it’s surprisingly easy!):

https://www.qr-code-generator.com/solutions/email-qr-code/

You can find your MP’s contact details here

https://www.writetothem.com/

p-three.jpg

You need a bike lock to secure the pram in the target location. I’m using one of these (cheap, but can be easily cut with bolt cutters). You could also use a chain and padlock, or a D lock.

p-four2.jpg

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

p-five.jpg

Social Media

Post pictures of your prams in their locations on social media channels. Include your messaging in the text, along with any relevant hash tags to your messaging (eg #CEEBill). Share other groups and rebels posts and help amplify their messages.

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 vehicle, for example).

Here is the full legal briefing on Criminal Damage:

https://informeddissent.info/criminal-damage-theft

Here is the full legal briefing on Obstruction Of The Highway

https://informeddissent.info/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.

Action Location

It's recommended to place it somewhere which has high footfall - near shops, supermarkets, town centres, etc. We'd also recommend siting them near a light source, so passers by can read them after dark - they also look really mysterious in the dark, partially lit by street lights\lit buildings, etc.

After the action

If your pram is still there the following week, 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.

Banking, Finance and Divestment

Resources collated from work by XR, Tipping Point and other organisations to help you access the information you need to plan your actions and choose your targets.

Getting organisations to move away from fossil banks

Focus on campaigning for organisations to switch their banking from the worst banks.

Bank Better Campaign Handbook (by Tipping Point)

This excellent handbook gives the comprehensive info you need to run an effective campaign against an organisation who still use problematic banks.

Full Colour version / Text only version

Tailored support

For XR Local Groups can be accessed by by contacting bankbetter@tippingpointuk.org

This support consists of:

WhatsApp community

For people interested in getting organisations to switch banks - with sub-group chats for specific types of campaigns, e.g. Bank & Local Government, Banks & Universities, etc.

Tipping Point's How To Bankrupt A Fossil Bank

Recording of this training delivered in January 2024, in collaboration with Switch It Green:

Report on Barclays

Details of what's wrong with the new Barclays energy policy (why not to trust them when they say they're not funding fossil fuels any more!)

Climate and Nature Bill

XRUK is supporting Zero Hour’s digital campaign to lobby MPs to attend the Second Reading of the Climate & Nature Bill.

What is the Climate & Nature (CAN) Bill?

The CAN Bill is a private members’ bill, originally proposed by Caroline Lucas MP. It sets out a comprehensive and joined-up set of policies to address the climate and environmental crises.

Most private members’ bills fail, but the best chance of success is when they are introduced through the ballot process, where MPs who are successful in the ballot can decide which bill to bring, as it guarantees that the bill will be given time to be debated properly in the House of Commons. This is now the case for the CAN Bill as Roz Savage MP has been successful in the ballot and agreed to bring the CAN Bill.

The First Reading is a formality and has already occurred. The crucial next stage is the Second reading on 24th January 2025. A minimum of 102 MPs must attend the reading in-person and vote in support of the bill in order for it to proceed to the next stages. Although over 180 MPs have declared their support for the bill, 24th January is a Friday when many MPs would normally be back in their constituencies, so supporting MPs will need to make a conscious decision to stay in London for the vote.

There are still many hurdles beyond the Second Reading, but provided that these can be successfully overcome it may be possible for the bill to achieve Royal Assent by Oct/Nov 2025 . The stages involved in this process are explained here.

Why is XRUK supporting Zero Hour’s campaign?

XR has supported Zero Hour’s campaign for the Climate & Nature Bill (originally called the Climate & Ecology Bill) since its inception, and some of the key people in Zero Hour were previously in XR.

A central element of the CAN Bill is a citizens’ assembly, to help decide how the provisions of the Act (once passed into legislation) should be implemented.

Although not the same as the Third Demand, passage of the CAN Bill into law would be a massive step forward, and pave the way for a true citizens’ assembly on climate and ecological justice.

Irrespective of the citizens’ assembly, the bill offers a route to getting comprehensive, joined-up, science-based legislation in place to address the climate and ecological emergencies.


Take Action - Email to your MP!

Zero Hour have been campaigning to get the Climate & Nature Bill adopted and then passed into law by the UK Government. More detail about this campaign below.

The next step is to ask MPs to support the Bill, if they haven't done so, and to attend a crucial debate in Parliament on 25th January 2025.

Zero Hour have produced several template letters, and a web page to select the correct one for your MP:

Step by step guide

To access the correct email template for your MP - use the Zero Hour's website:

You'll find lots of information on these pages about your MP, some instructions, some example text to edit, a form to enter your details - emails to MPs are never anonymous, and finally a button to take you to the next step.

It is much easier to do all this from a laptop instead of a phone.

