XR die-in at Westfield to disrupt Valentine's consumerism - Extinction Rebellion UK

XR die-in at Westfield to disrupt Valentine’s consumerism

Email: press@risingup.org.uk
Phone: +44(0)7878535968 / +44(0)7986671716 / +44(0)7760280443 / +44(0)7479234522
Website: www.rebellion.earth
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ExtinctionRebellion/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/ExtinctionR; #extinctionrebellion #rebelforlife
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/extinctionrebellion/
Photos/videos: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1m1v7Cs8JFkDM1gHp45OF-NwwhLzPZJO8
Climate Factsheet for Rebels https://rebellion.earth/the-climate-factsheet-for-rebels/

Extinction Rebellion protests to disrupt “BAU” Consumerism Culture with Die-In Protest

 

  • Rebels will ‘die’ at Westfield Shopping Centre in Shepherds Bush on Thursday 14 February. Disruption expected

  • Protest is part of the build up towards International Rebellion which begins Monday 15 April.

At 19:00 today Extinction Rebellion will disrupt shopping at the Westfield Shopping Centre in Sherpherds Bush in London. Rebels will ‘die’, put up signs with anti-consumerism slogans, and read out a message to shoppers to try and get through to them that our unsustainable lifestyles are driving our planet and everything that lives upon it towards extinction.

“We are Extinction Rebellion, and we have an important message for everyone here.

The crisis of existence is upon us.

Australia is melting, and then flooding, causing untold death to its animals, both domesticated and non-domesticated.

In Africa, where average the temperature has risen by 1 degree in the last 40 years alone, religious fundamentalists have joined colonialist forces and poachers to exploit the lives and resources of those already suffering from repeated droughts and famine.

The ice caps are melting; the insects are dying; the oceans are acidifying; we are caught in the biggest extinction event for 65 million years.

It’s time to stop and think!

“Do I need this faux romantic tat that will be thrown out with tomorrow’s newspapers?”

“Do I need these roses, that were flown in from another part of the world, adding to the carbon emissions that are driving us towards climate collapse?”

“Do I need these diamonds, that were mined unsustainably, and may have been harvested in a war zone”?

“Do I need this perfume that was tested on animals”?

“Do I need this ‘sexy’ lingerie that’s made out of unnatural fibres that don’t biodegrade”?

“DO I NEED ALL THIS SINGLE USE PLASTIC??”

The answer to all of these questions is NO!

We need to end this gratuitous consumption! We need to care about the things that really matter! We need to show our affection in ways that don’t harm that which gives us life!

Love each other. Love yourselves. Love your planet.

JOIN THE REBELLION!”

“EXTINCTION REBELLION”

Some key upcoming actions:

  • 11am Friday 15th February – 1st UK-wide Youth Strike 4 Climate – across UK. Extinction Rebellion is supporting Youth Strike 4 Climate who are preparing for the first UK-wide Youth Strike 4 Climate. They say: “The World’s Youth are waking up. Millions of young people are realising that it’s now or never and are now taking direct action on the climate crisis and ecological catastrophe. Whether you are at school, college or uni, go on strike on Friday the 15th of February.”

  • 11am Friday 22nd February – Climate Truth For Schools at the Department of Education. The UN’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change just told the world what our future looks like, yet the science is being ignored by the UK curriculum. With teachers we will assemble at the Department of Education to demand those in the position of responsibility face the truth and allow educators to teach it.

  • Lots more protests and events! There are many other actions and events happening now in London and around the UK due to Extinction Rebellion’s decentralised structure (too many to list here). For the latest news, see the website https://rebellion.earth/events/ plus also check out the facebook https://www.facebook.com/ExtinctionRebellion/events/.

Notes to editors

  1. https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/fashion/environment-costs-fast-fashion-pollution-waste-sustainability-a8139386.html

  2. International Rebellion begins 15 April – https://www.facebook.com/events/126622414898833/

  3. Ellen MacArthur Foundation, A new textiles economy: Redesigning fashion’s future (2017) https://www.ellenmacarthurfoundation.org/assets/downloads/publications/A-New-Textiles-Economy_Full-Report.pdf

  4. Greta Thunberg “Our House is on Fire” 2019 World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zrF1THd4bUM. Video of Greta Thunberg at Extinction Rebellion’s Declaration of Rebellion launch on 31st October at Parliament Square in London –https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H8prVarP-rQ. Text of speech –https://medium.com/wedonthavetime/the-rebellion-has-begun-d1bffe31d3b5

  5. https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/nov/21/swarming-sit-down-protests-aim-to-disrupt-london-traffic

  6. Climate Factsheet for Rebels https://rebellion.earth/the-climate-factsheet-for-rebels/

  7. About Extinction Rebellion:

Time has almost entirely run out to address the ecological crisis which is upon us, including the 6th mass species extinction and abrupt, runaway climate change. Societal collapse and mass death are seen as inevitable by scientists and other credible voices, with human extinction also a possibility, if rapid action is not taken.

Extinction Rebellion believes it is a citizen’s duty to rebel, using peaceful civil disobedience, when faced with criminal inactivity by its Government.

Extinction Rebellion’s key demands are:

  1. The Government must tell the truth about the ecological emergency, reverse inconsistent policies and work alongside the media to communicate with citizens

  2. The Government must enact legally binding policy measures to reduce carbon emissions to net zero by 2025 and to reduce consumption levels

  3. A national Citizens’ Assembly to oversee the changes, as part of creating a democracy fit for purpose.

Get involved in Extinction Rebellion’s other events

UK website: https://rebellion.earth/

International website: https://xrebellion.org/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ExtinctionRebellion/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/ExtinctionR hashtag #ExtinctionRebellion

Declaration of Rebellion: https://rebellion.earth/declaration/

3. About Rising Up!

Extinction Rebellion is an initiative of the Rising Up! network, which promotes a fundamental change of our political and economic system to one which maximises well-being and minimises harm. Change needs to be nurtured in a culture of reverence, gratitude and inclusion; whilst the tools of civil disobedience and direct action are used to express our collective power.

Website http://www.risingup.org.uk/;

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/RisingUpUK/;

Twitter https://twitter.com/RisingUpUK

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