Events

Media contacts

  • National media liaison Simon Oosterman is available on 027 526 8704.
  • Email [email protected] for inquiries about specific actions or to get in touch with the spokesperson for your region

About

What

An international week of civil disobedience to avert climate, ecological and human catastrophe. It starts in New Zealand. In Britain, where the group began, protesters will gridlock London by blocking roads and it’s underground rail network [1]. Here, actions will be less disruptive than planned as the first day of action is the one month commemoration of the Christchurch massacre.

When

Monday 15 to Sunday 21 April.

Where

Auckland, Thames (Hauraki), Tauranga, Masterton, Wellington, Nelson, Christchurch, Dunedin.

Who

Extinction Rebellion (XR) is a new social movement that aims to protect people and the planet. It uses non-violent direct action (NVDA) to stop climate chaos and biodiversity loss. XR believes mass civil-disobedience is necessary as other strategies are too slow or have failed to stop the mass extinction event currently underway.

Why

The UN says we have 11 years to take action to limit climate chaos and reduce the risk of extreme heat, drought, flooding and poverty. [2] 60% of the planet’s animal population has been “wiped out” due to human interference since 1970. [3]

How

XR’s aim is to force central and local Governments to:

  1. Tell the truth about the climate and ecological emergency,
  2. Take the necessary steps* to address it, and
  3. Create participatory democracy to oversee the process.

*Necessary steps include declaring a state of emergency and reducing greenhouse gas emissions to net zero by 2025.

[1] See: https://extinctionrebellion.org.uk/international-rebellion/

[2] Watts, J. (8 Oct 2018) “Global warming must not exceed 1.5c warns landmark UN report” in The Guardian. Available at: https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/oct/08/global-warming-must-not-exceed-15c-warns-landmark-un-report [Last accessed on 1 April 2018]

[3] Carrington, Damian (30 Oct 2018) “Humanity has wiped out 60% of animals since 1970: major report finds” in The Guardian. Available at: https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/oct/30/humanity-wiped-out-animals-since-1970-major-report-finds [Last accessed on 1 April 2018]