>> Strategic Action Ingredients
1. Clear targets.
Polling continues to show that there is sympathy with our message but not with public disruption. Let’s choose action targets that make immediate sense without explanation.
2. Intelligence.
Fossil fuel companies have been effectively targeted by the infiltration of Annual General Meetings (AGMs), grabbing headlines with little resources. Actions against local ties to fossil fuels can be impactful but need community-inviting designs that bring more groups together and extra sensitivity around employment.
3. Accountability.
Nonviolent direct action is a broad category and while many of us like nothing more than seeing TikTok videos of letting down SUV tyres, it is important that we keep Extinction Rebellion UK an inclusive space so that people who have never taken action before can feel safe and invited to join. The movement remains committed to accountability - standing by actions of conscience.
4. Storytelling.
Climate and Ecological Emergency (CEE) will be very visible during the hot summer and the lead up to CoP28 in November; both are opportunities to bring more people into direct action. Climate justice, global inequality, reparations and debt cancellation campaigns are even more central at this time and groups should be prepared to support local diaspora communities of the most affected regions. Highlighting media corruption and political failure remains a story we want to tell.
5. Creativity.
‘Flatpack’ actions with messaging and templates that are easily shared and customised, eg. Dirty Water signs or origami boat letters can take off nationwide.
New XRUK messaging & design pack will be available on July 30th.
6. People’s Pickets
These were developed for The Big One to bring groups with separate campaigns together around common targets. Think of using this model to invite collaboration and defection from within corporations and in solidarity with trade union pickets, which have legal restraints on the numbers of unionists that can demonstrate at once.
7. Inclusivity.
Fascist behaviour and narratives which scapegoat migrants, travellers, trans people and Black, Indigenous and communities of colour, should be fought. It’s not enough to not be racist. Time to be anti-racist.
8. Pride.
Each action you do as Extinction Rebellion sends a signal to others that we stand together. While it is always right to be respectful of other groups’ wishes, it is of no use to the wider ecology of movements for XRUK to hide itself when it is recognition that attracts people to XRUK and that is valuable to other movements.
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