Almost 18000 emails have already been sent by the campaign!

Take Action - Phone your MP

Calling your MP’s office is a fantastic way to get a direct response on their attendance at the second reading in parliament on 24 January 2025, to vote in support of the CAN Bill.

You can join Zero Hour team for an online event to CALL YOUR MP, where they will guide your through the process of calling your MP.

Take Action - Social Media

Ask your MP to pledge publicly on social media and amplify the action Use Zero Hours’ Digital Week Action Pack to:

Social Justice

Social Justice

Introduction- Why focus on Social Justice?

social justice.PNG

Climate Justice and Social Justice are inherently linked as the climate and ecological emergency threatens the existence of those most vulnerable in our communities.

Outlined in this pack are a few ideas and resources to help get your action planning juices flowing and give you some inspiration for actions you can do in your local area.

To achieve our goal of mass mobilisation, we need everyone, we need you. These Ideas are only suggestions and we encourage you to think about what affects your local community and how you can tie in your existing campaigns.

SJ 1.PNG

What Does This Have To Do With The Climate and Ecological Emergency?

Marginalised groups and people already struggling with poverty and inequality will be the first to feel the effects of the climate and ecological emergency.

The climate crisis is at least in part due to the current and historic oppression and exploitation of those most impoverished and vulnerable in our communities and around the world.

As the effects of the climate and ecological emergency worsen, resources such as money, food, healthcare, housing and water will become scarce. This will affect everybody but none more so than vulnerable groups such as: Low-income countries & households, people of colour, indigenous people, women, trans people, young people and disabled people. It is important that we stand together in solidarity against all injustice if we hope to tackle this crisis.

There are many ways in which we can do this even from home! It is also important to note that this is an action pack and so all about direct action but a big part of the journey towards action is education. Educating ourselves on what the effects on marginalised communities from the climate crisis are, can be a great tool of empowerment in direct action.

Social Justice

Potential Targets & Action Ideas

SJ 2.PNG

Housing

The housing crisis is forcing more and more people out of homes and onto the streets with more unaffordable houses being built and left to sit empty.

Housing Rebellion Action Pack

Cost of Living Crisis

The cost of living crisis is affecting all of us apart from the 1%.

Dirty Water

Access to clean water should be a human right, yet our waterways are being filled with polution.

Dirty Water Action Pack

Discrimination

When times get tough we need to stand together yet mainstream media is trying to pull us apart, it’s time to tell the truth.

Rebel For Truth Pack

Healthcare

The climate crisis is already causing global health problems and yet we face record waiting times due to a chronically underfunded national healthcare system.

Other ideas

Rebel Toolkit Actions Shelf

Social Justice

Take Action at Home

Direct action should be accessible to everybody and doesn’t always need to be about taking action from on the streets. A great way to take action is to rebel from home.

X (formerly Twitter) storms

X storms are a great way to rebel from home. Create a template tweet with some of the messaging and hashtags here and encourage others to send their tweets with you all at the same time.

Emailing companies

Email the company you are targeting and explain how you would like them to change. With enough pressure from the public, companies may consider changing for the better.

Leaving reviews

Bad reviews affect company image but also are a way of making the public more aware of what these climate criminals are doing.

Blocking phone lines

Get a group together and call up the targets customer service line. This can create a block in their phone lines and stop them from calling other people to advertise their services. Remember to remain kind and respectful. We do not blame and shame individuals. The company is the real climate criminal, not the workers.

Using your voice

If you have a social media presence, use your voice to educate others on social justice and the CEE (climate and ecological emergency).

More about rebelling from home

Digital Rebellion Rebel Toolkit Page

Social Justice

Messaging Social Justice Actions

Below are some messaging resources for the social justice theme.

Leaflets

Hashtags

More Media and Messaging Resources:

Make Your Action Visible

Rebel Toolkit: Make your group visible

How to do media for your action

Rebel Toolkit: How to do media for your action

Photography Tips

Rebel Toolkit: Photography & Videography

Social Justice

More resources

Social Justice Reading

General Resources when Action Planning

Planning Actions
Media & Messaging
Action Support

Questions? Contact Actions Circle

Global Justice

Global Justice

What does global justice have to do with the climate crisis?

GJ 1.PNG

Global Justice and climate justice are inherently linked as climate change devastates countries around the world but particularly in the global south. These countries have fewer resources for dealing with climate catastrophe and often have much more harsh punishments for climate activism.

Outlined in this pack are a few ideas and resources to help get your action planning juices flowing and give you some inspiration for actions you can do in your local area.

To achieve our goal of mass mobilisation, we need everyone, we need you. These Ideas are only suggestions and we encourage you to think about what affects your local community and how you can tie in your existing campaigns.

gj 2.PNG

What Does This Have To Do With The Climate and Ecological Emergency?

