We want to live!

2020 so far has been a year of crises – the fires in Australia, Amazon and the Arctic followed by the COVID pandemic. A year of historic events and protests – in Hong Kong and for Black Lives Matter. A year of tipping points.

Despite the pandemic, rebels have stayed together, mastered Zoom, taken action during lockdown, and supported their communities. We’ve come a long way, but the Government is still failing to do what’s necessary to keep us safe. They’re not on target to meet Paris Agreement commitments and are ignoring warnings from their own Committee on Climate Change, that we may be heading for up to 4˚C of warming by the end of the century. Unless we act, we are likely to face many millions of deaths, most affecting the Global South and marginalised communities, but ultimately impacting every person and lifeform on the planet, either directly, or through disrupted food supply, health issues, or political unrest. NOW is the time to act, as we emerge from the pandemic and when plans can still be diverted from ‘Business as Usual’. 

This is an emergency. We need to act now. Join us in Rebellion from 28 August in cities in the South East, and then in London from 1 September. We Want to Live!

Contents

1. Upcoming Events
2. Best on catch up
3. Rebellion Plans
4. Things to do now to make the Rebellion a success
5. Actions Meeting – planning Oxford’s part in the Rebellion
6. Could you be a buddy to a new rebel?
7. Looking to get involved but not sure how?

Upcoming Events

Introduction to Extinction Rebellion Oxford – every other Tuesday evening 7-8pm, online. For those who want an overview of XR Oxford.

The New Rebel Pathway – a three-week series for new rebels on Thursday 6th, 13th and 20th August, 7-8.30pm, to help go deeper into XR and meet other new rebels. 

‘Getting More Involved’ sessions – one-off conversational sessions to help you get more involved, great for those with less time! Sunday 9th or Sunday 23rd August (held online)

Action Planning Meeting – Wednesday 22nd July, 6.30-8.30pm (online)

‘How to stop funding fossil fuels?’ – Thursday 23rd July, 7.30-9pm (online)

Youth Die-In 4 Climate (Socially Distanced) – support the youth strikers on Friday 24th July, 1-2pm, Bonn Square

‘Could you be a Buddy to a new rebel?’ – we’re looking for rebels to buddy with new rebels on our New Rebel Pathway. Join the Telegram group and come along to the briefing on Thursday 30th July, 7-8pm (details to be sent out via Telegram). 

‘Wake Up Westgate’ – XR Youth Action – 21st-23rd August – join the Telegram chat for volunteers

There are many great UK Trainings going on at the moment – see below!

Best on catch up

Kathy Dalmeny and Miles King’s talk on Food and the Climate Emergency. More info on this topic: Sustain’s Report on UK Land Use, and Good Food Oxford, which promotes an environmentally sustainable food system in and around Oxford.

Rebellion plans

Local actions in Oxford, Oxfordshire, and across the South East

These actions will build momentum to the Rebellion around set themes – put them in your diary and keep an eye out for further local details soon! Our Oxford involvement will also be planned in the Actions meeting on Wednesday – come along!

• 28th August – Fossil Fuels & mass banner drop
• 29th August – Airports and aviation
• 30th August – Gather your community
• 31st August – Banks & finance

National Actions

1st September – the rebellion moves to the Houses of Parliament, London (XR will also be rebelling in other major cities). There will also be a digital rebellion for those who can’t make it to London.

Things to do now to make the Rebellion a success

1. Go to Facebook and invite people to the event and share.
2. Join the national Telegram broadcast channel and XR Oxford’s channel for key updates
3. Donate and share the Crowdfunder! 
4. Share the webpage and promo video! 
5. Come to the Action planning meeting on 22nd July. 
6. Interested in helping update the handbook for Oxford Goes to the Rebellion? Get in touch, we’d love your help: xroxford@gmail.com 

Actions Meeting: planning Oxford’s part in the rebellion

Wednesday 22nd July, 6.30-8.30pm on Zoom

Help us plan the rebellion! At this meeting we will share information about plans for regional actions over the bank holiday weekend and in London from 1st September, and begin to work out the practicalities for us as XR Oxford. We will also discuss possible local actions in Oxford, including following up on some ideas from our mass gathering last week. Please join us if you have action ideas to share or if you would like to know how you can help with practical organising and action support. Everyone is welcome!

Key UK Trainings to Prepare for Rebellion

All trainings can be viewed here: www.extinctionrebellion.uk/act-now/events/

Action Wellbeing

Action Wellbeing is an essential part of creating a regenerative action. It promotes the wellbeing of ourselves and others, strengthening connection and resilience. 24 July 2020, 6.30- 9pm. Register.

Arrestee Support

• Know Your Rights: training every Tuesday 6-8pm. Register.
• Witnessing an Arrest: Covers the key points to remember when witnessing an arrest and empowers all rebels to perform this role. Available online (password: ProsecutePolluters)
• Introduction to Arrest Support: 20 July to 13 August, 6-7:30 pm. Zoom.

Non-violent Direct Action Training

Come along to our NonViolent Direct Action (NVDA) workshop, where you will learn about the history of Civil Disobedience, theories of NonViolence, and various NVDA skills such as how to talk to the police, how to block a road, and how to use your support systems. Every Saturday, 10am-1pm. Register.

De-escalation

1 to 1 Deescalation and Nonviolence. Alternate Mondays. 20 July-28 September, 6.30-8 pm.This training will provide: a deeper understanding of nonviolence, a brief introduction to Non-Violent Communication, one-on-one de-escalation with a range of different scenarios, practical role-playing exercises. Register.

Could you be a buddy for a new rebel?

Do you enjoy talking to new rebels: helping people become more confident, empowered and knowledgeable in XR? Are you friendly and approachable? Could you be a buddy? We’re looking for buddies who can take part in our New Rebel Pathway sessions, being partnered with one or two new rebels throughout the process. You don’t need to have an in-depth knowledge of XR, but it helps to be open to going through the process of learning with a new person, and helping find the answers together.

What we’d need from you:

• Come along to a Buddies Briefing on Thursday 30th July, 7-8pm (details to be sent out)
• Attend the three New Rebel Pathway sessions online (6th, 13th and 20th August, evenings) as a participant
• Encourage your new rebel buddy in these sessions, engaging with their thoughts and ideas
• Have one follow-up call a few weeks after the programme, to help your buddy decide on next steps

What you’d get in return:

• Gratitude for being part of an essential process in XR Oxford, helping keep new rebels engaged!
• The satisfaction of helping someone who was once in your situation
• A good in-depth course in XR

Interested? Join this Buddy Telegram group and we’ll update you with details! We will only need a specific number of buddies for this programme so if you don’t do it this time there’ll be more opportunities at a later date. 

Looking to get involved but not sure how?

You might be interested in our New Rebel Pathway, a three-session course starting 6th August that’ll guide you into XR principles, practices and strategies in much more depth, alongside a cohort of other new rebels.

Less time on your hands? Come along to a one-off ‘Getting More Involved’ session, a small course where we’ll chat through your interests, skills, and where you might like to be involved in XR Oxford.

💤📢WAKE UP WESTGATE 📢💤

Join XR Youth Oxford for a youth-led weekend occupation of the Oxford Westgate shopping centre

Why? Westgate is home to many corporations with appalling environmental and workers’ rights policies. We must rebel against these exploitative practices in order to build a just, post-Covid world.

Adults are more than welcome to join and support the youth.❤️

✍ 21st-23rd August:

From Friday till Sunday, we will occupy Westgate, aiming to stay there both nights. There will be a clothes swap (providing it is safe with COVID) and actions that will happen throughout the day. More details to come…

⬇️Interested in helping? Join the 16+ Telegram group⬇️

FACEBOOK EVENT

Watch the video of XR Youth at the Westgate on Black Friday

Where can I find more information?

• Our website
• Our full catalogue of mailing lists – please do take a browse and join any that take your fancy. You can always adjust your subscription settings for email groups by selecting ‘All Email/Digest/Abridged’.
• Explore our internal resources (join our Announcements list to access some materials)
• XR UK also have an Internal Newsletter
• Let us know if you’d like to contribute to the newsletter by emailing xroxford@gmail.com  – photos and reports are both very welcome!

Building Back Better!

As we move from strict lockdown to tentatively rejoining the world, the focus turns to building back better than we were before: cleaner, fairer, healthier.

And many of us in Extinction Rebellion Oxford have also been re-energised to be ‘building back’ again. By which we mean back ‘on the streets’ again! (Although we recognise the often invisible yet sterling work of those who are shielding and can’t yet join us – we hope to be reunited soon!).

This issue celebrates the recent and upcoming actions pushing for a green and just recovery…as well as our new announcement form, which any rebel can use to share news to XR Oxford across all channels, and our new Telegram channel!

