Greetings,
Welcome to the XRSA February Newsletter. We hope this email finds you safe and well.
Looking abroad, especially at the US, it feels as though the tide is turning. The Australian government, captured by the fossil fuel industry, is looking increasingly isolated on the climate emergency.
Now is a time ripe for change. History shows us that mass participation in civil disobedience is the most effective way of achieving that change. Later this month we’re holding the Festival of Civil Disobedience. A celebration that we hope inspires you as together we prepare for mass disruptive actions during the Autumn Rebellion in March.
Now is the time to step into courage. Doing nothing risks everything.
Next Steps for New Rebels
- Watch the Heading for Extinction Presentation online or in person.
- Participate in a DNA Workshop to learn about how we organise then join an affinity group and/or working group.
- Hit the streets! Participate in our upcoming actions (see below).
- Participate in our Non-Violence Direct Action Training to prepare yourself to take action.
- Follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter!
- If possible, support us through a once off or recurring donation.
Festival of Civil Disobedience
The Festival of Civil Disobedience is a celebration of our long history of rebellion in Australia reminding us all that standing together can (and has) made a difference. If you are working for change, come along to this event to find out how civil disobedience can help you and your movement create the system shift you value.
Online Festival Program
Ashes on the Lawn – Civil Disobedience in a time of Pandemic
Saturday, February 20th at 2:30 PM – 4:00 PM
Lessons from the Occupy Movement
Sunday, February 21st at 2:30 PM – 4:00 PM
To Affinity and Beyond online workshop
Monday, February 22nd at 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM
Facing Fear and Choosing Courage
Wednesday, February 24th at 5:30 PM – 7:00 PM
Nonviolence Training for Civil Disobedience
Thursday, February 25th at 5:30 PM – 7:30 PM
Rise Up Singing – Celebrating the music of resistance
Friday, February 26th at 7:00 PM – 8:30 PM
All about arrest from people who know
Saturday, February 27th at 3:00 PM – 5:00 PM
Heading for Extinction (and what to do about it)
Sunday, February 28th at 10:00 AM – 11:30 AM
In Person Events
Wild Things Documentary Screen
Tuesday, February 23rd at 6:45 PM – 9:00 PM
Wallis Cinema – Mitcham
Non-Violent Direct Action Training
Sunday, February 28 at 1:00 PM – 5:00 PM
Recent Actions
Santos Festival of Cycling
In January we partnered with Fossil Free SA (350.org Australia) to hold a series of actions throughout the Festival of Cycling/Tour Down Under. Our demand was for Events SA to drop Santos sponsorship of the event when it’s set to renew in 2023.
Our first action was a bicycle die in Rundle Mall. We know from a recent report by the ACF that under the current emissions scenario Adelaide will see more days of extreme heat. Making the Tour Down Under unfeasible.
Photograph by George Manos
View Photos | Watch Action Video | Watch Livestream
On the Saturday and Sunday of the festival we held banner drops at key parts of the men’s and women’s race. On Saturday we spray chalked messages onto the road (which someone attempted to paint over) that were broadcast onto Channel 7. On Sunday we worked with Fossil Free SA on some outreach with the community.
Photograph by Gemma Weedall
View Photos | Watch Action Video | Watch Livestream
For Santos, sports sponsorship is an investment in greenwashing that’s leveraged to extend their social license to extract fossil fuels. They know that Australians love their sport. That’s why they’ve branched out to sponsor not just the Tour Down Under but a Festival of Rugby in Narrabri (follow protest from Gamilaraay Next Generation) and the Australian Open.
Voices from the sports industry are pushing back. We have a responsibility to do the same.
Stop Climate Holiday
As politicians return to parliament we returned to their offices demanding that they end the climate holiday. We started with a beach party in front of Senator Simon Birmingham’s office. We were joined by Scott Morrison who, a year ago, was was rightly lambasted for going on holiday while the country was on fire.
View Photos | Watch Livestream
A few days later rebels visited the office of Nicolle Flint with chants and spray chalk. Extinction Rebellion demands net-zero emissions by 2025. The 2050 target the government is considering is simply too late. We are already on borrowed time.
The following day the Murdoch paper ran a piece stating that Flint feeling intimidated and harassed by our protest. Our protest was peaceful. Our message was left with spray chalk that can be easily washed off. This is not personal. This is about an unfolding emergency for which the government has no plan. Those that are apart of the government are complicit in ecocide.
Banner Drops
Rebels from the South Coast have been continuing their monthly actions with banner actions by both the Victor Harbor Farmers Market and on the Bluff
Closer to the city rebels dropped banners along Port Road during peak hour traffic. They also squeezed in some practice for our mass civil disco-bedience action (see below).
Photo by Jordan Ellis
View Photos | Watch Livestream
Roles to Fill
Equipment Tracker
Are you happy working with spreadsheets? We maintain a spreadsheet of all XRSA equipment that is our locker and also stored in other locations. This is basically desk-based work and so could be anyone that is able to/enjoys working with spreadsheets. There is no need to leave your home to do this – unless you want to! The position can be modified if you wish.
If interested then contact Trish.
Mother Earth: Condition Critical!
Sunday, February 28th at 11:30 AM – 1:00 PM
Pioneer Memorial Gardens, 4 Balhannah Rd, Hahndorf
Register on Action Network | View on Facebook
Blackwood Banner Drop
Thursday, March 4th at 4:15 PM – 6:00 PM
Waite Reserve, Blackwood
Register on Action Network | View on Facebook
Stayin’ Alive Disco-bedience
Wednesday, March 24th at 4:00 PM – 9:00 PM
Adelaide Botanic Garden
Register on Action Network | View on Facebook
Welcome to Extinction Rebellion – Our DNA
Tuesday, February 16rd at 6:30 PM – 8:30 PM
Online
Register on Action Network | View on Facebook
Wild Things – Documentary Screening
Tuesday, February 23rd at 6:45 PM – 9:00 PM
Wallis Cinema Mitcham – 119 Belair Road, Torrens Park
Register on Action Network | View on Facebook
Non-Violent Direct Action Training
Sunday, February 28th at 1:00 PM – 5:00 PM
Thebarton Community Centre, Ashwin Parade, Torrensville
Register on Action Network | View on Facebook
Marshal Training
Wednesday, March 3rd at 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM
379 Halifax Street, Adelaide
Register on Action Network | View on Facebook
Heading for Extinction Talk
Sunday, February 28th at 10:00 – 11:30 AM
Online
Register on Action Network
Saturday, March 6th at 10:00 AM – 11:00 PM
Cafe Outside the Square, 34 Whitmore Square, Adelaide
Register on Action Network | View on Facebook
Extinction Cafe / XR In the Pub
Wednesday, February 17th at 6:30 PM – 8:30 PM
The Unley Hotel, 27 Unley Road, Parkside
Register on Action Network | View on Facebook
Saturday, March 6th at 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM
Cafe Outside the Square, 34 Whitmore Square, Adelaide
Register on Action Network | View on Facebook