2019 WAS MASSIVE! A stocktake …

From that Friday last November when we first watched the XR Talk together, we’ve met every fortnight at WEA and built a community that has achieved so much this year. We’ve had a continual influx of new people and different rebels constantly emerging to coordinate new activities.

• January – got a huge Open Letter published in Dom Post newspaper calling on government to tell the truth and declare climate emergency. We joined other XR groups in a weekend digital hui.
• March – took part in the huge school strike, then held a weekend camp at Staveley.
• April – Got ECan and Chch City Councils to declare a climate emergency, after a couple of civil disobedience actions – shutting off ECan’s water and holding a Performance Review – plus direct presentations to each council.
• May – Sure to Rise rally marking sea-level rise and blocking Ferry Rd with a canoe.
• June – presented to Zero Carbon Bill hearings.
• July – surveyed local body candidates on their attitude towards climate crisis.
• Aug – stopped the coal trains for a day to disrupt coal production and export. Tusker, The Elephant in the Room, stood for ECan and his presence graced many occasions.
• Sept –XRŌ rebels joined a Dunedin blockade of NZ Mining Forum where Mayor Dave Cull declared coal companies not welcome in that city; we also helped blockade the Petroleum Conference in Queenstown (a morale booster for the Qtown and Invercargill XR groups).
• October – we joined 400 or so rebels from around NZ to start off the Global XR Week of Action by blocking central Wellington roads, blockading the MBIE office and occupying ANZ and OMV offices.
• November – disrupted the NZ Gas Forum’s conference, and also NZ First conference, with an Open Letter to Winston Peters on NZF’s continued blockage of climate legislation. XRŌ rebels supported Greenpeace’s action in boarding & stopping OMV’s deep sea oil rig supply ship for 3 days in Timaru.
• December – supported Western Sahara campaign and maritime workers union with a flotilla and land rally to disrupt the ship bringing Ravensdown’s blood phosphate.

We’ve also set up a samba band, done lots of non-violent direct action trainings, held a liberation theatre workshop and sessions of meditation, singing, ecstatic dance and art socials to create a huge variety of flags, banners, t-shirts, animal masks, posters… We’ve presented the XR Talk monthly for the whole year and given numerous talks on XR to other groups.

We’ve built a community where it’s safe to share our grief and rage and fear. Where we continually gain energy and inspiration from working together in so very many ways – feeding the rebels, booking venues, getting arrested, screen-printing t-shirts, samba drumming, song carrying, being police liaison, just being there, watching out for conflict and stress, teaching de-escalation skills, making videos, giving the Talk, ringing up supporters, making flags, keeping the accounts, offering decolonisation training, providing a trailer, spreading the word on social media, being the spokesperson… Everyone’s input is invaluable.

We are learning so much – how to work together in a decentralized way, take personal initiative, think through the purpose of our actions, communicate respectfully, reach out to others, take care of ourselves and others, have fun! We are building the new society that we will need.

2020 – WHAT’S NEXT

Focus and Direction – newly formed circle, meets Tuesday 17 Dec 6.30-8pm. All welcome. What’s XRŌ’s focus for 2020? How do we get there? We had an initial brainstorm on how we could get central and local government to act on XR’s four demands:

• Tell the truth – and declare a climate and ecological emergency to communicate the need for urgent change to the public
• Act now – halt biodiversity loss and reduce greenhouse emissions to net zero by 2025
• Go beyond politics: create and be led by a Citizens’ Assembly on climate and ecological justice.
• Climate justice – decolonize our society

Want to join this discussion? Come along, we’ll be meeting fortnightly Tuesdays 6.30pm through the summer. Reply on this email or email torfrida@snap.net.nz, or check XRŌ General on MM.

Mid-March – a weekend XRŌ hui at Staveley is booked in. More info coming.

XR Aotearoa plans – XR local groups are working on a collective national Action Strategy for the coming year, and are holding a virtual hui by zoom this Monday/Tuesday 16/17 Dec, 10am – 2pm. All welcome. If you’re on Mattermost, check out the draft national Action Strategy & details of the hui on the Announcements channel, or for more info contact torfrida@snap.net.nz.

The next Global XR Day of Action will be on Easter Monday 13 April. Tāmaki Makaurau/Auckland and Ōtautahi/Chch are likely to be focal points for action in each island.

April is also the expected time for the next global School Strike.

JOIN THE TIMEBANK

Rebecca is investigating XRŌ joining the Addington Timebank, and we are all encouraged to join too. Rebels could earn time credits for their activities and those of us not able to do the same could pay them back with our time.

THANK YOU, WEA!

True to their progressive roots, our wonderful Canterbury WEA is sponsoring XRŌ for another year from their Environmental Fund by allowing us to hold meetings there free of charge. Claire will have a thank you card for us to express our gratitude at the next Heartbeat. This central base has been invaluable. Many thanks to Dave E, Lottie and the WEA council.