Contents

1. Upcoming Events
2. What you can do to help Oxford #buildbackbetter
3. Lockdown Letters #2: A just transition
4. ‘Inaction = Death’ Action
5. Rebel Trail – rise up against HS2
6. A Fourth Demand for Climate Justice?
7. Food and the Climate & Ecological Emergency
8. Trees of Hope get radio news
9. Black Lives Matter, bus gates and bike rides – a roundup of other actions

Upcoming Events

Monday 22nd June, 8pm – Lockdown Letters (for Robert Courts’ constituents), meeting link here | Meeting ID: 837 3575 3628 | Password: 140422

Tuesday 23rd June, 7.30 pm – Lockdown Letters #2

Thursday 25th June, various times: ‘Inaction=Death’ Day of Action

Friday 26th June, 6.30pm – June Bike Ride by Oxford Critical Mass

Saturday 27th June, 5.40-8pm – ‘2040’ Screening with XR Banbury (£1, online)

Saturday 20th – Saturday 27th June, HS2 Rebel Trail

Monday 29th June, 6.30-8.30pm – ‘‘A Fourth Demand for Climate Justice?’ – People’s Assembly

Thursday 9th July, 5-6.30 pm – Food and the Climate and Ecological Emergency, a talk by Vicki Hird and Miles King – RSVP

Best on Catchup

• Kate Raworth on ‘Doughnut Economics’, and what it could mean in Oxford
• COVID Conversations: post-COVID economics and environment

What you can do to help Oxford #buildbackbetter

1. Right now: Sign and share the #buildbackbetter petition to demand that the county council helps to keep Oxford safe from a second wave of Covid-19 and to turn Oxford into the UK’s leading walking and cycling city, using their £3million grant from central government. 
2. On your next walk or cycle: take a picture of yourself walking or cycling and post it online, tagging ‘@Oxfordshire County Council’ (on Facebook) or @OxfordshireCC (on Twitter) and using the hashtags #BuildOxfordBackBetter  #BuildBackBetter 

Share with your network and nominate 5 friends and family to do the same!

1. On Monday 22nd June: Join our ‘Lockdown Letters’ session on Monday 22nd June, collectively writing letters for a just transition (see below)
2. On Thursday 25th June: Join a national day of action to deliver or email these letters to our local MPs (see below for full details)

Lockdown Letters #2: A Just Transition

Tuesday 23rd June, 7:30 pm, on zoom. Meeting ID: 913 6787 3148; Password: 101455

Our second ‘lockdown letters’ action! Email or write to your MP to call on them to act now. Public pressure is growing for the government to use the recovery from the Covid crisis (which will require massive state intervention) to tackle both the Climate and Ecological Emergency and the inequality and injustice in our current system. Add your voice, and ask your MP to take urgent action.

Join the Zoom to find out more and discuss points we might all want to make. We will then write our letters sociably over Zoom. XR UK have made a template letter to adapt, or write your own from scratch. And if you prefer, you can download the briefing for this action and take action on your own or with your affinity group.

The more letters MPs receive, the more notice they will take of them. This action also helps build towards our on-the-street actions on 25th June…

‘Inaction = Death’ Action

Thursday 25th June, all day | See here for artwork ideas | Full action planning doc | Letters briefing

A nationwide day of action to remind our MPs of their responsibilities for a post-Covid future!

The Committee on Climate Change recently called for post-Covid recovery to be a just transition, “focused on green growth, social parity and improved resiliency”. Their latest report will be released on June 24th, and is likely to be very critical of government failure to act. To coincide with this report, we will take part in a coordinated national action to deliver a clear message to our MPs that they must force the government to take immediate preventative action to avoid climate collapse, by implementing a Covid recovery plan that achieves net zero carbon by 2025.

When and where are we in action locally?

• Oxford West (Layla Moran): XR Canaries will be in Bonn Square, Oxford (location here) with large versions of their letters and placards at 3pm. They will probably do a slow march of the surrounding area, and will be wearing a combination of green and black. Anyone from Layla’s constituency is welcome to join. Email canariescoordinator@gmail.com for any further details.
• Abingdon (Layla Moran): XR Abingdon will be meeting at Abingdon market place at 12pm, walking to Layla Moran’s office on Barton Lane to deliver a letter and take some photos (location here), finishing by 1pm. See the Facebook event for updates or email xrabingdon@gmail.com 
• Oxford East (Anneliese Dodds): Headington Fringe will be writing letters to Anneliese Dodds, and organising a presentation of a letter at her constituency office in Cowley (location here) at 4.30pm. We welcome all rebels in the Oxford East constituency to join us in the letter-writing and/or presentation action. Please contact Mark and Marion at headingtonfringecoordinator@gmail.com and we will send you our briefing notes and any updates.
• Witney (Robert Courts): XR Witney and XR Oxford Swallows will be meeting 11am-12noon outside Courts’ Witney office (58-60 High Street, Witney, OX28 6HJ) with our printed letters. If bringing one, try for a wide array of colours and styles, not just a standard letter. We will be hosting a letter-writing Zoom on Monday 22nd June at 8pm on Zoom (meeting link here | Meeting ID: 837 3575 3628 | Password: 140422)

• Henley (John Howell): XR Henley will be outside the constituency offices from 6-7pm (event page)
• Tilehurst (Alok Sharma, MP for Reading West): Telegram chat | Action briefing

Alok Sharma is Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, tasked with “ensuring that the country has secure energy supplies that are reliable, affordable and clean” and “tackling climate change”. He will be in charge of COP26 in 2021. XR will be marching a short distance to Alok’s office (location here) with manure and the message “Action – not horseshit!”.

Safety

As with all in-present XR actions at the moment, please:

• Observe social distancing guidelines
• Wear a mask
• Bring hand sanitiser
• Do not come if you have any symptoms of Covid-19
• If you cannot attend in person because you are shielding, email your MP instead, and take a photo with your letter at home and share it online!

Walk the Rebel Trail – rise up against HS2

Saturday 20th June – Saturday 27th June | Full briefing and route | ‘Get involved form’ | Action Design pack

Along with non-rebel communities, XR is walking the HS2 route from Birmingham to London: 125 miles in 7 days. We will carry symbols of the woodland and species being destroyed to the heart of London. This action aims to raise awareness for the HS2 campaign and bring us together as a community. Join us along the way, or run your own woodland walks in your local area, make banners, spread the word, or take part in any way you’d like to!

If you’re going from Oxfordshire, join this WhatsApp group to help find other people going on the same day, share lifts and support!

Why are we rising up against HS2?

• The estimated cost is already 400% over-budget, two decades before it is due to be completed
• The plans include three special stations linked to privately owned airports which have each filed for permission to expand. 
• Communities in the North of England were never asked what they needed. The UK government is spending their taxes on a new, high-speed link to London, when key rail links between Northern cities are poorly maintained and already unaffordable for most.
• Right now, 63 Ancient Woodlands are being wholly or partly destroyed by HS2 Ltd. Countless species are being decimated that were already under threat due to habitat loss.
• HS2 will not be carbon neutral in this century by the contractors’ admission. Join the WhatsApp group to keep in touch. Drivers and help with logistics are needed!

A new way to publicise your news

We want to help all rebels publicise their news so that it reaches as many people as it can. We’ve recently put some work into making this much more possible!

📬 1. New Announcements Form

If you have a piece of news, a request for help or a new project to share, you can now use our new announcements form, found here: www.xroxford.org/announcement (bookmark this link if you use it a lot).

Once you fill it in, your announcement will just be given a very quick look over by the Comms team to check all the details are there. Then it will be sent out to all three of our main channels (the new Telegram channel, the Announcements email list and the Facebook page) automatically. You can choose all three or filter which one you’d like to send it out to. No more logging in to cross-post across multiple places! Please leave up to about a day for your post to go out.

📢 2. Join our new Telegram channel and/or group!

We have a new Telegram channel up and running! https://t.me/xroxford If you like the headline news and announcements from across XR Oxford, without the chat, this channel is for you.

Attached to this is our new Telegram community group: https://t.me/xroxfordcommunity for wider discussion around issues important to XR both locally and nationally. You can read the guidelines for our community group here: http://tiny.cc/xrgroupguide

To access these groups you will need to first download Telegram on your phone: https://telegram.org/apps

📝 3. What this means for the Announcements email list:

An important update is that sending updates to the Announcements email list can only now be done via the announcements form, not through email or on the online forum. Do not email the announcements list from now on if you want to advertise something – it won’t work.

🙋 We want your feedback!

If you have any feedback on how to improve this system, please do share it with us at xroxfordcomms@gmail.com and we’ll see what we can do!

Food and the Climate & Ecological Emergency

Thursday 9 July, 5pm-6.30 pm | Online talk |  RSVP

Join us to hear Vicki Hird and Miles King discuss what’s wrong with the current food system and explore some of the solutions. Vick Hird is an award-winning author working with Sustain, The Alliance for Better Food & Farming, and is Campaign Coordinator for Sustainable Farming. Vicki will talk about what a sustainable food and farming system could look like in the UK, and discuss what is blocking change.

A report commissioned by COP25 named Miles King as a key journalist influencer on the Climate and Ecological Emergency. Miles is a conservation ecologist with specialist knowledge of grassland and agricultural habitats and an interest in the relationship between nature and people. He has worked at the conservation charities Plantlife, The Grasslands Trust and Buglife. He will be discussing how we might change land use to tackle climate chaos as well as issues around waste, animal farming and bioenergy from crops.

Last month, XR Headington Fringe created their own Tree of Hope, adorning a cherry tree in Bury Knowles park with their hopeful and inspiring messages. The colourful paper leaves contained messages written by local people and rebels about what they are most looking forward to when lockdown measures ease. One of the messages said: “I hope to hug you soon.” Rebels wrapped a beautiful banner adorned with flowers, birds and leaves around the trunk. It said: “With hope and respect for nature, let’s build a better world”.

