That’s a Wrap... Bye 2021, Hello 2022! 🌎
In many ways, 2021 felt like a prolonged continuation of 2020. It’s been a hard year and we have seen both the extinction crisis and the climate crisis get far worse. As we welcome in 2022, we will need strength to face these ever escalating issues, courage to go beyond our comfort zones, and love (and rage) to continue building Extinction Rebellion.
As more of our world citizens awaken to the urgency of the crisis, we are poised to be the movement that meets that urgency by calling out truths and demanding change to our exploitative and ecocidal institutions, so that we can all have a livable future and a thriving planet.
We have big plans for 2022. Kicking into high gear early in the year, our strategic focus will be on mass participation (everyone is needed!) - driving towards the largest sustained civil resistance campaign XR NYC has ever undertaken in Spring 2022. We’re racing against time and it continues to run out. Mark your calendars for the 2nd half of April and stay tuned for all the info in early January.
It's not all doom and gloom when we stand in strength and numbers. We did it in 2021 and we will do it again even stronger in 2022, especially with your support. Help us make it happen with a donation if you can.
Have a look back at some of our favorite moments of 2021 below. See you on the streets!!
Love, Rage & Courage,
Extinction Rebellion NYC
#10 - Extinction Rebellion NYC rebels offered “Good Citizen” classes as part of plea deal
Funny story: Rebels who took part in non-violent civil disobedience on September 17 against Bank of America, JPMorgan Chase and Citibank, the largest financiers of fossil fuel projects were court-ordered to attend “Good Citizen” classes!
Hmm... who are the better citizens here? The rebels who are standing up for a livable future or the big banks facilitating climate chaos, trampling on indigenous land and water rights, and plunging us into more and more danger? Can we get some “good citizen” classes for Bank of America, JPMorgan Chase, and Citibank? Sure seems like they could use some.
Check out this coverage of Extinction Rebellion in The Atlantic, discussing our theory of change and why civil disobedience is necessary.
#9 - Steven Donziger Rallies
This fall, rebels joined with allies to provide ongoing support for the #FreeDonziger campaign. Steven Donziger is an environmental lawyer who, on behalf of thousands of Indigenous people, successfully sued Chevron for its destruction of the Amazon. Because of this lawsuit and the large financial penalty that comes with it, Chevron has come after Steven with all their money and power, forcing him into an extensive period of house arrest and 45 days in prison, disbarring him, and trying to destroy his livelihood by painting him as a "criminal." Ongoing rallies have offered support around court days and raised awareness of an injustice so profound that UN experts declared it to be a “violation of international human rights law.”
#8 - Citizens’ Assemblies gaining recognition and traction in the US.
We believe Extinction Rebellion’s 3rd demand, Citizens’ Assemblies (CAs), are the best and most equitable way to solve the climate and ecological crisis - through deliberative democracy and hearing from experts in a multitude of areas. This is one of the only ways to push beyond partisan politics in a country where politicians are owned by corporate and financial interests who created the climate crisis in the first place. Check out this thread for more info and this article from Grist on Citizens’ Assemblies!
#7 - Our rebranding of Earth Day to Earth Crisis Day
Our home is dying and this is due to society prioritizing shareholder profits over making the changes necessary for a liveable future where we can all thrive. 2021 saw a huge rise in greenwashing by corporations and government officials. The most prominent corporations chose their side; overwhelmingly, they chose to support groups that worked to sink the biggest climate bill in US history. Read about how the most prominent US companies supplied funding to kill climate resilience legislation.
#6 - XR NYC rebels joining the fight against Line 3
A group of NYC Rebels went to the frontlines in Northern Minnesota to support Indigenous water protectors in their fight against the Line 3 pipeline. The pipeline is the largest project in Enbridge’s history and one of the largest crude oil pipelines in the world, carrying up to 915,000 barrels per day of the dirtiest fuel on earth, tar sands crude. That is roughly equivalent to building 50 new coal fired power plants.
