XR’s problem is that the only thing holding them together is a generic belief that climate change needs stopping. That in itself is not a fantastic guide for how to behave or respond to different kinds of circumstances. So different parts of the crowd will act in wildly different ways without really much to cohere a consensus around.
Extinction Rebellion
- Thread starter Jeremiah18.17
- Start date
8ball
1,200 lights
Not their only problem, but yeah, that’s one.
Getting that many people to band together and adhere to a 500 page rule book ain’t so easy either to be fair.
FridgeMagnet
Administrator
They have a specific set of principles - it isn't just "anyone can do anything and call themselves XR and that's fine".
8ball
1,200 lights
Not *that* exhaustive on the behaviour front aside from continual internal decision-making and a strong attachment to non-violence, though.
Edit: their 10 principles
T & P
|-o-| (-o-) |-o-|
It’s the Judean People’s Front all over again.
8ball
1,200 lights
Fuck off...
YouSir
Retired from Urban
Have we had this yet? XR Red Handed Rebellion
Do a bit of graffiti and then hand yourself into the police. I have no idea what result they expect from that.
Do a bit of graffiti and then hand yourself into the police. I have no idea what result they expect from that.
8ball
1,200 lights
Bahnhof Strasse
Met up with Hannah Courtoy a week next Tuesday
idea is to clog up the police stations with very minor, self confessed criminal damage cases.
chalk spray + rain might not be so effective tho...
It’s not about a rule book. In fact, the very point is that it’s not about a rule book. Cohesiveness is about deontic behaviour, not prescription of rules. It’s about an internalised set of values that means people behave in a consistent fashion because they identify with that behaviour. XR lack that kind of deontology because they consist in reality of vague wants, not grass roots identity, and no amount of written down principles is going to fix that.
Gramsci
Well-Known Member
The Canning Town XR protest is consistent with XR idea of making the country ungovernable through non violent direct action. Then bringing the government of the day to bring in by law zero carbon by 2025.
The other side of XR is to influence people to see that there is still time to change society radically - which is required if zero carbon is brought in quickly.
The two week "rebellion" in the London was to set up two week camps in the centre of power. Lambeth Bridge for example. XR were planning not just disruption but an alternative presence. Different camps would showcase different sections of XR and try to engage with public.
The occupation of Bank is an example. Very successful.
With the police clamping down from the very beginning XR have been unable to put across their message in ways that aren't disruptive of ordinary peoples lives.
So it leaves XR activists with actions like stopping trains. Then XR are blamed for being purely disruptive.
Another thing too consider. XR attraction for people I've chatted to in last week is that its an open organisation. Its not run like some rigid political party. As long as you sign up to non violence ( against people) and XR basic demands for zero carbon and peoples assemblies the actions one takes aren't dictated by a central Committee.
This can lead to what happened today. Disruption of transport for the ordinary Londoner. A mistake imo.
A problem XR have is that its decentralised . Secondly its having to respond to news on actions quickly.
I didn't support the Canning Town action. But I'm sympathetic to XR due to the actual XR people I have spoken to.
Stopping peaceful protest through Section 14 is going to make it more confrontational.
The other side of XR is to influence people to see that there is still time to change society radically - which is required if zero carbon is brought in quickly.
The two week "rebellion" in the London was to set up two week camps in the centre of power. Lambeth Bridge for example. XR were planning not just disruption but an alternative presence. Different camps would showcase different sections of XR and try to engage with public.
The occupation of Bank is an example. Very successful.
With the police clamping down from the very beginning XR have been unable to put across their message in ways that aren't disruptive of ordinary peoples lives.
So it leaves XR activists with actions like stopping trains. Then XR are blamed for being purely disruptive.
Another thing too consider. XR attraction for people I've chatted to in last week is that its an open organisation. Its not run like some rigid political party. As long as you sign up to non violence ( against people) and XR basic demands for zero carbon and peoples assemblies the actions one takes aren't dictated by a central Committee.
This can lead to what happened today. Disruption of transport for the ordinary Londoner. A mistake imo.
A problem XR have is that its decentralised . Secondly its having to respond to news on actions quickly.
I didn't support the Canning Town action. But I'm sympathetic to XR due to the actual XR people I have spoken to.
Stopping peaceful protest through Section 14 is going to make it more confrontational.
8ball
1,200 lights
Little update. He confirms the action was heavily opposed and a lot of effort went into dissuading the guys in the tube action (and that he didn’t agree with it himself).
Also pretty much in line with what I said insofar as actually stopping non-violent actions (where someone feels the climate emergency is such that an action is justified), they don’t actually stop things.
Which clearly comes with all the attendant problems that we have been discussing for the last few pages.
Gramsci
Well-Known Member
No it was one day occupation. I have photos of it on this thread.
Ah, right.
GarveyLives
Well-Known Member
(Source: as stated in images)
... and scores an own goal of spectacular proportions.
Treacle Toes
Time
^^
Gramsci
Well-Known Member
David R. Boyd, the U.N. special rapporteur on human rights and the environment.
UK clampdown on climate protests sets 'disturbing precedent' - UN rights expert
The backlash against XR starts. XR have been successful in getting threat of climate change back on the political agenda.
So far I think they have done a good job of it.
albionism
A successful virus clinging to a speck of mud.
"it emerged one of the activists is a Buddhist teacher." I wonder if that's the one who aimed a kick at a commuters head ?
8ball
1,200 lights
The odd thing is that whether it was or wasn’t was considered relevant.
not-bono-ever
meh
London Bridge has about 35 coppers along its length this morning- there’s a red badger ordering them about but the shock troops are not badged as met - South Yorkshire by the accents. Also this seasons on trend fashion item is the good old NI troubles glove. Not seen these for a long time
Pickman's model
Starry Wisdom
8ball
1,200 lights
Great, my image search for the scariest red badger I could find was totally wasted.
Best I could manage:
SpookyFrank
A cheap source of teeth for aquarium gravel
Winners of the hotly-contested worst police force in the UK award 39 years on the bounce.
Pickman's model
Starry Wisdom
Badgers in a liverpool top hurling abuse at fans of other teams is scary.
not-bono-ever
meh
It evokes slight odd feeling for me seeing bussed in coppers in my hood.not going to labour the point but you know.
Pickman's model
Starry Wisdom
and given the state of the other police forces in the country that's up against some stiff competition
