Kia ora Wellington rebels, friends and whānau

We hope you’re staying warm in this somewhat balmy Wellington winter. We’ve been making the most of this mild weather to rebel for life!

 

Here’s the Coalest Little Capital Eviction Tour…

Wellington rebels issued eviction notices to our city’s worst climate criminals on 27 July, visiting coal miners Bathurst, coal burners Fonterra, coal lobbyists Straterra and coal bureaucrats at MBIE. More details below and more actions to come.

Extinction Rebellion Te Whanaganui-A-Tara is standing alongside our local and national sibling groups – 350.org, Greenpeace, the School Strikers, Gen Zero, Forest and Bird, and others. We’re talking, strengthening ties, and  supporting each other’s mahi as we scale up for global actions in September and October. After all, we all have the same goals to save the planet for ourselves, our kids and all the other amazing creatures we love and need! There’s strength in kotahitanga and if we act together we can still change the future. You can be part of it.

Here’s what’s happening:

Extinction Rebellion public talk – 1pm, Saturday 10 August & Saturday 24 August

Heard about Extinction Rebellion (XR) and want to know more? Come join us at this public talk on the science of the climate and ecological crisis, the effects it will have on Aotearoa, who XRANZ are and what we‘re doing to stop the worst catastrophes from happening to our planet and our children’s future. Dr. Sea Rotmann, a coral reef ecologist, will give the talk followed by a Q&A. It’s at Stillwaters Community House, 327 Willis St.

Climate Crisis Community Circle – 2pm, Saturday 10 August & Saturday 24 August

Stay on after the public talk or turn up at 2pm to just connect with others who care, listen and say what’s in your heart. It can be hard not to feel helpless in the face of the crisis we’re facing – but you’re not alone. Any and all, new or familiar, are welcomed with warmth and aroha to our Climate Crisis Community Circle sessions.

XR planning meetings – every second Saturday

If you’ve already come to a public talk, newcomers meeting, a 4C session or an action and you’re keen to get more involved with XR organising, admin, art, comms, social media and a whole range of other things, come along  to our planning meetings every second Saturday, 11am at Stillwaters House, 327 Willis St. Next meeting is 17 August.

Help Greenpeace serve OMV’s eviction notice – Wednesday 14 August, from 7am

A peaceful, family-friendly protest to hand oil giant OMV an eviction notice that has been signed by tens of thousands of New Zealanders. Come along and tell them their environment-destroying operations are not welcome here, or anywhere! Meet 7am, St Johns in the City, 170 Willis St. Facebook event.

Living the Change – Wednesday 14 August, 6pm.

A chance to connect with others who care, hosted by Forest and Bird Wellington, this film explores solutions we can all be part of, through the inspiring stories of people pioneering change in their own lives and communities. Stay on for a talk from Phil Stevens, Chair of Living Economies, and Josje Neerincx and Frank van Steensel of Wairarapa Eco Farm. At Memorial Theatre, Victoria University. Facebook event.

Accelerate – 6pm, Monday 19 August

A new film from 350.org about the necessity of massive mobilisation to avoid climate breakdown. The film follows founder, writer and legendary “reluctant activist” Bill McKibben. Watch the trailer.  At Victoria University, Pipitea Campus. Another great chance to meet like-minded people, indulge in some free snacks, get inspired and bring friends to join you in fighting for our planet! Facebook event.

Photo: The awesome Kate, who we love, has been alongside Ollie for most of his vigil.

Ollie’s 100th day at Parliament – Friday 23 August

On 23 August, Thathumbleman, Ollie Langridge, will have spent 100 days on Parliament lawn demanding the NZ Parliament declares a climate emergency. Along with School Strikers and others, we’ll be showing support and aroha on his 100th day so join anytime throughout the day. See you there ♥ Facebook event.

Learn the art of peaceful civil disobedience – Sunday 25 August

We’re offering training in the fine art of non-violent direct action – really important as we start to scale up for actions in late September and early October.  Next session is Sunday 25 August, starting around 9am and finishing before 3pm. Exact time and location will be confirmed on Facebook.

General Earth Strike global event – 20 September.

Wellington plans to be announced. Watch this newsletter or Facebook for information.

Draw the line on climate crime: XR coal action 2 – 21 September

Save the date! Wellington is home to some of NZ’s biggest coal companies and advocates. We’re upping the ante to show Wellingtonians who have no idea what’s happening in their own little capital city, and send a message to the coal companies – you can’t hide any longer. Watch Facebook for more details, and see below for more on Wellington’s coal criminals.

School Strike for Climate – 27 September

Support our young people so they can have a future too.

XR Aotearoa Rebel Camp in Wellington – 5-9 October.

Details to be announced. Watch this newsletter or Facebook as we release information. Contact [email protected] if you want to be involved.

Global XR Week of Action: XR Aotearoa action in Wellington – 7-13 October.

Details to be announced. Watch this newsletter or Facebook as we release more information.

New to XR?

If you’re new to XR (as many of us are), might be wondering how things work and who we are in XR Te Whanganui-a-Tara / Wellington? We’re ordinary people – parents, grandparents, workers, geeks, students, professionals, volunteers… We’re probably a bit like you. And we’ve become too concerned about the climate and ecological emergency to do nothing. So we’re using action, creativity, fun, a little bit of peaceful civil disobedience and minor disruption to raise awareness of how short time is and to demand urgent action. Come to our next Saturday public talk (see above) or stay tuned for opportunities to get involved.

For more info and news visit extinctionrebellion.nz and sign up, join our Extinction Rebellion Te Whanganui-a-Tara Wellington Facebook group, or check out our Extinction Rebellion Te Whanganui-a-Tara / Wellington news and events page.

Finally:

You can help the rebellion in lots of ways! Saving the planet isn’t free. Event costs, publicity, art, legal support, transport and basic support … we need donations, and we’d be super grateful for any contribution, big or small. Bank account is 38-9020-0391783-00 – EXTINCTION REBELLION TE WHANGANUI-A-TARA/WELLINGTON. Thank you!!!

In love and outrage

 

PS: In case you’re not ready to stop yet, read on for an on-the-day account of the Coalest Little Capital Eviction Tour:

A little-known dark fact of Wellington is that it is actually home to come of NZ’s biggest coal companies and advocates. On 27 July we hosted a tour of four of the biggest baddies, highlighting Welly’s less promotional title of the “Coalest Little Capital.” We visited Bathurst- NZ’s biggest mining company, who as BT Mining dug up over 2 million tonnes of coal from NZ soil in 2017. Fonterra, who burned 500 000 tonnes of coal in 2017- that’s 837,000 tonnes of CO2 emissions to make milk into milk powder. Next, Straterra, the coal industry lobbyists who push their coal-driven agenda into government policy. And lastly, NZ Petroleum and Minerals, part of the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment- public servants who continue to perpetuate coal mining for the “economic benefit” of kiwis. Complete with microphone, banners, and (washable) chalk spray, we took a big group of energetic, chanting Wellingtonians along to serve these four climate criminals with eviction notices. We were noisy, we were visible; we sent a message not just to the targets, but to the public who have no idea of the coal advocacy going on within our city. Now awareness is growing- but this is far from over. We are watching the coal companies of Wellington. And we will not let them carry on untroubled any longer. More to come on 21 September, Rebels!