Upgrade Democracy

joining hundreds of other ‘rebels’ in windsor

Around 25 rebels from Nottingham made the visit to Windsor at the end of August to Upgrade Democracy. Some of us camped, others came down for one day.

It was so energising to spend time with like minded people and the mass (ass)embly on Saturday afternoon gave us all a glimpse of what our democracy could look like – everyone’s voice on upgrading our democracy being heard and debated. Debate that wasn’t dominated and influenced by the fossil fuel companies or the oligarchs controlling our media.

Citizen’s Assemblies – XR’s 3rd demand – is needed now more than ever before as our world leaders continue to fail to take the Climate and Nature crisis seriously enough, despite the evidence from around the world telling them otherwise with floods, droughts and storms occurring on every continent.

More information, photos and links to the livestreams can be found on the XRUK website.

 

Defend Our Juries

Extinction rebellion nottingham join defend our juries campaign

High court dismisses case against Trudi Warner following public demonstrations of support across England and Wales.

Members of XR Nottingham were honoured to have supported this campaign. With 4 visits to the Nottingham Crown Court over the last few months (in all weather!).

This campaign created a huge boost and support for the case of Trudi Warner who has arrested and threatened with the possibility of a prison sentence for the very same action…. of holding up a sign stating the rights of juries.

Trudi’s original protest outside a London court was born out of concern about the increasing restrictions being placed on defendants in climate trials, which in effect removed their ability to explain their motivations for their peaceful but disruptive actions to a jury.

Read the Full Story in The Canary

Defend our Juries Campaign press release

COP28 : a betrayal

message of COP28 betrayal written on umbrellas and banner

statement from XR Nottingham 

Wed 13th December

COP 28 was a betrayal. After the hottest year on record, it is a complete failure that the COP summit didn’t actually agree to phase out fossil fuels. The lack of decisive action will directly result in the suffering and death of many people around the world, many of whom are already experiencing the impact of climate breakdown.

Climate breakdown will also directly impact UK and Nottinghamshire citizens through more heatwaves, droughts and flooding. The food we rely on from other countries is already less plentiful and prices will continue to rise.

Scientists and engineers already have the solutions to provide enough clean, renewable energy for all humanity, but this won’t stop global heating unless we also stop burning all fossil fuels.

Temperatures could be held at a 1.5C rise if governments acted rapidly to introduce these technologies. But to remain at 1.5c we need rapid action, not vague encouragement.

We are in a climate and nature crisis but once again world leaders have caved in to the power of the fossil fuel industry. The president of this COP was actually the head of the United Arab Emirates state oil company. Would you invite a weapons manufacturer to dominate a peace conference if you were serious about wanting peace?

The agreement from COP28 has been sold as groundbreaking, but really, after 28 years of debate, it is just stating the obvious – that we need to transition away from fossil fuels!

Right now the world is still creating more and more emissions from fossil fuels each year. This latest agreement is full of empty pledges and loopholes. There are no commitments, no legal requirements, no accountability and no justice for the global south or vulnerable island nations.

There has been almost complete radio silence from our Government about COP 28. They continue to grant hundreds of new licences for oil and gas extraction in the North Sea, on the false argument that it makes us more energy secure – just what the world does not need.

Building alliances and connections

Building strong alliances and connections locally is important because the climate and ecological crisis affects everything and everyone. Here are just a few events, actions and activities to get involved with locally with other groups:

Nottingham Warm Homes

Saturday 18th November 11.30-14.30.
Join to make a community quilt at Tiger Community Hub, in partnership with Friends of the Earth, Warm Homes campaign, Broxtowe Green Umbrella and Climate Action Notts.
Book a free place here.

Gedling Climate and Nature Convention

Saturday 18th November 10.00-15.00
Want to have your say about climate crisis concerns? Head to the Civic Centre, in Arnold to hear expert speakers, ask questions, raise concerns and learn what we can do to address the climate and nature emergency.
Book a free place here

Greenpeace Operation Climate Vote

A few ways to join the exciting new Greenpeace campaign, canvassing locally to make a green vote in the next election…
Go to the next meeting on Monday 4th December 6-7pm at Shop Zero, Friar Lane.
Or go to the upcoming canvassing:
Bulwell on 13th November or Toton on 19th November. Contact email hidden; JavaScript is required for details and training.
Nottingham Greenpeace Website.

Tiger Meets Lion Fundraising Gig

Saturday 9th December from 4pm.
Support Tiger CIC in their upcoming move and continuation alongside Punks 4 the Homeless. Acoustic music, lovely vegan food and community building in action.
Book tickets here.

Film at Mammoth Climate Cinema

Would you like to see a film about how it all began? Mammoth Climate Cinema are screening Conscientious Protectors: A Story of Rebellion Against Extinction, including a Q&A with the director afterwards. Friday 17th November from 6pm.  Book tickets here.

Protest against bee-killing pesticides

Bees are in trouble

While insect populations crash, the UK Government decided for a third year in a row and against the advice of its own experts, to allow ‘neonics’ to be used on sugar beet crop in fields around Newark.