Mark, another Headington Fringe rebel commented: “so many people say they’ve heard more birds singing this spring than ever before. We can learn from our experience during the pandemic about what really matters to us, not just to help us get through this but also to encourage our community and city to look at what can be done in the longer term to make Headington – and Oxford – a better place to live and work in. These leaves express what we think is important.”

Listen to local rebel Marion discussing the project on Radio Oxford (starts 14:05 | Read the Oxford Mail article

Biking through clear streets…

On a beautiful day in late May, Oxford rebels got on their bikes for a socially-distanced ride through Oxford: not just for the exercise, but also to show support for Oxfordshire County Council’s proposals to encourage walking and cycling, and reduce car traffic and air pollution.

Rebels from the Marsh Harriers affinity group took the chance to chalk beautiful messages on an empty Broad Street, one of the streets which the Council has suggested it will pedestrianise.

It’s impossible to say whether our actions had a direct impact on local residents’ views, but it’s heartening to see the public consensus on a healthier, more sustainable Covid-recovery in Oxford. In a recent Oxford City Council survey:

• 80.9% back removing all car parking from Broad Street and replacing it with socialisation space “to a large extent” or “to a moderate extent”
• 89.2% back expanding and segregating cycle lanes from vehicular traffic in the city centre “to a large extent” or “to a moderate extent”
• 80.0% back more space at park and ride sites allocated to secure bicycle parking in order to encourage ‘Park & Pedal’ journeys into the city “to a large extent” or “to a moderate extent”

Watch this beautiful video of the action | Missed it first time round? Critical Mass Oxford are hosting another one this Friday

Introducing Bus Gates

Do you know what a bus gate is? Not many do. But they are a key helping #BuildOxfordBackBetter – and will make our city a walking and cycling paradise. They are essentially just CCTV cameras which let buses and bikes through, and fine cars and motorbikes. In typical XR-singing-dancing-flag-waving style, on Saturday 13th June we marked six of the seven sites in Oxford where bus gates are proposed. The key purpose was to show the public where bus gates will go and raise awareness of them and their benefits.

The Oxford plans (i.e. ‘Connecting Oxford Plus’) have been inspired by Ghent, which is very similar to Oxford in population and age. In 2017 Ghent introduced bus gates and since then they have seen:

– 12% less rush hour traffic and 40% fewer cars on the main cycle routes

– 25% more people on bicycles and 28% higher public transport use

– 18% improvement in air quality

– a record electoral win for the politician who delivered it

– a more beautiful, liveable city, a better local economy and more people using local business

See the one-pager for more facts on bus gates that also debunks some myths…

Rebels support Black Lives Matter

It’s heartening to see rebels across the county supporting the Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement. As well as attending BLM protests in Oxford, Witney, Abingdon and no doubt elsewhere, the Swallows affinity group held their own mini-event in Eynsham. On a beautiful Sunday morning, socially distanced protesters, some accompanied by their children, gently shared their messages as local people queued for, or drank, their morning coffee in Eynsham Square. Thumbs up and nods from passers by created moments of silent solidarity with black people everywhere.

Where can I find more information?

• Our website
• Our full catalogue of mailing lists – please do take a browse and join any that take your fancy. You can always adjust your subscription settings for email groups by selecting ‘All Email/Digest/Abridged’.
• Explore our internal resources (join our Announcements list to access some materials)
• XR UK also have an Internal Newsletter
• Let us know if you’d like to contribute to the newsletter by emailing xroxford@gmail.com  – photos and reports are both very welcome!

Our world is not safe until black lives are

Out of respect for the recent death of George Floyd, and the many others who have been killed in racist attacks before him, we are pausing our most recent update from XR Oxford to give space for all of us to reckon, to listen, to learn, and to act. We are in a moment that highlights the very toxic system that our unsustainable world is built on.

It’s understandable to think that saving the planet is so urgent that we cannot take our focus off emissions, biodiversity loss, or other strictly ‘green’ issues. But if we look at the whole picture, the whole planet, it is clear that the same worldview of domination and extraction that has led us to the climate crisis is also at the root of racism and all other forms of inequality. One cannot be dismantled without the other. As Robert D. Bullard says: “Climate change is more than parts per million and greenhouse gases. The people who are feeling the worst impacts of climate, their voices have got to be heard.”

Entwining these issues in our rebellion may be uncomfortable, as it may expose the ways in which some of us thrive (and crucially, survive) in the system as it currently stands. It may bring up past mistakes or current blindspots. But as a community of rebels, we can also take this as a bittersweet opportunity: a time to listen attentively, to accept the discomfort, to learn, to support, and to amplify black voices. Further than just in this moment, in ongoing solidarity.

Black lives matter.

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Please note that the following resources are not comprehensive. They have been sourced from lists of resources kindly shared by many in the black community and others (including Oxford Climate Justice Campaign) – we thank them for their time and emotional effort.

To further educate and act…

Sign and share

• Justice for #GeorgeFloyd: petition 
• Justice for #AhmaudArbery: petition 
• Justice for #BreonnaTaylor: petition 
• Justice for #BellyMujinga: petition
• Defund the Police (BLM): petition

Follow

• Decolonising Environmentalism
• The Wretched of the Earth
• War on Want

Read

• Baratunde’s World Saving Books from Baratunde Thurston
• Undoing Racism Resources from Mary Pender Greene
• A History of Race and Racism in America, in 24 Chapters a book list by decade compiled by Ibram X. Kendi
• The Politics of Empathy and Race from Psychology Today
• An Open Letter to Extinction Rebellion by Wretched of the Earth
• Dear Extinction Rebellion the Police Are Not Your Friends by Shabbir Lakha
• ‘Racism dictates who gets dumped on’: how environmental injustice divides the world by Mustafa Ali, Jamie Margolin, Dr Robert Bullard, LeeAnne Walters, Kandi Mossett-White

Watch

• Get comfortable with being uncomfortable by Luvvie Ajay
• How to be an Antiracist by Ibram X. Kendi
• A debate between James Baldwin and William Buckley
• George Floyd, Minneapolis Protests, Ahmaud Arbery & Amy Cooper by Trevor Noah
• We need to talk about an injustice by Bryan Stevenson
• How to deconstruct racism, one headline at a time by Baratunde Thurston

Listen

• The 1619 Project Podcast
• Revolution Playlist of speeches and lectures compiled by Rachel Cargle
• A Weekend of Pain and Protest from The Daily
• The Mind of the Village from The Hidden Brain

Organizations to donate to if you have the means

• Black Lives Matter UK: support
• Black Lives Matter: support
• Split a donation between 70+ bail funds
• Reclaim The Block: support
• Campaign Zero: support
• The Bail Project: support
• I Run with Maud: support
• No money? You can watch this video on repeat without skipping ads (revenue from the ads will be used to help the protests and people affected by police brutality in the USA)

Thanks for reading and supporting. 

We’ve come so far…

…in just over a year! We’re planning a retrospective newsletter for the next edition to come out before Christmas. We’d love your contributions as short highlights and memories, and/or images. We can’t promise to include everything, but send your thoughts to xroxford@gmail.com, and upload any photos here​.

We’re also on the lookout for another rebel to join the friendly newsletter team, perhaps as a roaming reporter for events such as the farming conference. Help us expand what we can do and write about in 2020 – drop us an email if you’re interested! 

Also looking forward to next year, XR Oxford Training Group are planning training that meets the needs and priorities of Oxford rebels over the next few months. We’d love to hear your views. The survey will only take you a couple of minutes to complete and will be open until 17th December.

Contents:

1. Upcoming Events
2. Oxford Farming Conference – Local Action
3. XR Theatre is coming to Oxford
4. A message from the tower – banner drops
5. Black Friday was full of colour…
6. #Vote Earth at the Oxford Climate Hustings
7. ​Citizens’ Assembly Report published

Monday 9th December, 5.30-7pm – XReads: ‘The Flawed Social Science behind XR’s Change Strategy’ by Nafeez Ahmed, East Oxford Community Centre

Tuesday 10th December, 7.30-9pm – Actions Group Meeting, East Oxford Community Centre

Thursday 12th December, 1.30-3 pm – XR Theatrics performance, Oxford

Monday 16th December, 7-9pm – Introduction to Extinction Rebellion, east Oxford

Tuesday 17th December, 6.30-8pm – New North Aston & Area Affinity Group – First Meeting

Wednesday 18th December, 7-10.30pm – XR Oxford Winter Feast & Jam, Florence Park Community Centre

Saturday 21st December, 2-4.30pm – Dances of Universal Peace, St Albans Church (every third Saturday of the month)

7th – 9th January – Local actions during the Oxford Farming Conference, Oxford

Saturday 11th January – XR DNA Training (Save the Date)

Please note that the Eco-Listening Space, usually held every Wednesday, is paused for December. Please contact laurie@livingwitness.org.uk if you would like to help with holding the space in 2020.

Local actions for a sustainable food system

Tuesday 7- Thursday 9 January 2020 | Planning meeting 10 December

The Oxford Farming Conference in January is a high-profile annual gathering of key players in the agriculture and food sector: everyone from small-scale farmers to big agrochemical producers. Speakers come from a range of fields (excuse the pun!), including the National Farming Union, Powered Pasture, the Soil Association, DEFRA, Natural England and many more, with sponsors like Sainsbury’s, McDonalds, pesticide company Syngenta, and Barclays hosting a networking session. 

