Today's version of 'the Climate Games'
- Keeping up with current advocation of rights
- Support from the West
- Civil disobedience
- Practice happening NOW
The rise in truth against commodity culture: Anti-Black Friday Campaigns
(independent.co.uk)
Anti-consumerist protesters have taken part in International Buy Nothing Day since 1992, demonstrating against what activists characterise as the unthinking materialism of the Christmas shopping season.
Invented by Canadian artist Ted Dave, the concept was picked up by the left-wing Vancouver magazine Adbusters - also behind the Occupy Wall Street protest of 2011 - and was popularised in North America before spreading around the wider world as “a day for society to examine the issue of overconsumption” and the problems associated with consumer choices, not least the environmental impact of manufacturing.
Early events took place in typically progressive US cities like San Francisco where supporters marched with banners saying “Stop Shopping, Start Living”, imploring their fellow citizens to lead less status-fixated lives.
As concerns about urban poverty, sustainable farming practices and climate change are increasingly coming to the fore, causes like International Buy Nothing and Shift Your Shopping are asking timely questions about how we spend our money, the global consequences of our selections and what we value as individuals.
The newest example of civil disobedience and consequentialism: Extinction Rebellion
Since hearing about their work blocking the bridges in London, and off the back of my researching, I got involved in the Leeds community which meet every Monday at 20:30 to discuss productive and relevant ways to contest their arguments. Getting involved in such activism gave me a greater insight of the anti-establishment practices going on, and the scope and commitment of everyone involved. These are tremendously safe spaces, where people listen and contribute. It was evident that this is a time where shame is not relevant, as an issue of this magnitude is far beyond the individual.
Such research and participation contributed to a greater understanding of how the future media ecologies may look. With a huge uprise of the younger generation securing their future at any cost. This does not mean violent war, but it does mean non-conformity.
About the movement:
Extinction Rebellion (sometimes shortened as XR) is an international social movement that aims to drive radical change, through nonviolent resistance in order to minimise species extinction and avert climate breakdown. Established in October 2018 after about one hundred academics signing a call to action about the current ecological crisis. In November 2018, various acts of civil disobedience took place in London. The movement is unusual in that a large number of activists have pledged to be arrested and are prepared to go to prison.
Citing inspiration from grassroots movements such as Occupy, Gandhi’s independence movement, the Suffragettes, Martin Luther King and the civil rights movement, Extinction Rebellion intends to rally support worldwide around a common sense of urgency to tackle climate breakdown.
'The science is clear, the facts are incontrovertible, and it is unconscionable to us that our children and grandchildren should have to bear the terrifying brunt of an unprecedented disaster of our own making. [...] Our government is complicit in ignoring the precautionary principle, and in failing to acknowledge that infinite economic growth on a planet with finite resources is non-viable. [...] When a government wilfully abrogates its responsibility to protect its citizens from harm and to secure the future for generations to come, it has failed in its most essential duty of stewardship. The “social contract” has been broken, and it is therefore not only our right, but our moral duty to bypass the government’s inaction and flagrant dereliction of duty, and to rebel to defend life itself. We therefore declare our support for Extinction Rebellion, launching on 31 October 2018. We fully stand behind the demands for the government to tell the hard truth to its citizens. We call for a Citizens’ Assembly to work with scientists on the basis of the extant evidence and in accordance with the precautionary principle, to urgently develop a credible plan for rapid total decarbonisation of the economy.'
Early events took place in typically progressive US cities like San Francisco where supporters marched with banners saying “Stop Shopping, Start Living”, imploring their fellow citizens to lead less status-fixated lives.
As concerns about urban poverty, sustainable farming practices and climate change are increasingly coming to the fore, causes like International Buy Nothing and Shift Your Shopping are asking timely questions about how we spend our money, the global consequences of our selections and what we value as individuals.