Over 100 people gathered in newark

People from various environmental groups in Newark and also XR rebels from around the Midlands joined forces to protest around the town centre, with samba drumming and a little bit of theatrics (see the video above).

The problem

  • Neonics’ are 7,000 times more toxic to bees than DDT, one teaspoon is enough to kill 1.25 billion honeybees. It is a danger to many other insects too.
  • They are used to coat sugar beet seeds (instead of spraying) but up to 90% of the pesticide ends up in the soil and nearby water courses.
  • Scientists estimate that insect populations have declined in abundance by 75% in the last 50 years
  • We are in a climate and nature crisis yet our government is choosing to decimate insect populations which are vital for pollination.

take action

  • Support Protect Newark’s Green Spaces campaign demanding an end to the use of these bee killing pesticides.
  • If you have a garden, avoid pesticides, leave patches of land to go wild and let wildflowers grow.
  • Take photos of the pollinators you attract and share on social media tagging @xrnewark and @xrnottm

    #SaveOurBees #Ecocide #Neonics #Pollinators

We’re heading to The Big One!

Over 400 people from nottingham heading to the big one 

This weekend over 400 Nottingham climate campaigners will join an estimated 100,000 people in London to demand urgent Government action on the climate and biodiversity crises. Extra buses have been arranged to The Big One, action which is expected to be the biggest ever held in the UK. 

from April 21st-24th in london

The programme for the weekend will include speakers including the naturalist, author and TV presenter Chris Packham, music and family friendly activities. People who have never been to a demonstration before, and people representing many different national and local organisations are travelling to Westminster.

climate survey 

Surveys conducted by campaigners in the city, Beeston, Mapperley, West Bridgford and Sherwood over the last 3 months show that 80% of people are either terrified or seriously concerned about the climate crisis. A similar percentage thought that our Government is not doing anywhere near enough about it. Their voices are not being heard and The Big One will take that message to our politicians.

Over 20 different local organisations are coming together for The Big One including Nottingham Wildlife Trust and Gedling Climate Action Group and also supported by local businesses such as the Tiger Hub Community Cafe, Mammoth Climate Action Cinema and Veggies Catering.

Over 200 national organisations are supporting – including Greenpeace, Friends of the Earth, PCS union and CAFOD (the Catholic Agency for Overseas Development)

Bus Tickets Available

You can by day return tickets here or make your own way to the event! Join our email list to stay connected to other Nottingham people. 
Friday bus 2
Saturday bus 2

XR UK Bus Tour

XR UK bus tour visits Nottingham

On Fri 23rd September volunteers form XR Nottingham came out with great enthusiasm to support the ‘bus stop’ in Nottingham – even though we were without a bus (it had to be left incongruously in Arnold with the outreach ‘kit’ transfer to a much smaller vehicle!)

During the day we signed up over 60 people to our email list.

west bridgford and city centre

We set up in West Bridgford and then in front of the Brian Clough statue in the city centre to talk to people passing by, do some art block printing and to engage them with our survey and hopefully sign them up to the email list.

The many conversations covered the energy crisis, cost of living crisis, the climate and ecological crisis and government inaction on both of these. We talked about Citizens’ Assemblies as a way to ‘upgrade democracy’ and help to tackle these issues.

Leicester and derby

Because the bus stayed in Nottingham for a few days, a few volunteers set off in a small car and small van to transport crew and kit to Derby then Leicester and back to Nottingham. Both places had picked quieter spots, Derby had talks and training, then Leicester invited both XR members and people from other groups to participate in a People’s Assembly as a way of demonstrating collaborative, fair and democratic ways  for groups to make decisions and plans.

There was still time to engage with the public and the results of talking to the public in both these places can be seen on the survey board. 

Sit For Climate

Extinction rebellion nottingham join the global campaign sit for climate

Every Saturday at 11am for just 10mins, you can join this action. Get a small group of friends together. Make a sign. Use the hashtag #SitForClimate and post on your social media. Or just chat to people passing by.

If you want to join XR Nottingham, get in touch on email hidden; JavaScript is required or follow our Telegram Broadcast for details of where we will be.

sit for climate

everyone : everywhere : every week

This campaign has been created by an independent group – find more details here on their website

Marcha a Glasgow and the Human Skittles

spanish activists visit nottingham

A group of 9 Spanish activists from Zaragoza in Northern Spain are walking from Portsmouth and arriving 30th October in Glasgow for COP26.

As they passed through Nottingham on Tue 12th Oct, we entertained them with a quick game of ‘human skittles’ each highlighting a human activity causing the climate crisis.

follow their journey

Follow the ‘Marcha a Glasgow’
Join their facebook group

Some local press coverage here

Words from one of the group, Maribel Roldón,  “Science tells us that the future of humanity depends on what happens at the Climate Change Summit (COP26) in Glasgow in November 2021. It’s our very last chance to take effective action.”

Spanish activists and Nottingham human skittles

the human causes of climate change

The skittles have signs representing some of these causes listed below..

