In an absolutely courageous display of disobedience, the group began by interrupting Gina Raimondo during her speech

US Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo threatened them with removal, but in the end, the room was cleared - and Defiance remained. Gina Raimondo’s bank recently insured a $400,000,000 gas plan.

The Secretary of Commerce is an officer of the Export Import Bank. This bank just approved a massive plan to allow the gas conglomerate Trafigura to scale up its fossil fuel operations. Trafigura just posted $5,500,000,000 in profits in the last six months.

Gina advertised this event as a “Fireside Chat” for the “Youth Future” but given her policy of climate destruction, her future plans should be in the fire, and not beside it. Previously, Gina was asked if she’d stop taking fossil fuel cash. “No” she replied cheerily.

This is the same public official who had 3 members of Climate Defiance locked up for 36 hours less than a week ago. Climate Defiance are not deterred and promise to continue their campaign of holding Washington accountable. 

 

HS2 Rebellion Tunnellers get suspended sentences.

In 2021, 6 tunnelers captured the world’s imagination when they dug beneath Euston Park, to prevent construction of an ecocidal project known as HS2. This group, part of an affinity group known as the HS2 Rebellion, risked their lives, and held the tunnels for a month, before finally being removed from their lock on devices. August 2nd, 2022, the six received suspended sentences for their conscientious actions. 

But the strangest part is that this group was already acquitted a while ago on this very charge. So why were they in court again to face the same exact charges? The Crown Prosecution Service decided to challenge the activists’ acquittal in the high court. This is unprecedented, and reminiscent of what Steven Donzinger went through in the US, where unprecedented action was taken to silence him. Sadly, the state won in this case as well, and now the activists have a 12 month probationary period where they will likely be watched by authorities. 

Larch Maxey, Extinction Rebellion spokesperson and HS2 Rebellion Tunneler said this, “Day 1 Euston Tunnel re-trial: The case was thrown out in 2021, yet HS2 & CPS have conspired to try us again vs the legal principle of “double jeopardy”: Public interest (has indicated) to scrap HS2 and not hound peaceful protectors! HS2 is Euston now shelved & the whole HS2 Rail scheme is failing”

The HS2 tunnel has now reached London as of a few days ago. The issue is that environmental impact statements, and the actual usefulness of this line to the general public was never honestly assessed. And even now, the line construction is regularly criticized by being against public interest. A recent Guardian Article, July 30th, said this, “HS2 is officially ‘unachievable’ after being given red rating”

 

SMALL NUMBERS, BIG IMPACT

hosted by XR NYC

September 28th, 6:30-7:30, EST

Four civil disobedience activists (including one rebel) blocked the road to the Burning Man festival. It generated hundreds of media stories.

Another rebel glued his feet to the floor of Arthur Ashe stadium and stopped a US Open semi-final game for 49 minutes. It generated thousands of media hits worldwide, inserted the topic of climate emergency where it is least seen - the sports pages.

Would you like to be a part of this new wave of climate actions, where a small number of brave people can make a big impact?

Come learn from these two rebels. It's not hard. It just needs a bit of pluck, a bit of creativity, and a straightforward message.

 

Register for a Zoom link.

 

for other events with XR NYC visit xrebellion.nyc/events

 

 

Join up with Declare Emergency and make Headlines in DC

Join DE This Sunday for a talk about how you can join this exciting group - and start making headlines of your own! Or at least help others do the same.
“What are our responsibilities at this time? Because of the fossil fuel industry, we are facing horrors of a magnitude never before experienced in our existence. Our government continues to lead us to the edge of no return. We must stand up and defend ourselves. No one else is going to do it. It must be us, if we want to live.
Our methods must be disruptive, and they must be nonviolent. Our actions are evidence-based, credible, and we have a plan. The only thing missing at this point in time is YOU!”
Register now at declareemergency.org/events