The newest example of civil disobedience and consequentialism: Extinction Rebellion
Since hearing about their work blocking the bridges in London, and off the back of my researching, I got involved in the Leeds community which meet every Monday at 20:30 to discuss productive and relevant ways to contest their arguments. Getting involved in such activism gave me a greater insight of the anti-establishment practices going on, and the scope and commitment of everyone involved. These are tremendously safe spaces, where people listen and contribute. It was evident that this is a time where shame is not relevant, as an issue of this magnitude is far beyond the individual.
Such research and participation contributed to a greater understanding of how the future media ecologies may look. With a huge uprise of the younger generation securing their future at any cost. This does not mean violent war, but it does mean non-conformity.
About the movement:
Extinction Rebellion (sometimes shortened as XR) is an international social movement that aims to drive radical change, through nonviolent resistance in order to minimise species extinction and avert climate breakdown. Established in October 2018 after about one hundred academics signing a call to action about the current ecological crisis. In November 2018, various acts of civil disobedience took place in London. The movement is unusual in that a large number of activists have pledged to be arrested and are prepared to go to prison.
Citing inspiration from grassroots movements such as Occupy, Gandhi’s independence movement, the Suffragettes, Martin Luther King and the civil rights movement, Extinction Rebellion intends to rally support worldwide around a common sense of urgency to tackle climate breakdown.
'The science is clear, the facts are incontrovertible, and it is unconscionable to us that our children and grandchildren should have to bear the terrifying brunt of an unprecedented disaster of our own making. [...] Our government is complicit in ignoring the precautionary principle, and in failing to acknowledge that infinite economic growth on a planet with finite resources is non-viable. [...] When a government wilfully abrogates its responsibility to protect its citizens from harm and to secure the future for generations to come, it has failed in its most essential duty of stewardship. The “social contract” has been broken, and it is therefore not only our right, but our moral duty to bypass the government’s inaction and flagrant dereliction of duty, and to rebel to defend life itself. We therefore declare our support for Extinction Rebellion, launching on 31 October 2018. We fully stand behind the demands for the government to tell the hard truth to its citizens. We call for a Citizens’ Assembly to work with scientists on the basis of the extant evidence and in accordance with the precautionary principle, to urgently develop a credible plan for rapid total decarbonisation of the economy.'
Principles and value
- "We have a shared vision of change – creating a world that is fit for generations to come.
- We set our mission on what is necessary – mobilising 3.5% of the population to achieve system change – using ideas such as “momentum-driven organising” to achieve this.
- We need a regenerative culture – creating a culture which is healthy, resilient and adaptable.
- We openly challenge ourselves and this toxic system – leaving our comfort zones to take action for change.
- We value reflecting and learning – following a cycle of action, reflection, learning, and planning for more action. Learning from other movements and contexts as well as our own experiences.
- We welcome everyone and every part of everyone – working actively to create safer and more accessible spaces.
- We actively mitigate for power – breaking down hierarchies of power for more equitable participation.
- We avoid blaming and shaming – we live in a toxic system, but no one individual is to blame.
- We are a non-violent network – using non-violent strategy and tactics as the most effective way to bring about change.
- We are based on autonomy and decentralization – we collectively create the structures we need to challenge power. Anyone who follows these core principles and values can take action in the name of RisingUp!"
The branding around the movement is considerably noteworthy. The colours of green and black to depict both the environmental focus and the dark future is bold and effective. The neutral san-serif type is clear, expressive and contemporary whilst still reflecting the sort of 'hand-put-together' scruffiness of historical protest culture with its soft edges, making it a lot more welcoming and approachable for a younger generation to get involved.
The website presents a slideshow of colourful bold designs that are block and simplified to the bone. The user experience on the website is incredibly successful with its immediate gesture steering the user to join the movement with very easy and obvious steps. It then locates a page with both type and symbols to further universalise the UX.
The effectiveness of their graphic design to shout to a clearly energetic target audience will definitely play apart in their ability to rally troupes, aiding their growth and succession in the year to come.
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