Line 3 is a clear environmental catastrophe, and the very real and constant state suppression and violent policing of Water Protectors is horrifying. Although oil has begun to flow through Line 3, Water Protectors all around the country are not backing down from the fight against the fossil fuel economy.
Non-violent direct action like the fight against Line 3 is crucial, since "Climate President" Joe Biden is continuing the course towards an apocalyptic future.
#5 - XR NYC at the United Nations after COP 26
The most important international climate conference took place in Glasgow this past November. It was hailed as humanity’s last chance. Global leaders took turns throwing around climate crisis rhetoric, but took minimal real action to address the existential crisis we are facing, one that people and animals are already dying from.
“Humanity has long since run down the clock on climate change. It’s one minute to midnight on that Doomsday clock and we need to act now.” - Boris Johnson, UK Prime Minister
“Enough of brutalizing biodiversity. Enough of killing ourselves with carbon. Enough of treating nature like a toilet. Enough of burning and drilling and mining our way deeper.” - Antonio Guterres, UN Secretary-General
“The US is not only back at the table, but leading by example” - President Joe Biden
Unfortunately, their words did not match their actions. Richer nations failed on their promise to raise $100 billion for vulnerable counties to build resiliency to the worst impacts of climate change and there were no real decisive and binding actions to come out of COP that will keep us below 1.5 degrees.
So while COP 26 was definitely not one of our favorite moments this year, we were proud to be part of the real action and demand for change that took place on the streets outside. Protests and civil disobedience were daily events during the conference, calling out world leaders for their choice not to take action, and their continued prioritization of economic growth over planetary life. Here in New York City, Extinction Rebellion called out the failure of COP 26 at the United Nations. Check out NBC’s coverage of XR NYC and these issues here.
#4 - XR Women baring it all at NBC / Rockefeller Center
A group of women Rebels staged an action in front of 30 Rockefeller Plaza, home to the headquarters of NBC Universal, in response to the lack of media coverage given to the climate crisis. The women chose to be naked to symbolize the vulnerability of all species—humans included—in the face of climate breakdown.
The media needs to communicate to its audiences the real risk of civilization collapse, as world governments and corporations continue to fail at reducing the effects of climate change in the scale and timeframe required. Yet climate coverage as a whole made up only 0.4% of overall coverage on corporate broadcast morning, nightly and Sunday morning news shows in 2020. Clearly more attention is being given to celebrity news and the billionaire space race.
#3 - Going After the Money: Bank Actions
The financial sector has the capital to actively drive real change, and yet it continues to fund fossil fuel projects all while running greenwashing campaigns. This year, Extinction Rebellion rebels carried out more than 8 actions in New York City, which functions as the financial capital of the world and has been called the world's most economically powerful city, to bring attention to the vital role the financial sector plays in accelerating the climate crisis. XR actions throughout the year interrupted business as usual at JPMorgan Chase, Citibank, Bank of America, BlackRock, and the New York Fed among others.
#2 - Shutting down the FDR Drive on October 25
Partnering with Sunrise NYC, rebels brought much needed attention to the climate and ecological crisis. With President Biden in the Tri-state area that day, this dramatic non-violent direct action sent an unmissable message pressuring the government to act. Check out the links here and here to learn more about this bold action.
#1 - Getting back on the streets in full force after more than a year of only connecting online due to COVID!
We were able to go back to in person gatherings and civil disobedience in 2021 which was wholly necessary, as this year has also seen a meteoric rise of climate-related disasters and ecological catastrophes. Standing together, we reflected on how the world has changed so much this year for all of us. The climate and ecological emergency is unfortunately becoming a part of our everyday life, but this also means we can no longer turn a blind eye to what is happening. We are not living in easy times, and we know it can be overwhelming, frustrating, and scary, but we must also look to the beautiful, the fascinating, and the incredible living beings that make up this planet and remember why and what we are fighting for. Things won’t get better until we collectively say we want, and need, another way.