Agriculture at present, and farmers, are marginalised from the solutions to climate and ecological collapse. The thing that matters most for humankind is low on the global agenda. The simultaneous Oxford Real Farming Conference will provide one antidote by looking ahead to ask what the world really needs, and showing what can be done.

We are planning non-law-breaking publicity and outreach actions for each of the three days of the conference, to draw attention to the farming establishment’s potential role in a more sustainable future, plus a big callout for more land to be used for natural carbon capture. Contributions to the planning are welcome (come along to the planning meeting, or email Till) and affinity groups and individual rebels are encouraged to join in. 

Read the draft action plan

XR Theatre is coming to Oxford

Thursday 12 December, 1.30-3pm – VOTING DAY | Full event details

Meet at the Carfax end of Cornmarket*

Forum Improvisation Theatre and Crisis Carol Singing are coming to Oxford! And they want you to join them! XR Theatrics brings the climate crisis centre stage by connecting the present day to the near-future realities predicted if urgent action is not taken. Will long queues for rations or water become the ‘new normal’? Will Fresh Air ‘Bars’ like the one just opened in Delhi become commonplace?

*Notes for XR Oxford participants

– Performances start off as “Invisible Theatre” so don’t be surprised if you can’t see anything when you arrive, and please keep XR logos discreet.

– Bring gas masks, if you happen to have one!

A message from the Tower

The amazing #VoteEarth banner got its third outing in less than two weeks on Saturday, appearing from Carfax Tower in central Oxford, and on Castle mound. A great way to keep the environment in voters’ minds as the election nears…well done to all rebels who took part.

Black Friday was full of colour…

Three consecutive events kept the XR message alive in the Westgate Centre amid the panic buying of Black Friday. The courageous and committed young people of Oxford showed us how creative and sustainable fashion can be; XR Oxford flash mob was in fine voice chanting and singing, flag-waving, leafleting and talking to shoppers; and then there were the stunning Red Rebels stopping members of the public in their tracks, leading to many long and interesting conversations with the public.

XR Youth Oxford raised awareness of the emissions and destructive environmental impacts of the fashion industry by making garments out of old clothes and putting on an alternative catwalk. Watch their inspiring video. About 60 singers from XR Oxford Glorious Rabble created a positive atmosphere enabling conversations with a wide variety of people. About 30 singers joined those who had rehearsed to sing familiar XR songs: The people have spoken; People gonna rise like water; Coal is not cool and coal don’t dig it, oil don’t drill it; Cut our carbon down to zero and finishing off with Power to the people. It sounded brilliant! The evening ended with a solemn procession by the Red Rebels.

“It was great to interact with so many teens in the Westgate. The majority responding by filming and giggling, but they were definitely engaged. I suspect the giggling was more awkward in that they weren’t too sure how to respond to us. Some thought we looked scary or freaky but we certainly had their attention. In my working day I hear from young adults who don’t think they have a future, they are aware of the plight of animals and feel powerless. If one person was empowered into action to defend our climate by our night out then it’s a start.”

Jenny – Red Rebel at the Westgate Black Friday Action

#VoteEarth at the Climate Crisis Hustings

With the amazing ‘Vote Earth’ banner as a backdrop, last Thursday’s Oxford Climate Crisis Hustings succeeded in holding local candidates to account on climate. Over 80 people attended, with Lib Dem and Green candidates for Oxford East, and reps from Labour and the Conservatives. To paraphrase a few of the great questions: 

• Why not cut government support for fossil fuels and put the money into renewables instead?
• What are you going to do to stop people flying frequently? 
• What do you think of the school strikes? 
• Do candidates support a doubling of tree coverage in Oxfordshire by 2045? 
• What do the candidates personally do to reduce their environmental impact? 

Broadly speaking, all the parties were very keen to promote their environmental credentials (no surprise there!). But some gave more credible answers than others. All in all, it was great to see such positive engagement, from public and politicians alike. Of course, what action it translates into remains to be seen…

This event was spearheaded by Extinction Rebellion Oxford, and co-hosted with Friends of the Earth Oxford, Parents for Future Oxford, Oxford Climate Policy Forum and Oxford Climate Society. Many thanks to all the local volunteers who made it happen.

Watch the full video of the event

Citizens’ Assembly report published

Ipsos MORI, the independent facilitator of Oxford’s Citizens’ Assembly on Climate Change, have released their report on the Oxford Citizens’ Assembly, which can be read in full here. 

Headlines 

• The majority of Assembly members felt that Oxford should aim to achieve ‘net zero’ before 2050 and should be a leader in tackling the climate crisis
• Assembly Members were encouraged by what is already being done across Oxford to address climate change and meet the goal of becoming ‘net zero’
• Enhanced biodiversity was central to the overall ‘net zero’ vision of Oxford with more cycling, walking, and public transport, and far fewer cars
• The buildings sector should adopt improved building standards, widespread retrofitting, and more domestic and non-domestic energy needs being met by sustainable sources
• Around one in four Assembly Members rejected the most ambitious visions of a future Oxford and they were also perturbed by the extent to which the burden of change was being placed on individuals
• There was a sense that the Council needs to communicate a shared vision and strategy to reaching ‘net zero’ that shows the roles played by local and national government, businesses, and individuals
• Assembly Members wanted more information about how to recycle correctly          
• There was a demand for more education and information for the wider public in Oxford to help them understand what they can personally do to help

What happens next?

On 19th December, a report containing Oxford City Council’s initial response to the Assembly’s recommendations will be presented to the Cabinet, including the City Council’s proposals, which will feed into the 2020/21 budget.

In the New Year, the findings will feed in to the City Council’s upcoming Sustainability Strategy, including an Action Plan to determine how the City Council can play its part in tackling the climate emergency over the coming months and years.

As recommended by the Assembly, City Council will also look at its role in convening and engaging stakeholders and the wider public to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. One clear request from the Assembly was to produce educational material and information about how individuals can reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and the City Council will now work up detailed plans to achieve this.

Emma, one of the participants in the Oxford Citizens’s Assembly, commented:

“Personally, being a member of the Citizens Assembly was a privilege. Hearing from so many experts in their field, having the opportunity to properly discuss issues with other residents of Oxford and listen to the range of responses and views was at times challenging, but also rewarding. I felt proud to be part of the process and at a time when politics can seem disappointing, the Citizens assembly gave me the chance to be heard and for all of us to feel we genuinely had a chance to make a difference.

“The report manages to capture the complexity of the topics we discussed and also how carefully we considered the scenarios presented. There was an understanding of how great the changes would be in our daily lives but I was heartened by the commitment of fellow citizens to make these changes in their lifestyles to achieve net zero. 

“I know the report stresses that we did not agree on a date to achieve it by, just that we wanted to be sooner than 2050 and for me, it seemed that we didn’t want to limit ourselves. For me personally, and plenty of others I talked to, there was a strong aspiration to try and achieve this as soon as we could and to start the process right now as the message that had been loud and clear was the time for action was now and every reduction, every change, every emission that was avoided would make a difference.”

Where can I find more information?

• Our website
• Make sure you’re subscribed to any mailing lists you want to be on
• Explore our internal resources (join our Announcements list to access some materials)
• XR UK also have an Internal Newsletter

October is Over. A new stage begins…

October, with all its fierce weather and our fiercer rage, is now just rolling clouds of memories of different shades.

We were moved; we were moved on. 

We rescued tents; we rescued each other.

We were banned; we were the samba band, always arriving just at the right time.

We were rebels on the streets; we were rebels from our kitchen tables.

We were the right choices. We were the wrong choices.

We are just over one year and one week old. We have a lot to learn, without the luxury of much time to do it in. This season will be one of restoration, reflection, learning and soul-searching. It doesn’t have to be a dark or accusatory process, however – in fact, it might just shine a light ahead. There are many events below, crucially the ‘Thinking Back and Looking Forward’ meeting, and plenty of regenerative sessions, to help us through this.

Wherever you were in this Rebellion, whatever you did, thank you. You are essential.

Contents:

1. Upcoming Actions/Events
2. ‘Happy First Birthday! Thinking Back and Looking Forward’
3. Find your affinity group
4. Let’s make music!
5. Were you arrested during the Rebellion?
6. Make time for some regen

Upcoming Actions/Events

Monday 11th November, 7.30-9pm – Meeting for XR Swallows (West Oxford affinity group), West Oxford Community Centre

Tuesday 12th November, 6.30-9pm – Coordinators’ Meeting, venue TBC (please direct any topics to raise with your affinity or working group coordinator)

Wednesday 13th November, 8-9.30pm, ‘‘Coming Down to Earth’ – Restorative yoga, North Oxford

Thursday 14th November, 6.45-9.30pm – ‘Our First Birthday: Thinking Back and Looking Forward’, Oxford Deaf and Hard of Hearing Centre, OX1 1RL

Saturday 16th November, 2-4.30pm – Dances of Universal Peace, St Albans Church, OX4 3AU

Sunday 17th November, 3-6pm – Social for XR Oxford Swallows (West Oxford affinity group), Tap Social, OX2 0LX

Monday 18th November, 7.30-9pm – Actions Working Group meeting, venue TBC

Wednesday 20th November, 8.15-9.45pm – ‘Expanding Horizons’ – a Regenerative Evening, North Oxford

Friday 22nd November, 7.30-9.30pm – ‘Finding, Building and Strengthening your Affinity Group’, Blackbird Leys  

Sunday 24th November, 10.30am-5 pm – ‘Finding the Love at the Wild Edge of Sorrow’ – a Regenerative workshop, Long Crendon

An Eco-Listening Space is also held every Wednesday from 6-7pm at the Oxford Quaker Meeting House, arrive 5.45pm for 6pm.

