Dies Irae - Day of Judgment

September 9th, 2023, a moment for Extinction Rebellion that’s been ominous since 1500+ protesters were arrested in the Netherlands, on the #A12, May 28th, 2023. 

   Since that day, the silence of the government has been deafening. They still subsidize the fossil fuel industry with 37.5 billion euros per year. 

   What is worse? The betrayal of humanity? The betrayal of Gaia? The betrayal of the Dutch people? When will governments recognize that humanity is suffering a great loss - and that fossil fuels must end? 

   The Netherlands may seem a far off place - something remote and foreign to us in the US. When we think of Amsterdam, we think of Pulp Fiction characters like Vincent Vega, who go there to get great drugs. 

   But the reality is that the Dutch colonial roots are deep, especially in Shell. Shell was formed in 1907 through the merger of Royal Dutch Petroleum Company of the Netherlands and The "Shell" Transport and Trading Company of the United Kingdom. Perhaps recognizing the coming outrage, Shell Oil changed its name to Shell PLC, then they moved the headquarters from the Netherlands to the UK. With this came the dropping of the “Royal Dutch” just two years ago. 

   Now it would appear that judgment is coming - as tweets are coming in from the orchestra playing at the protest, “Dies Irae - Day of Judgment” A clashing symphony of epic sound - and latin lyrics which portend the wrath of Gaia herself (actually a gregorian chant). 

 

   At press time - arrests have begun -  Carice Van Houten is in attendance. Of course, this post may have already been blocked in the US, like the last time The Game of Thrones star protested. She's known for playing Melisandre in the TV Series, but now sits with 1000s awaiting police response - water canons and police vans at the ready. She was arrested back in May, and has made her support clear that she plans to be on the right side of history - standing up to the genocidal regime of oil. 

   The Scientists Rebellion is also present - 50 or so squeezing into group photos at a time. Many of their spokespeople, in brilliant white lab coats, adorned with warming stripe Extinction Symbols, wielding megaphones, can be seen reading out damning reports of truthful climate science. The clarion call for civil resistance is now and the rebellion is in full swing in the Netherlands. 

   What is different this time? A permanent, indefinite blockade, from XR Netherlands website, “We will permanently block the A12 from September 9 until fossil subsidies are abolished.” 

   At press time, XR Netherlands said, “At least 1,082 demonstrators have been arrested and released. Still a few thousand to go. And then again tomorrow. 12:00” 

   Will US citizens, and people in other powerful countries around the world, also hear the call?

2:00pm, US / 8:00pm NL: It appears the protest is being continued for tomorrow at 12pm with a total of 2000 arrests now made.

4:00pm, US, 10:00pm NL: Reuters reports the final total for arrests is at 2400. 25,000 people were marching, and 10,000 blocked the #A12 Freeway in the Hague, leading to the 2400+ arrests. 

Update, a video of the Dies Irae - Day of Judgement has been released, 

 

 

 

 

In Solidarity, Will Regan

 

 

 

Roger Hallam

XR Belgium

Eliot Jacobson
Will Regan

About

Will Regan has been a spokesperson for Extinction Rebellion in the US and Declare Emergency. He's editor in chief for the Daily Rebellion and has been arrested 4 times since taking that role.