1. Road Transport 11.9%
Cars and Lorries transporting people (60%) and goods (40%) release mainly Carbon Dioxide (CO2) from burning petrol and diesel a fossil fuel.

2. Household energy 10.9%
Heating, Cooking and electricity generate CO2 from the energy industry and directly at home from the burning of oil, gas and coal fossil fuels and firewood.

3. Industry 10.6%
The chemical process used in Cement manufacture releases CO2.  Large amounts of energy are also needed in cement manufacture and industry which release CO2 from the energy industry

4. Unallocated fuel combustion – running the energy industry, nuclear biomass etc 7.8%
For example, the production of nuclear fuel is a very energy intense process requiring energy normally from the burning of fossil fuels on site. Burning biomass, usually wood chips or pellets, directly releases CO2. Hydroelectric storage of energy will often be fed by fossil fuel powered generation of electricity, releasing CO2.

5. Iron and Steel 7.2%
The iron and steel energy both uses huge amounts of energy for the temperatures required and uses coke (a fossil fuel) as part of the manufacturing process, releasing large amounts of CO2.

6. Commercial energy use 6.6%
Lighting, computers, running appliances and machines in offices, shops restaurants and other commercial buildings from the burning of oil, gas and coal fossil fuels.

7. LiveStock 5.8%
Microbes in the digestive tracts of mainly ruminants such as cattle and sheep release methane, a much more powerful greenhouse gas than carbon dioxide.

8. Chemical and Petrochemical 5.8%
Chemical processes release CO2 as a biproduct which is often used in other industries but it ultimately is released into the atmosphere. Large amounts of energy are used to drive chemical processes which releases CO2 in the energy industry.

9. Flaring and methane leaks from fossil fuel industry 5.8%
Mining coal and drilling for oil results in accidental release of methane. Natural gas is methane and burning it for energy production is supposedly “cleaner” in that it produces more energy for the amount of CO2 dioxide released.  However, being a much more powerful greenhouse gas than CO2 the amount that is lost in leaks doesn’t make it any “cleaner” than coal.

In order to deal with excess methane, oil and gas companies burn it without using the energy.  This is known as flaring and directly releases  CO2 into the atmosphere.

10. Deforestation and crop burning 5.7%
Deforestation reduces the amount of carbon able to be stored in forests and forest soils. This also reduces biodiversity and habitats pushing more species towards extinction.

Crop burning, the practice of burning residual plant material after harvest, releases CO2, methane and nitrous oxide greenhouse gases directly into the atmosphere.

11. Agriculture soils (Artificial fertilisers) 4.1 %
Nitrates released by artificial fertiliser breakdown are a very strong greenhouse gas.  Use of artificial fertilisers and pesticides reduces the soil’s ability to sequester CO2 naturally making the situation worse. Annual monoculture crops also require a large energy input to grow and reduce biodiversity.

12. Shipping and aviation 3.6%
81% of aviation emission come from passenger and 19% from goods.  Burning Kerosene, a fossil fuel, release carbon dioxide

Shipping of goods and passengers, releases CO2 from burning diesel and petrol.

13. Organic Landfill 1.9%
>Biodegradable and compostable material buried in landfill do not breakdown properly due to a lack of oxygen.  Instead, it releases methane, a much more powerful green house gas than CO2, over decades.

Source : Our World in Data (2020)
https://ourworldindata.org/ghg-emissions-by-sector

 

COP26 – what is your plan?

COP26 in Glasgow this autumn 
is the last chance for action.

What is COP? Governments from around the world met for the first ‘COP’ in 1995. Since then, there have been 25 meetings which have all failed to prevent us heading for climate catastrophe. Carbon emissions have continued to rise… by over 50% since 1990!

COP26 banner

Targets but no Action

The UK government are failing on their own target of net zero by 2050. A target utterly inadequate to make a meaningful difference to the crisis we are facing.

Greenwash

This is when we’re told something is happening, or the figures are misleading. The UK emissions may have gone down, but without including aviation, shipping and all the goods and food we buy from overseas – this is greenwash!

view of clumber st shoppers and rebels on ladders

It could be so different!

Will our leaders come up with a real plan?
If governments were serious there would be a wartime-style mobilisation of resources.
There are many solutions for a green and fair future for all of us. With secure jobs, warm homes, clean air, healthy food and space for nature & wildlife.

what caN YOU DO?

Click ‘Get Involved‘ and join the email list and find your place within our movement.
Join us and the COP26 Coalition on Sat Nov 6th from 1pm
for a globally co-ordinated day of action.
1pm Meet at the Forest Recreation Ground
2pm walking down Mansfield Road
3pm arriving in the Market Square

‘Ladders’ action

Photos today from our action on Clumber Street on Sat 9th Oct. The sombre messages seem to have an impact on people passing by and really helps provoke thought and allow us to start some conversations about the climate and ecological crisis and talk about COP26.

rebel on step ladder holding sign - vanishing arctic
rebel on step ladder holding sign - rising seas
email sign up table
rebel on step ladder holding sign - floods drought