Happy First Birthday! Thinking Back and Looking Forward

14 November, 6.45-9.30 pm, Oxford Deaf and Hard of Hearing Centre

All are invited to an evening of reflection and looking ahead, an essential part of us learning and growing as an Oxford group.

In Part I, we will be looking at what XR Oxford has done this year, using the roses/thorns/buds template to review what has gone well, what has been difficult or challenging, and what we have learnt about how we need to develop in the coming period.

In Part II, we will work on a number of topics which have emerged as priorities:

1. A fourth demand
2. Power, privilege, diversity and inclusion
3. Messaging
4. Future actions – Targeting, creativity

Please note that the title and plan for this session (previously called The Big Debrief) have changed to respond to the needs identified in various discussions since the Rebellion, including the list of topics which people contributed to online and the issues that came up as priorities from the work done in the What’s Next? meeting on 30th October. 

Find your affinity group

‘Finding, Building and Strengthening your Affinity Group’

Friday 22nd November, 7.30-9.30pm

Do you have a passion or interest that you would like to use as part of XR? Would like to find others who share it to build a group?

Maybe you’re…

• a crafter
• a teacher
• a scientist
• part of a faith group
• in an area without a local affinity group, or your local affinity group is full

We’re hosting a session on building and strengthening affinity groups within XR Oxford, as well as sharing advice and tips for emerging or existing affinity groups who are wondering how to grow or be more effective. Please email lucywalters185@gmail.com    if you have an idea for an affinity group that you’d like us to publicise before the meeting.

Oxford’s Affinity Groups

In XR Oxford we currently have around 15 affinity groups – some are based around locality (in different Oxford neighbourhoods), some around passions or practices (the Drummers, Meditators, and Red Rebel Brigade), and some are workplace or lifestyle-based e.g. our Oxford University Staff affinity group, or our Families group. They all aim to sustain a sense of community and support.

This meeting may be of particular interest if you:

• Are interested in drumming
• Live in Blackbird Leys, OX4 or Long Crendon and would like to be part of new groups there

Let’s make music!

We have a newly-formed group of XR Oxford Singers and Musicians! This will provide a forum for sharing ideas and making plans to bring music to local actions and events. Everyone’s welcome to join, no matter what your experience – all you need is enthusiasm and passion to let your voice be heard.

• Please email xroxfordoutreach@gmail.com if you’d like to be added to the email mailing group.
• If you’re interested in the drumming side of things, there’s also a new Oxford XR Drummers group! Email xroxforddrummers@gmail.com to get involved

Were you arrested during the Rebellion?

Oxford’s Arrestee Support Group invite arrestees from the October Rebellion to email xroxfordarresteesolidarity@gmail.com with details of your arrest. If you consent to us having your information, it would be useful to know:

• your name; 
• email and/or phone number; 
• when and where you were arrested; 
• and whether you were charged or released under investigation. 

There is of course no obligation to make contact. We will keep track of dates and charges in order to share information and offer support, and will arrange meetings for arrestees. This will be open to arrestees from Oxford and Oxfordshire, as well as those arrested during the April Rebellion (whether charged or not). We are also compiling resources for arrestees and their supporters.

Anyone from XR Oxford who was arrested in either October or April is also welcome to join our Oxford Arrestee Support Google Group. This is a group for sharing experiences and advice – please only share any personal details of your arrest that you would be happy with the wider group seeing.

Make time for some regen

Getting back to ‘normal’ isn’t easy, and it’s natural to feel some post-Rebellion blues.

We all go through our own cycles of energy and emotions; one model which XR advocates is the Regenerative Action Cycle (pictured above). It is inspired through observation of natural cycles as well as teachings from many regenerative and indigenous cultures around the world. Following these cycles in our human activities can foster connection and regeneration within ourselves, within our communities, and in our relationship with the other-than-human communities we are part of.

The Regenerative Action Cycle invites us to:

1. Take care of ourselves and connect with our anchors as we return home (Afternoon/Late Summer)
2. Celebrate and share stories in small gatherings (Sunset/Autumn)
3. Accept, debrief, feedback and honour the emotions raised by our actions (Dusk/End of Autumn)
4. Rest, reflect and dream new visions (Midnight/Mid-Winter)
5. With gratitude, come together again to develop new ideas and set new intentions (First Light/Beginning of Spring)

This then leads into the next steps for future actions:

1. Creating teams, training for actions. (Sunrise/Mid Spring) 
2. Practical Preparation, Pre Arrest prep etc (Mid Morning/Beginning of Summer) 
3. The Action – (Midday/ Height of Summer) 

Below are some enriching local events which help put this regenerative culture into practice in our Autumn/end of Autumn phase…

1. Dances of Universal Peace – Saturday 16th November, 2-4.30pm
2. ‘Expanding Horizons’ – A regenerative evening for local rebels – Wednesday 20 November, 8.15-9.45 pm, North Oxford
3. ‘Finding the love at the wild edge of sorrow’  – an all-day regenerative workshop – Sunday 24th November, 10.30 am-5 pm, 20 minutes outside Oxford

Where can I find more information?

• Our website
• Make sure you’re subscribed to any mailing lists you want to be on
• Explore our internal resources (join our Announcements list to access some materials)
• XR UK also have an Internal Newsletter

Hat’s off to everyone involved in the Art-Science Extravaganza at the Natural History Museum last weekend! It was an amazing, uplifting event with fantastic collaboration between the Natural History Museum, Extinction Rebellion Oxford and the Sumatran Orangutan Society. Thank you to everyone who planned, created, and joined in!

Now it’s time to rise up! Whether you are arrestable or not, whether you can join us in London for one day, one week, a fortnight or can offer support from home, we need everyone and every part of everyone. The sands are running through the hourglass and time is running out for our beautiful planet. We need to act now!

We need everyone who can to come to our site at Whitehall, where our key theme is ‘Beyond Politics’. Try to come as early as you can in the week – this critical site will be a focus of media and public attention, and we need as many people as possible in order to take it. Right in front of Downing Street, we’ll be highlighting how our democracy is failing to address the climate and ecological catastrophes. We want to propose the positive democratic alternative of a Citizens’ Assembly, where citizens will have the courage to propose the solutions where politicians have failed.

For a larger map of all the London sites, and what they’re standing for, see the October Rebellion page (see the map below for a preview).

One of the best ways to contribute is joining a team on our site – stewarding, photography, sustenance, the list goes on! There is a brilliant new website for exploring and choosing roles.

A quick guide to getting ready!

There’s loads of general practical info in XR Oxford goes to the Rebellion, but here are some top tips:

• Communication: Are you signed up to Telegram and XR Oxford Announcements emails?
  
  If not, now is the time to do it!
  Join these Telegram channels:
  1. Central “Rebellion Broadcast” (Rebellion-wide announcements)
  2. Whitehall site broadcast (just for our SE region Whitehall site)
  3. “Oxfordshire action info” (for Oxfordshire rebels at the Rebellion)
     In Telegram, for privacy, go into privacy & security settings, make a username, and set the “Who can see my phone number?” to “Nobody”.
• Know our Principles: All participants in the Rebellion are asked to follow the Rebel Agreement as a basis for trust:
  1. We show respect to everyone – to each other, the general public and to the government and police.
  2. We engage in no violence, physical or verbal, and carry no weapons.
  3. We hold ourselves accountable for our actions and do not hide from the legal consequences.
  4. We bring no alcohol or illegal drugs. 
  5. We take responsibility for ourselves; we are all crew.
     Rebels undertaking nonviolent direct action must abide by the Action Consensus
• Be aware of your rights and the consequences of getting arrested: Attend NVDA training in Oxford or Wallingford, and read this. There will be NVDA training available in London too. This is a quick introduction to the law relating to protest. Print a bust card and bring it with you. Choose your emergency contact and let them know how you’re planning to participate.
• Sign up for a role either in London or at home. We have so many jobs to sustain the Rebellion!
• And before you go, make time to recharge your batteries and relax!
• Affinity groups: If you don’t already have an affinity group or are travelling alone to London, join affinity group formation once a day at our Whitehall site – probably late morning.
• Travel: the cheapest way to get to London from Oxford is by bus. Keep an eye out for other rebels at Gloucester Green Bus Station. There will be coaches from various cities organized by XR Central on 6 October or join the rebel cyclists.
• Accommodation: Camping is strongly encouraged in order to hold sites overnight. Bring a pop-up tent, sleeping bag and lots of warm clothes. Here’s a handy kit list.
• What to wear: it’s going to be cold and could be very wet. Make sure you have plenty of warm comfortable clothes. It’s been suggested that wearing everyday clothes will encourage the public perception that the Rebellion is made up of ‘ordinary’ people. Don’t bring too much in case we have to move, reusable is good, secondhand is good.. 
• Food: Bring food for yourself and others!
• List of toilets in Central London
• Be creative: banners, placards, musical instruments, costumes, pot plants, songsheets, leaflets, facepaint, songsheets, loudhailer … The headline message for our site is Beyond Politics (Citizens’ Assemblies).