CITIZENS ASSEMBLIES

Interest in CAs is building since the recent Wellington conference organised by Aotearoa Climate Emergency (ACE). Phil Saxby of ACE is asking for our feedback on his CA ideas. Please contact Phil on wonderphilnz@gmail.com

Sustainable Ōtautahi Christchurch also has a CA initiative going – Fay is exploring this.

Regular Notices

“This is not a drill” – a great XR handbook, available from Scorpio Books, USB etc, $27.

Seedling & produce koha swop – you are warmly encouraged to bring your excess garden produce, jams, baking etc to Hearbeat and any other XRŌ gathering, AND/OR to fill your pockets with loose change to drop in the Koha bucket in exchange for these! Yum

Joining Mattermost – We use XRŌ’s Facebook page and group to share events, ideas, articles etc with the public. We use Mattermost closed chat room for organising & action planning. MM is open-source, secure and has no paywall. It’s easy to get into – contact Dave E, he’ll talk you through it dave.evansii@gmail.com

When We Meet Face to Face – The Circles & the Heartbeat

The Talk – we’ve been presenting the XR Talk on the first Friday of the month. We’re evaluating this and in 2020 may change to shorter talks to more varied audiences in other venues. Let us know if you’d like an XR presentation to your organisation/workplace etc.

350Chch’s monthly discussion/film night is on 3rd Friday of the month at WEA. Next film night is Friday 17 January – more info coming.

Heartbeat – XRŌ’s fortnightly session for updates, mini-workshops, singing, debate, samba band and more… Heartbeat is held on the 2nd & 4th Fridays of the month. Next one is Friday 10 January 7.30pm at WEA, 59 Gloucester St

The Circles

Outreach & Lobbying circle – meets 2nd and 4th Thursdays of the month at 5.30 at WEA, 59 Gloucester St, next meeting: Thurs 9 January 5.30pm at WEA (to be confirmed), all welcome! Contact Torfrida torfrida@snap.net.nz 021 107 3937 The time may change if it’s hard for people.

The Talk – Are you interested in learning how to give the talk? Or interested in helping contribute to the research that goes into the talk…contact Racquel racqueljwilson@gmail.com

Action circle – meets Mondays 6.45 – 8.30pm, contact Sara C sarasski@hotmail.com

Creative circle – Banners need to be created and painted, and there is always rock painting too…. for more details check out the Mattermost channel or contact Tim trmusson@gmail.com

Regenerative circle – contact Sarah (sarah.tay.nz@gmail.com) if you’d like to be part of this circle which takes care of XRŌers in all sorts of ways from food to conflict resolution and more.

Infrastructure circle – does admin & good potlucks, meets mostly 5.30pm before Heartbeat on 2nd and 4th Fridays, next meeting Friday 10 Jan, 5.30pm at the WEA. Contact Dave E dave.evansii@gmail.com

Have a merry XRMAS, in love and rage

Torfrida, Adele and Dave

Anyone who’d like to donate to our XR Ōtautahi Christchurch group can do so at Kiwibank: XROtautahiChristchurch, ac. number 38-9002-0331592-07

A gathering of more than 40 people, that also included members of Extinction Rebellion, Forest & Bird and the Outdoors Party, Save Our Springs, on Thursday rallied outside the council building in Richmond before a meeting…

READ MORE

Source: https://www.stuff.co.nz/environment/118124276/environmental-group-issues-sos-over-te-waikoropup-springs-in-golden-bay

photo and article by CHERIE SIVIGNON/STUFF

Climate action organisations 350 Aotearoa and Coal Action Network Aotearoa commend New Zealand’s Crown Research Institutes’ phase-out of coal burning in their operations, with the final two users, Plant and Food Research and Landcare Research decommissioning their coal boiler at the Lincoln Science Centre Campus. The boiler formerly burnt over 200,000 kilograms of coal per year, and is being replaced with electric heating.

“The Institutes’ decision to stop using coal for heating is a direct result of internal pressure from Crown Research Institute staff, as well as citizen-led campaigns by Coal Action Network Aotearoa, 350 Aotearoa, Fossil Free Aoraki and Extinction Rebellion,” said 350 Aotearoa spokesperson Claudia Palmer. “In the midst of a climate crisis no organisation – least of all a Government-owned science institute – should be burning coal.”

Coal Action Network Aotearoa spokesperson Tim Jones said “It is great news that Crown Research Institutes have decided to stop using carbon-intensive coal that is contributing to the climate crisis and keeping the coal industry afloat. Coal is a dirty, climate-destroying fuel, and we must not mine or burn any more of it. The Government needs to lead the way by making all public institutions coal-free and fossil fuel-free.”