Countries in the global south are some of the first to feel the effects of climate breakdown and often get blamed for the rise in temperatures.

Yet it is high income global north countries who produce the majority of the cumulative greenhouse gas emissions.

This follows a history of colonisation and global unrest. Climate change exacerbates existing inequalities such as food & water scarcity, poverty and access to housing. This inturn makes it harder for low income countries to prepare for climate breakdown.

Conflict and arms trades, which are sadly so prevalent in our world today, also exacerbate the effects of climate change. There is already data that suggests that the number of conflicts is rising, along with the global temperature increase. This is a trend we are likely to see continue as the earth continues to heat, and the impacts of the climate emergency become more acute.

Global Justice

Potential Targets & Action Ideas

gj 3.PNG

Conflict & the Arms Trade

There are many conflicts happening across the globe as we speak. Peace is beneficial to all including the earth. It is estimated 5.5% of global emissions come from militarism, which is equivalent to 2.2 billion tons of CO2.

War & Peace Messaging Pack

Fundraising for Global South Activists

Activists in the global south have been protecting the earth for generations. They do not have the same access to resources as we do, let's help them out.

Fundraising Methods

To find out where to send the money contact The XRUK Rebel Hive at: hive@extinctionrebellion.uk

Collaborating with Other Countries

Collaborating with other countries to do actions that have a global impact is a great way to practise active solidarity.

To find out how to connect with other countries, contact the XRUK Rebel Hive at hive@extinctionrebellion.uk

Education

Outreach & Education is another great way to raise the alarm about the global effects of the climate & ecological emergency.

Rebel Toolkit Outreach Shelf

Other Ideas

Rebel Toolkit Actions Shelf

Take Action at Home

Check out these ideas to Take Action from Home, and use the Global Justice messaging page to plan your actions.

Global Justice

Messaging Global Justice Actions

Below are some messaging resources for the global justice theme.

War & Peace Messaging Guidelines

Leaflets

GJ flyers.PNG

Hashtags

More Media and Messaging Resources:

Make Your Action Visible

Rebel Toolkit: Make your group visible

How to do media for your action

Rebel Toolkit: How to do media for your action

Photography Tips

Rebel Toolkit: Photography & Videography

Global Justice

More Resources

Global Justice Reading

General Resources when Action Planning

Planning Actions
Media & Messaging
Action Support

Questions? Contact Actions Circle

Ecological Justice

Ecological Justice

Introduction

EJ 1.PNG

Biodiversity loss has one of the most clear connections to the climate crisis with many species either dying out or having to migrate due to their habitat being destroyed.

Ecological justice month covers the effects of climate breakdown on our natural environment, whether this be biodiversity loss, wildfires and their effect on both human and non human species or the negative impacts of factory farming.

Outlined in this pack are a few ideas and resources to help get your action planning juices flowing and give you some inspiration for actions you can do in your local area.

To achieve our goal of mass mobilisation, we need everyone, we need you.

These Ideas are only suggestions and we encourage you to think about what affects your local community and how you can tie in your existing campaigns.

Ecological Justice

Potential Targets & Action Ideas

EK 2.PNG

Flooding

Flooding not only impacts humans but also causes loss of habitat for non-human animals.

Flooding rebel toolkit page

Agriculture and Food Production

Agriculture and food production contribute to climate breakdown in many ways and the current mass production culture is contributing to the loss of work for many local farmers.

Dirty Water

The continued pollution of our waterways affects not only us but also many of the waterborne species in our rivers.

Dirty Water Action Pack

Rebellious Rewilding

Rebel rewilding is a great way to have a direct impact on your life and your local community.

Rebellious Rewilding Ideas (slides 5-7)

Wildfires

Wildfires will continue to blaze as global temperatures increase. Though it may be hard to have a direct impact, even sharing information about wildfires on social media can be a great way to educate others.

Heat

The rise in temperatures affects everyone, especially those most vulnerable in our society and the natural environment.

Heatstrike Website

Take Action at Home

Check out these ideas to Take Action from Home, and use the Global Justice messaging page to plan your actions.

Other Ideas

Rebel Toolkit Actions Shelf

Ecological Justice

Messaging Ecological Justice Actions

Below are some messaging resources for the ecological justice theme.

Restore Nature Now Messaging Guidelines

Hashtags

More Media and Messaging Resources:

Make Your Action Visible

Rebel Toolkit: Make your group visible

How to do media for your action

Rebel Toolkit: How to do media for your action

Photography Tips

Rebel Toolkit: Photography & Videography

Ecological Justice

More Resources

General Resources when Action Planning

Planning Actions
Media & Messaging
Action Support

Questions? Contact Actions Circle