Why Whitehall and what about Brexit?

At this moment in British political history, with a divided country, it is essential that XR UK’s actions are focused primarily at Government rather than at Parliament. XR calls for MORE, for an upgraded democracy not less. XR UK will use every opportunity to draw our 3 Demands forcefully to Parliament’s attention, but UK XR Political Circle want to urge very strongly that our actions and words in Westminster in October target principally ‘Executive’ actions and Government departments that are stopping real action on the Climate and Environment Emergency.  Parliament declared a Climate and Environment Emergency after our Rebellion on 1st May. It is Government action that is now needed (as well as Parliament going further to legislate for nearer-term deadlines on biodiversity and on climate). We are engaging in NVDA to renew democracy in this country. A Citizen’s Assembly on Climate and Ecological Justice can usher in a new era of direct, deliberative democracy and address our democratic crisis. 

Extinction Rebellion’s strategy will focus on Government Departments to Demand they tell the truth about their plans for Ecological and Climate Breakdown. 

Messaging  for the Oxford site, given we hope to target Downing Street, will focus fully on our third demand, the Citizen’s Assembly. Key messages are: The current system needs help; Westminster cannot solve this crisis alone; Our electoral system isn’t coping with modern challenges.

Sustenance

The October Sustenance group are working hard to prepare for your arrival, but time is not on our side and our budget only stretches to 10p per Rebel per day – that includes power, equipment, food supplies, everything… We are expecting A LOT of Rebels, October Sustenance would LOVE to feed you all, but sadly this is just not possible. The kitchens will have to serve those that are the most in need – those who have travelled, those that are camping, those on actions, those that can’t afford to buy their food… The October Sustenance page has excellent ways to donate.

Identify cheap places to eat, share them with your group and sign up for places offering Rebel discounts.

Bring food, washable bowls, spoons and mugs to the rebellion. We have a wish list for a wide variety of items. Also needed for the training tent: yoga mats/carpet offcuts; folding camp chairs; umbrellas; bunting; battery powered lights.

We’re recruiting food collectors to collect free surplus food from all over London and the whole Rebellion needs SO many couriers! Or be a kitchen lead or kitchen crew .

Or sign up for another job (from event logistics to well-being), including roles for people who can’t make it to London. 

Spread the Word!

You can send stories to your local press, adapt this template, find some quotes from local rebels, add a good picture and send it off to your local newspapers, radio and TV stations. The regional press working group needs more volunteers!

Talk to your friends, your family, your coworkers. Tell them why you’re rebelling and ask them to join you, if only for a day. Don’t forget to reshare any important updates you see to our Extinction Rebellion Oxford group via Facebook or Twitter.

Arrestee Support

Help us build a strong support network in Oxford and surroundings for people arrested in the October Rebellion. There are hundreds of local police stations where rebels may be held, especially outside of London, we need people to be ready to support arrestees as they are released. They may have been held for 24 hours, be worried, hungry, thirsty, disorientated and tired. It may be 2pm or 2am and they may have run out of phone battery, and not know where they are. We’ve created 150 police station support groups and a map to allow you to click on a link that lets you join your local police station group/s. If you help, join as many local station groups as you can in relation to where you can offer support. This is a great way for people who cannot travel to London to be involved and is an essential link in the XR support chain.

 Let us take a moment, this moment, to consider why we are here. 

Let’s recall our love for the whole of humanity, in all corners of the world. 

Let’s remember our love for this beautiful planet that feeds, nourishes and sustains all life. 

Let’s recollect our sincere desire to protect all this, for now and for generations to come.

As we act today, may we find the courage to bring this sense of peace and appreciation to everyone we encounter, to every word we speak, and to every action we make. 

In this emergency. 

Together. 

Rooted in love. We are all we need.

Where can I find more information?

• Our website
• Make sure you’re subscribed to any mailing lists you want to be on
• Explore our internal resources (join our Announcements list to access some materials)
• XR UK also have an Internal Newsletter
• Download Telegram 

Before we get onto the legal stuff…

Let’s take a moment to thank all the young people of Oxfordshire, and across the world, for yesterday.

• For uniting voices of all ages.
• For showing us a way forward, together.
• For telling the plain, simple truths that someone we adults forget.

According to Oxford Youth Strikes, an estimated 5000-6000 came out in force in Oxford to join the millions around the world, and the march got so big that it closed its own loop. The same happened at the evening Families Bike Ride, where riders from every corner of the city encircled the whole Plain roundabout with the sound of cheering, singing and the dinging of bells

This is an impressive achievement, and we’re not done yet. We hope yesterday has emboldened you to keep up that pressure into October, where we will be taking it to the real seat of power: Westminster.

On our legal rights theme for this week, let’s also consider our privilege of being able to collect together on a sunny day, without fear of harm or serious legal repercussions. This touching photo of yesterday’s school strikers of Kabul, guarded by Afghan security forces, highlights just how easy we have it. May we applaud their courage.

Know your rights…

“The only time that people know it is serious, is when people are prepared to sacrifice their liberty in defence of their beliefs.” George Monbiot, 31st October 2018, Declaration of Rebellion, London.

With less than three weeks until the Rebellion, it’s crucial that all rebels inform themselves about their rights as protesters and the possible consequences of arrest. Come along to a Legal Briefing + Q&A session in Oxford on 23 September or in Wantage on 26 September. These sessions will help you decide what actions to take at the October rebellion and beyond. Every part of every rebel is needed – we need people who are prepared to be arrested and plenty of people on the ground in many other roles. Read up on your rights and how to be prepared, even if you’re not planning on being arrested, or join the XR webinars to find out more about mass mobilisation, contemplating prison, and hunger strikes. There’s loads more general practical info in XR Oxford goes to the Rebellion.

Upcoming Actions/Events

• Saturday 21st September, 2-5pm – Building an effective affinity/working group – Facilitation Training (Part I of 2), Central Oxford
• Sunday 22nd September, 4-5.30pm – Glorious Rabble Practice, St Columbas Church, Alfred St
• Monday 23rd September, 7-9.30pm – Legal Briefing + Q&A, John Henry Brookes Lecture Theatre, Brookes University Headington Campus 
• Tuesday 24th September, 7-9.30pm – Building an effective affinity/working group – Facilitation Training (Part 2 of 2), East Oxford
• Thursday 26th September, 7-9 pm – Legal Briefing + Q&A, King Alfred’s Head, Wantage
• Saturday 28th September – XR Art-Science EXtravaganza, Oxford University Museum of Natural History 
• Saturday 28th September – Oxford Citizens’ Assembly on the Climate Emergency — 1st Weekend
• Monday 30th September, 6.30-9.30pm – Affinity Group & Working Group Coordinators Meeting. Let your coordinator know if you have anything for them to bring up.
• Monday 30th September, 7.30pm-9.30pm – Heading for Extinction (and what to do about it), Witney
• Tuesday 1st October, 6.30-9.30pm – New Rebels Meeting, Oxford
• Wednesday 2nd October, 7.30pm-9.30pm – Heading for Extinction (and what to do about it), Witney
• Thursday 3rd October, 7-9pm – Introduction to Extinction Rebellion, Central Oxford
• Friday 4th October, 6.30-9.30pm – Non-Violent Direct Action Training, Cowley (please register)
• Saturday 5th – Sunday 6th October – Thames Valley Cycle to the October Rebellion! 
• Monday 7th October – Saturday 19th October – Major International Rebellion!

And on Fridays from 12.30 – 1.30 pm, there is a weekly ‘Eco-Listening Space’ to reflect on the climate emergency and any feelings that arise, Oxford Quaker Meeting House, 43 St Giles OX1 3LW

Get your legal questions answered in person

Legal Briefing + Q&A – John Henry Brookes Lecture Theatre, Brookes University, and also King Alfred’s Head, Wantage

A detailed legal briefing with barrister John Briant of Reeds Solicitors and Chambers, in preparation for the October Rebellion. For rebels old and new and anyone interested in taking part. There will be plenty of time for Q&A!

The aim is to give you legal info to help you decide what actions to take at the Rebellion and beyond. It is essential that we each inform ourselves about the possible costs and other consequences of taking action – and this is a perfect chance to do it. If you do decide to take arrestable action, John will also give you practical tips about how to prepare for it.

If you decide not to take arrestable action, you’ll have the option to learn more about how you could support arrestees after the rebellion instead. Arrestee support is crucial, and we need folks who can support those arrested (more on this below!).

Know your rights – online trainings

• 23rd September, 7-9pm
• Tuesday 1st October, 7-9pm
• Saturday 5th October, 1-3pm

If you can’t make it to the in-person legal briefing, don’t worry! There are still several online Know Your Rights trainings before the Rebellion. Please remember that everyone should attend such a training and/or familiarise themselves with our legal resources before attending an action.

Why is this important?