Palmer said “Stopping burning coal in our research institutes must be the first step of many for this government to reduce New Zealand’s fossil fuel use. 350 Aotearoa supports the Government’s announcement today to invest $200 million to move the public sector estate onto clean, renewable energy. However, it is also vital that Government-owned funds such as ACC and NZ Super Fund live up to climate principles – these public funds must stop investing in fossil fuel companies and reinvest in industries that provide solutions to transitioning to a zero-carbon society.”

“There’s no time to waste,” said Tim Jones. “In 2020, we’ll be keeping the pressure on for the Government to withdraw all of its support – both institutional and financial – for the coal industry.”

© Scoop Media

READ MORE

Source: https://www.stuff.co.nz/southland-times/southland-top-stories/118108332/environment-southland-releases-draft-climate-change-action-plan

photo Rachael Kelly/Stuff

by Rachael Kelly

We know that the government’s Zero Carbon Act is incompatible with a thriving Aotearoa. Our West Coast is under water. This is the gap that civil disobedience bridges. Politics alone will not work.

Let Me Into XR !

Local Groups have regular meetings listed here and on facebook.

Sunday 15 December: Piha 1 year Celebration

XR Tamaki Makaurau has been in rebellion for a whole year. Celebrate with us as we wrap up the year.

4pm – 7pm Piha Beach. More info and RSVP.

Wednesday 18 December: Ranui Workshop

Our ‘Heading for Extinction and What To Do About It’ workshops are the entry point to XR. Hear the latest science and find out what role we play as citizens.

7.30pm – 9pm Ranui Community Centre  More info and RSVP.

Thursday 19 December: Auckland Central Last Meeting

Our last meeting of 2019 will have a lighter, social element. Bring some food and finish the year with us.

6.30pm – 8pm Gribblehirst Hub, Sandringham. More info and RSVP.

I Want to Help !

Anyone who agrees with our three demands and ten key principles and values can take action as Extinction Rebellion. 

1. Learn the history of peaceful civil resistance with this awesome docco
2. Make sure you’re on Mattermost, our internal chat platform. Email hhuuww@protonmail.com for the access link !
3. The rebellion won’t be televised, but we’ll need your help paying for the barricades. Please donate an hour’s wage a month: 38-9020-0397608-00

Want more info on local groups ? 

Central: contact Huw hhuuww@protonmail.com

Waitakere: contact Lucette lucettehindin@gmail.com

From your friendly local rebel,

Huw

Extinction Rebellion Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland

auckland@extinctionrebellion.nz | https://extinctionrebellion.nz/auckland 

Around 100 people have been braving high winds and heavy rain to demand the Austrian oil giant surrenders it’s permit to explore for oil and gas in New Zealand.

Protestors have been blocking all entrances to OMV’s New Plymouth headquarters, forcing its employees to stay away from work for two full days so far.

Andrew Duncan from Kapiti spent his 74th birthday on the barricades of the protest.

“The world is falling apart and we need to hold it together. This is where I chose to be – the issue is too important to stay away,” he says.

The Greenpeace-led occupation includes a wide range of people from around the country and has representatives from the School Strike 4 Climate movement, Extinction Rebellion, 350 Aotearoa, Oil Free Wellington, Climate Justice Taranaki, and more.

Greenpeace is calling on OMV to surrender its permits and stop all oil and gas exploration in New Zealand. Programme Director, Niamh O’Flynn, says Taranaki could be a prosperous clean energy hub in New Zealand.

“What is needed is the political will to justly transition these workers away from a dying industry and into renewables. That should be championed by the corporates currently making money out of this climate crisis,” she says.

Tuesday, 3 December 2019, 5:39 pm
Press Release: Greenpeace New Zealand

“We’re going to create an opportunity for people to learn about the issues and engage with us as they move around the area.”

READ MORE

SOURCE:https://www.stuff.co.nz/waikato-times/news/117839625/climate-action-group-disrupts-hamiltonians-during-busy-black-friday-shopping-weekend

Organic molasses meant to resemble oil, was drizzled down the steps of his office by Extinction Rebellion…

A member of Extinction Rebellion Aotearoa has posted on Facebook that Simon told the group in October that rather than target the Ministry for Business, Innovation and Employment over the Austrian-based oil company OMV, it should target the government instead…

SOURCE: https://sunlive.co.nz/news/228120-bridges-condemns-climate-protest-vandalism.html

The three-day protest started with about 50 people at 7am and is the latest in a series of protests against the oil company.

In an emailed statement, Greenpeace New Zealand programme director Niamh O’Flynn said the organisation was bringing the resistance to OMV’s front door step.

“If we stand any hope of averting a climate catastrophe we need to rid ourselves of this final villain looking for new oil and gas that we just can’t afford to burn…

READ MORE

SOURCE: https://www.stuff.co.nz/environment/117857316/greenpeace-brings-oil-protest-to-new-plymouth