On the first sunny Saturday in November, dozens of activists and citizens, all curious about the climate emergency and the international movement to quell it, filled the Williamsburg Branch of the Brooklyn Public Library. Kelly Vaughan, who has been involved with Extinction Rebellion (XR) since this past August, took the floor with an educational slideshow.
Vaughan began by pointing out that sometimes, the effects of rapid climate change are inaccurately spoken of as if they are only going to happen in the future, to other people, rather than right now, to people living on Earth in this age. As counterexamples, she cited the increasing trend of fires in California that damaged many peoples’ houses, from celebrities like Miley Cyrus to Vaughan’s own in-laws; the fact that schools in California have had several days off for wildfires (Vaughan’s sister, who is a teacher now, remembers no such days off when she was a student decades ago); and out of control flooding in Miami due in part to rise in sea level. Rising temperatures cause an increase in extreme weather like hurricanes, too. In a particularly terrifying tidbit, Vaughan shared that the New York Times published research on projected sea level risings that would put half of Vietnam under water by 2050. Only 31 years from now, many of us will be alive to see that happen.
Vaughan continued with a warning regarding human behavior. “Climate is only half of the problem. We are also facing an ecological crisis. We depend on both land and ocean ecosystems and we are destroying both of them.” She spoke about how high intensity agriculture (animal and plant) has replaced wilderness – and we lose the benefits that come with that, like natural regulation of CO2 and the cooling of the planet, for which large forests and healthy oceans are in part responsible. For one sad example of how humanity hurts itself in the long run by only prioritizing its short term needs for profit, look no further than the burning of the Amazon this year. Vaughan made the point that stuffed animals of tigers will last longer on the earth than the actual tigers they are modeled after, especially if humanity continues to destroy wildlife habitats.
The social effects of climate change are also currently taking away quality of life from people all over the world. Community activist Steve Chesler brought up a study released by the US Military and commissioned by the Pentagon- sources which all Americans should take seriously- that detailed how climate crisis will negatively affect the US military. The study is worth a read, but as Chesler put it, “Food and water and supplies will collapse because of climate change- so much of our military will be deployed to help with these societal collapse situations and they will be stretched thin.”
There have been global climate summits in attempts to come together to fix the problem on a global front. There was one in Rio, one in Kyoto, and most recently one in Paris, in which the US Government has no interest in participating.
So, what does Extinction Rebellion plan to do about it? The group declared rebellion in October 2018. Since then, they have participated in nonviolent direct actions across the globe, such as holding a Funeral for the Species. They aim for seats of power as their audience (such as Buckingham Palace and the White House), to demand legislative action. Extinction Rebellion is international and decentralized- the different groups all work together. Anybody can be involved, and you do not have to be willing to risk arrest to be involved— although, you are certainly welcome to risk arrest.
Vaughan also recommended people drop the phrase “climate change” and begin using the phrase “climate emergency”. As she put it, “Change is good or bad. We are in a crisis.” The NYC council declared a climate emergency in June 2019.
Why hasn’t our earth healed yet, if so many people care about it? According to Extinction Rebellion, it will take time and nonviolent direct action, and it will take everyone. The group believes the democratic process should determine what steps are next. But as Vaughan quipped, “Things that won’t pay off immediately aren’t prioritized in democracy.” Indeed, that seems to be how we got ourselves into this mess in the first place!
In response to the question of how to engage with people who do not believe climate change is real or that we are in a crisis, Chase from XR had some advice. “Such an important part of Extinction Rebellion is meeting on a human level- this is a problem that transcends politics and we are all in this earth together – we all care about our children. So you care about surviving and this planet you live on? Meet people on that human level. Not everyone is gonna change their minds- it is a contentious issue…focus your time and energy on people who are more perceptive. They might get involved when they see you and your friends getting involved.” Sarah Vogwill of XR recommended Common Sense for the 21st Century for further reading. So dear readers, join Extinction Rebellion in the fight to preserve our planet and species!