Many rebels felt after April that their decision to get arrested was not an informed one – and they weren’t prepared for the consequences. It’s your responsibility to inform yourselves before attending an action – please encourage your affinity and local groups in doing the same. You can’t always plan an arrest – it can happen very quickly, so everyone should prepare themselves for this case, even if you don’t consider yourself an “arrestable”.

Know Your Rights trainings cover topics like…

• What are your rights when dealing with the police?
• What happens during a Stop and Search?
• What happens during an arrest?
• What are the possible consequences of an arrest or conviction?
• What are rebels likely to be charged with?
• What happens when you go to court?

To sign up, please first join the XR Oxford Announcements forum, and then visit this link. Joining Announcements will send you regular, important updates from XR Oxford, but if you’d rather just access the trainings and not get emails you can unsubscribe at any time. We have had to secure the training sign-up links due to the recent risk of trolls joining online XR meetings.

Arrestee/Defendant Support in Oxford – we need your help!

Arrestees have been key to the success of XR. For our campaign of non-violent civil disobedience to work, we need to be disruptive, and this inevitably leads to arrests: the more the better in terms of media and public awareness. So far over 1100 people have been arrested, and this number is bound to grow, as a key part of a powerful and effective movement. So it is important that we value, respect and support arrestees. Many have stepped well out of their comfort zones in support of the movement’s aims, and some may feel a bit vulnerable.

Support can include all or some of these: 

• Meeting Defendants – listening, and sharing thoughts.
• Attending Defendants Group meetings, at roughly monthly intervals in Oxford. 
• ‘Buddying’ arrestees through the ‘process’ of arrest and trial
• Accompanying defendants to court, which can be immensely comforting in that potentially hostile-seeming environment.
• If you have legal or literary skills, you may be able to assist those defendants who elect to self-represent to prepare their cases.
• Being part of an arrestee support team at the October Rebellion. Following up who has been arrested, where they are being detained, informing their family/partner and meeting them when they are released.
• Learning about legal aid, helping with legal aid applications, helping with fundraising to help defendants defray their legal expenses.

To get involved, please contact Peter King, and if possible come along to our Legal Briefing + Q&A on Monday, where there’ll be a session on arrestee support.

Where can I find more information?

• Our website
• Make sure you’re subscribed to any mailing lists you want to be on
• Explore our internal resources (join our Announcements list to access some materials)
• XR UK also have an Internal Newsletter
• Download Telegram to get ready for October!

As we go into our last month before the October Rebellion, it couldn’t be more of a turbulent time in politics. If damage can be done in words rather than blows, then right now the Commons isn’t the place to look for XR’s non-violent principles… Politicians could learn a lot from Rupert Read and Roger Hallam (two co-founders of XR), who exemplified respectful, civil debate in Oxford last week, finding common ground despite their differences on some topics.

September is packed. Local rebels are working flat out to make sure everyone is as prepared for the London Rebellion as they can be. If you’re thinking of getting involved but haven’t yet, now’s your time. Don’t be afraid to come along to our big planning meeting or a social and say: ‘Hi, I’m looking for the Rebellion?’

Update on Meetings

To give them a bit more flexibility and less time pressure, Working Groups are now meeting at their own convenience (rather than all at once). If you’d like to find out when the next meeting of a group is (or how you can help out), get in touch with a coordinator. 

Upcoming Actions/Events

• Thursday 10th September, 7.15 – 9.30pm, Regenerative Culture Skillshare, South Oxford
• Friday 13th September, 7-11pm – Pre-Rebellion Social! No agenda, just bring some good food to share with good people, East Oxford Community Centre, OX4 1DD
• Saturday 14th September, 11.45am-12.30pm – ReDeclaration of Rebellion, outside Oxford Town Hall
• Saturday 14th September, 2-5pm – Outreach and Leafletting in Central Oxford, meet by Carfax, all welcome!
• Saturday 14th – Sunday 15th September – Rebel Rising South East: Regional XR Gathering, Brighton – don’t miss the Rebel Hoopers workshop on the Sunday!
• Sunday 15th September, 10am-6pm – De-escalation & Non-violent Culture Training, South Oxford (please register)

• Tuesday 17th September, 6.30-9.30pm – Non-Violent Direct Action Training, Rose Hill (please register)
• Wednesday 18th September, 7.15-9.15pm – Important October Rebellion Meeting: Information and Planning for Action, South Oxford Community Centre, OX1 4RP
• Friday 20th September, 11am-2pm – Global Climate Strike, Broad Street, Oxford
• Monday 23rd September, 7-9.30pm – Legal Briefing + Q&A, venue TBC
• Thursday 26th September, 4-6.30pm – ‘Talking about the Climate Emergency’ Workshop, North Oxford
• Saturday 28th September – XR Art-Science EXtravaganza, Oxford University Museum of Natural History
• Monday 30th September, 6.30-9.30pm – Affinity Group & Working Group Coordinators Meeting. Let your coordinator know if you have anything for them to bring up.
• Wednesday 2nd October, 6-8.30pm – ‘Talking about the Climate Emergency’ Workshop, North Oxford
• Thursday 3rd October, 7-9pm – Introduction to Extinction Rebellion, Central Oxford
• Friday 4th October, 6.30-9.30pm – Non-Violent Direct Action Training, Cowley (please register)
• Monday 7th October – Saturday 19th October – Major International Rebellion!

And on Fridays from 12.30 – 1.30 pm, there is a weekly ‘Eco-Listening Space’ to reflect on the climate emergency and any feelings that arise, Oxford Quaker Meeting House, 43 St Giles OX1 3LW

Four practical ways to help make the Rebellion happen

7th October – 19th October 2019

This rebellion is going to be huge – because time is running out. Leading scientists and public figures have estimated we have as little as 18 months to turn it around. The situation is urgent and we need to act now. ⏳ We will peacefully shut down all roads into Westminster in Central London and nonviolently disrupt the government until our leaders agree to take emergency action now. Other nonviolent actions will target corporations, ministries and infrastructure that maintain our toxic system.

So how can you help make it happen?

1. Come along to our important ‘October Rebellion: Information and Preparing for Action’ session. 
   An essential meeting if you want to find out how the Rebellion will work and what you can do to prepare! 
2. Register for a role (however big or small). 
   Local groups will be taking more responsibility for making the Rebellion happen this time (with Oxford working as part of the South East). This is “we are all crew” on a grand scale. It’s also a great opportunity for people in Oxford who don’t yet have roles to take some more responsibility, in a manageable, time-limited way. This Rebellion needs everyone. If you think you have nothing to contribute, think again. Bring yourself, and that will be enough.
3. Are you signed up to the Announcements email list?
   These are regular emails on more in-depth announcements for XR Oxford. If you’re looking for more information than this newsletter, this is the next step.
4. Download Telegram, the primary messaging app for the Rebellion.
   More secure than Whatsapp, this is the primary way we’ll be communicating on the ground – so please download it now! More info to come on how we’ll be using Telegram and which groups to join.

Hardship Fund for the Rebellion

We are seeking applications and donations for a hardship fund for the October Rebellion. If money is an important factor hindering your full participation in October, you can apply for any of the following:

1. A £15 travel grant.
2. An £8 per attended day subsistence grant.
3. For those who suffer loss of earnings due to their participation in October, a discretionary amount that will depend on: the extent of their involvement, the level of their hardship, the number of applications, and the money available in the fund.

Applications are to be made to the fund administrator, Tina, detailing level of need, and confirming that you live in Oxford or a nearby village, or have been active in Oxford Extinction Rebellion. The application deadline is Tuesday 17th September at 5pm.

Donations can also be made and are very gratefully received – you will be helping break down financial barriers so that as many rebels as possible can come to the streets of London.

Roll up and get one of these!

Art-Science EXtravaganza: Saturday 28 September

Wear a beautiful XR Oxford bandanna for our performance actions at the Art-Science EXtravaganza, showing how ecological breakdown is linked to climate breakdown – they go hand in glove. Email Jane to sign up (letting her know if you’re part of an affinity group or not).

Calling young rebels and School Strikers!

Calling young rebels! Take part in the Masked Intervention for the EXtravaganza. Wear a beautiful mask representing some of the species essential in the British countryside. Help us show the public that we won’t beat climate breakdown if we have driven our wildlife to extinction. Contact Jane to volunteer.

Oxford’s own Red Brigade rises!

You may have seen XR Red Brigades before – you’ll never forget them if you have. Arresting, powerful and moving, their silent processions enact and embody the grief and rage felt towards our planet’s situation.

If you’ve heard the ripping of fabric around Oxford, or seen red scraps floating in the breeze, you’ll know that Oxford’s very own Red Rebel Brigade is rising! They are busy making costumes and rehearsing in preparation for October (and beyond!)… Irrespective of gender or age, all are welcome to join in whatever role suits you (makers, supporters, or to don the garb and have a go). You can join the Oxford Red Rebels Google group to keep in touch with upcoming plans and performances… or just watch out for the group in red…

Regenerative Culture Skillshare

Tuesday 10th September, 7.15-9.30pm, South Oxford Community Centre

These are testing times. With the call to action comes the call to engage with projections of the future, and evidence of climate tipping points. Our response starts with our inner climate, what we do with how we feel about climate change, and how that influences our activism.

We’re part of the social turning point, where we say business as usual is not an option. Whilst this means taking our care and concern to the streets, it also means a turning point in how we respond. We need to be grounded, connected, collaborative, compassionate and flexible. We need to develop ways of being – in ourselves, in our groups and with the wider world – to call forth this energy.

Learn and share practices, exercises and techniques to help you stay connected, grounded and strong together. Open to anyone in XR interested in learning and developing healthy regenerative culture.

If you can’t make the skillshare, explore regenerative culture exercises with this XR podcast by Joanna Macy, and take a look at the resources our Oxford XR Regen team have developed.

The Global Climate Strike Builds

Broad Street, Oxford, 11am-2pm

Stand in solidarity with the young generation. This September, across the world, millions of us will walk out of our workplaces and homes to join young climate strikers on the streets, and demand an end to the age of fossil fuels. March and rally alongside Oxford Youth Strike. Come if you can, and invite everyone you can think of to the Facebook event, and follow Oxford Youth Strike for Climate for updates about the day itself. The youth organisers have asked for:

1. More stewards!
2. A gazebo
3. A PA system.

If you can offer any of these, please get in touch with Jo Gill.

Get writing for Rebel Talk! 

Poems for the Climate Emergency – Deadline now extended to 20th October

Rebel Talk, an XR Oxford project to create an anthology of poems from the movement by Spring 2020, has now passed TWO HUNDRED submissions, and counting! With the deadline now put back until 20 October, there’s plenty of time to make that three hundred…

Submission requirements:

• One or two poems only
• Up to 40 lines in length (including title)
• As an attached file in Word (.doc) format, to: rebtalk@igy50.net

Watch ‘A Deliberate Rebellion’

With Oxford’s Citizens’ Assembly on the Climate Emergency launching on the 28th September,  there’s no better time to watch The Deliberate Rebellion, a short film that examines Extinction Rebellion’s demand for a national Citizens’ Assembly on climate and ecological justice, and why it’s so important.

Where can I find more information?

• Our website
• Make sure you’re subscribed to any mailing lists you want to be on
• Explore our internal resources (join our Announcements Group to access some materials)
• XR UK also have an Internal Newsletter

Tell us your stories!

This newsletter relies almost entirely on submissions from rebels doing exciting projects – if you have an exciting update or event you want to share, email us your story at xroxford@gmail.com with the subject ‘Newsletter’.

Get ready for the next major rebellion!

The past few weeks have seen extreme weather events in the UK and across the globe, with the hottest July ever following the hottest June. In Siberia, a forest fire has consumed millions of acres of forest, while more than 800 people were rescued from a train near Mumbai, India, when a river burst its banks following torrential rain.

It’s clear that it’s time to act! In April we rose up. In October we will rise again – this time, across cities, countries and continents.  The next major rebellion will start in London on 7 October and will last until 19 October. The best thing you can do right now is let us know you’re coming, so that we can plan effectively.

Read on for ideas on how to get ready to join us! 

Coming up

Our next Working Group meeting: Tuesday 3 September

Individual working groups may still be meeting. If you’re interested in joining one, contact a working group coordinator.

Upcoming Actions/Events

• Fridays from 12.30 – 1.30 pm –  weekly ‘Eco-Listening Space’ at Oxford Quaker Meeting House, 43 St Giles OX1 3LW
• By Thursday 15th August, fill in this survey if you’re planning to come to the October Rebellion. To avoid double counting, only fill it out if your primary group is Oxford XR.
• Friday 16th August, XR Abingdon New Members Induction, Abingdon Brass Band Clubhouse, Abingdon, OX14 3JA
• Friday 23rd August, 6.30-9.30pm, Non-Violent Direct Action Training with XR Abingdon, Abingdon Brass Band Clubhouse, Abingdon, OX14 3JA
• Sunday 25th August, 11am-2pm – Swarming and De-escalation practice (and a picnic!), Oxford University Parks (meet at South-West Entrance)
• Tuesday 27th August, 7.45-9.15pm – ‘Heading for Extinction and What to Do About It’ Talk, Eynsham
• Thursday 5th September, 7 pm – Public Meeting to Build the Global Climate Strike (feat. George Monbiot), Oxford Town Hall
• Saturday 14th – Sunday 15th September – Rebel Rising South East: Regional XR Gathering, Brighton
• Friday 20th September – Global Climate Strike, Bonn Square, Oxford
• Saturday 28th September – XR Art-Science EXtravaganza, Oxford University Museum of Natural History
• Monday 7th October – Saturday 19th October – Major International Rebellion!

But first: a Finances Update

Hello! I’m Ella and I’m the treasurer for XR Oxford. We have our own Triodos Bank account, and we’ve got just over £700 to our name right now. Our money has all come from local donations, and our records are available for everyone to see here. If you have any questions, please give me a shout.

Have we got enough of it?

£700 is a tight budget given all the things we’ve got planned in the coming weeks: lots of training events, a big event at the Natural History Museum, and all the publicity for that event. We are counting on more donations coming in before the end of September, to fund our activities in October and beyond.

How can I help?

• Our main costs are printing and venue hire. If you have access to cheap, sustainable printing, or cheap or free venues for meetings, please email me.
• If you run a meeting, talk, or training, please try to collect contributions at the end of the meeting to cover the venue hire. If you make a collection, please email me and I’ll explain how to pay it to XR Oxford.
• If you or anybody you know would like to make a contribution to XR Oxford, our bank details are here.

Big thanks to the many Oxford rebels who have donated funds, and to those who have paid their own money for venues, printing and kit for actions. Please don’t ever feel any pressure to spend or give your money. Your time and your energy are more precious than anything else.

So…how do I prepare for a Rebellion?

1. Let us know you’re coming!

October Rebellion planning is in full swing, and this time regional groups will have more autonomy for action planning and design. XR Oxford is joining a regional planning session this weekend in Birmingham, and we need an estimate of numbers of Oxford Rebels expecting to join the Rebellion. So if you consider your primary group to be XR Oxford, please fill out this survey by end of the day on Thursday 15th August. This is completely anonymous, only for planning purposes, and does not commit you to anything. To avoid double counting, only fill it out if your primary group is Oxford.

2. Consider joining an affinity group

An affinity group (AG) is a group of rebels who take action together and support each other, both in and out of actions. In Oxfordshire, they meet to leaflet together, take action locally, organise talks, or just set the world to rights over a drink. During a Rebellion, they can be invaluable friends and comrades. If you’re searching for someone to look out for you on a road block, or just to hold the other end of a banner, start building those friendships now!

There are AGs all over Oxford (North, East, South and West) and in surrounding towns, now including the North Cotswolds! There are groups for families and Oxford Uni staff, and a new group at Oxford University Press.

That sounds great, how do I join one?

Drop xroxford@gmail.com a line to find out if there’s a group near you which is open to new members. We can even help if you’d like to start one, there’ll be plenty who’d want to join! We’re especially looking for rebels to start new groups in East Oxford.

3. Get skilled up

Why not use this period before the Rebellion to build your confidence in disruptive action? Your ‘rebelling’ muscles build the more you act, and there’s no better way to do it than practicing with others. There’s non-violent direct action training, swarming and de-escalation practice (with a picnic for afterwards!), and a South East Regional Rebel Gathering in Brighton, with plenty of trainings and chances to connect, build, plan and celebrate. There are also excellent online trainings around too, including this session on non-violent communication, and a new online guide on staying smartphone safe during actions.

More trainings are also planned for September – so keep an eye out!

4. Dig into the issues behind our actions

The unmissable This is not a Drill is perhaps the essential handbook on why we do what we do – why not join our online Chat forum, where a rebel book swap has just started up, and try to find a copy?

This September at our Extravaganza, we’ll be tackling another big global issue – unsustainable palm oil. Palm oil has infiltrated our lives: it’s in almost 50% of the food we eat, from chocolate, bread, and ice cream, to detergents, soap, shampoo…and it’s contributing to mass rainforest deforestation. Around 1.2 billion people and 30 million plant and animal species rely on tropical rainforests for survival. Since they absorb and store huge amounts of carbon, deforestation is stripping the planet of one of its vital Natural Climate Solutions.

Sustainable palm oil production is capable of regenerating rainforests – and it is happening. We’re working alongside the Sumatran Orangutan Society at the Extravaganza, who are helping to turn Oxford into a Sustainable Palm Oil City. We’ll also be drawing public attention to our world’s magnificent endangered species, through XR Oxford’s biggest ever performance action!

Email xroxfordarts@gmail.com to take part in the Extravaganza, especially our mass performance!

5. Make time for some regen

Recognising your emotional needs is important at all stages of taking action, and exploring them beforehand can help you feel more prepared. You could watch this video exploring regenerative action, or join an ‘Eco-Listening Space’ at Oxford’s Quaker Meeting House on Fridays from 12.30 – 1.30pm. This is a space for Oxford Quakers and others to listen deeply to each other and share thoughts, as we engage with the climate and ecological crises. Whatever your interest or community, you are welcome. Let Laurie Michaelis know if you have any questions.

Where can I find more information?

• Our website
• Make sure you’re subscribed to any mailing lists you want to be on
• Explore our internal resources (join our Announcements Group to access some materials)
• XR UK also have an Internal Newsletter

Tell us your stories!

This newsletter relies almost entirely on submissions from rebels doing exciting projects – if you have an exciting update or event you want to share, email us your story at xroxford@gmail.com with the subject ‘Newsletter’.