Should XR be classified as Extremists? | 14 July 2021 | Extinction Rebellion UK

Rebels met Lord Walney who is tasked by the Government with a review on 'Political violence and Disruption' (xrb.link/a9Qw3...) to put the case forwards that we are not violent or extremists, that disruption and extremism should not be conflated and that what we do is necessary to enable the urgent changes required by the climate and ecological crisis.
Attendees included Clare Farrell, Amelia Halls, Dr Gail Bradbrook, Dr Charlie Gardner, Rabbi Jeffrey Newman, David Lautaro Illayux, Paul Stephens and Robin Red.
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[JL]

[@bobgray1555]

Many thanks to you beautiful, caring and conscientious people of XR for arranging this debate and thanks to Lord Walney for joining in. The passion and outright decency of each individual is moving. My conscience was pricked by the mention of bystanders - thank you Rabbi. 😊 My thinking is simple - in a perfect world with a truly democratic system the elected officials listen to the people, they are advised by the scientists and then take the appropriate action to put things right. When we are faced with a situation where the very way we run our lives is causing an existential crisis we need to make necessary changes. If the government does not respond in the right way, for what ever reason, then government is not doing it's job. When government is swayed by media and commercial interests then we have a failing system and that is made more apparent when government seeks to silence it's critics. In summary, we all need to come together to demand the changes that lead us towards a sustainable future and a truly democratic society that is fully inclusive. This is done through civil peaceful disobedience and the more of us that get involved the better - I have been a bystander for too long!

[@billrodden4120]

When they outlaw freedom, only outlaws will be free. Thank you XR Rebels, well done.

[@rosemarytrevillion5514]

Thank you for recording and sharing this meeting, and thank you all for your integrity and hard work 🙏 I dont think Lord Walney will forget that conversation even if he does not have the power to change course.

[@pauleaton3578]

Why isn't everyone watching this?

[@requiredfieldcannotbeleftb9746]

I find this concerning. On two occasions Walney makes a slip that suggests he still doesn't believe the science is legitimate, once at the start and once near the end. That paired with his shutting down the rabbi's line of reasoning - he doesn't like the comparison, regardless of how valid it might be, so he won't hear it. Reality must conform to his perception, not the other way around. This is dangerous.

[@davidpretiz4439]

This is serious and urgent. It may be necessary soon to change the name to "The Revolution to Save the Life of This Blue Planet"

[@zpettigrew]

Non violent civil disobedience will be the ONLY WAY to resolve violent disobedience from taking place in the near future. When things collapse and people can't feed their children and become desperate en mass - they tend to get pretty violent historically. What XR does, and their honorable commitment to non-violence should be encouraged - not labelled as "extremist".

[@LukeFlegg]

I think this video should be re-titled "Should XR be classified as a terrorist organisation?" because few people know who Lord Walney is or why this video is worth watching. Thanks for recording + sharing. Informative, beautiful.

[@joe8431]

Yes I had no idea either, good titles are super important

[@zpettigrew]

YES! It'd get far more clicks and attention. Excellent idea.

[@zoecohen9071]

Amazing work Gail and the whole team. When people meet this humanity and authenticity it's hard not to be impacted. I hope Lord Walney felt this. We are not extremists, the extremism is keeping this devastating system of business as usual going

[@zoecohen9071]

Very moved by Rabbi Jeffrey's comments. Thank you for speaking up. I am terrified too

[@careynazyeustt5841]

Don't be terrified-be courageous. Warm regards ✨️

[@phillipmiddleton9335]

Walney has broached the subject of democracy v extinction. This is a valid topic for debate. XR's belief is that if/when the voting public fully appreciates that the choice is between sustainability and extinction, they will choose sustainability. We must all accept that if the voting public chooses extinction, then democratically XR will be obliged to accept this decision (at least for the time being). I am prepared to be disruptive in support of the existential threat I hold to be true, because of this I am essentially anti-democratic because the majority of the voting public in the UK would not support my actions in blocking roads etc so I am going against the will of the majority in the UK. I am driven to do so because I feel I must so of course you can see that I am putting my will, the will of a single person, ahead of the will of the majority, so be it.

[@barnabyflynn965]

Do we live in a democracy when the information people are given, from which they make democratic decisions, is imparted by establishment, vested interest groups and benefits these groups (in the short-term) at the expense of all life on earth?

[@barnabyflynn965]

Also, politicians are funded by vested interest groups. We need local, national and global citizens assemblies, and to end private funding of political parties.

[@careynazyeustt5841]

Well done for using your more mature re-evolvement to inspire others to choose love life. Thank you ☯️🎶🌟🫂

[@jonathanfishwick5444]

Really appreciate your efforts. A very brave conversation and one worth having with a pillar of the establishment. It may just help to soften his position on XR a little, and loosen a few preconceptions. He was clearly trying to be open, but given the conditioning of the world he lives in, only so much can go in. The best we can hope is that he takes Clare's advice and properly investigates the science; because until that information truly lands XR's strategies will never make sense to him; nor will he realise how, for the sake of everything he loves, he simply must not be a part of shutting them down.

[@jillyglesias6448]

Whose team would you rather be in as we race towards the cliff edge - Walney’s with his woffle betraying his lack of scientific knowledge, and hoping privilege will save the day - or the wonderful bunch of XR people displaying respect, integrity, truthfulness, reason and heartfelt feeling for the urgency of the global emergency we are in? So proud to be a grandmother member of XR!

[@dadwilks6452]

Thank you all may your efforts be productive

[@zoecohen9071]

Thank you for mentioning the oceans Gail 🙏

[@JugglinJellyTake01]

Robin Red at 1:08:20 'I'm no great Shakespear...'. Oh but you are, succinct and to the point, well said.

[@s.r.howell1297]

So much discipline here. There were a few times when I know I would have been compelled to voice my frustration in a rather vocal manner - and I know it would have done no good.

[@brianwheeldon4643]

Thank you XR... this presentation highlights the serious problems of the present system of 'westminster' democracy. The person 'Lord Walney' had difficulty explaining himself and what he thinks (maybe he's nervous?). He is a systems person and has the kind of 'line manger' mentality that does not deeply question instructions that come from his hierarchical superiors (that's the way it seems). This kind of personality is embedded in privilege and his primary concern is holding on to the status quo. Thanks XR if not us, Who? well not this person 'lord walney' because his lack of imagination is startling, and his worry about losing his privilege brims over... we cannot allow systems managers to kill our children whether out of ignorance or privilege or malice- John, Lord Walney, just doesn't understand; it's like talking in terms of 'we need to increase our ambition' (because millions have died: WTF!!). I'm left with the strong impression that John 'Lord Walney' is a danger to the health and security of the British nation and it's people whether he knows it or not. Thanks again XR...

[@careynazyeustt5841]

I agree with much of what you say, however we must strive to be inclusive and give others time and space to re-evolve. We are all getting there Thank you for your input ☯️🎶

[@em945]

I really appreciated the intro with Jeffrey, then Amelia. Thank you. Bless you all. Bless us all.

[@celestialteapot309]

This conversation might have made sense forty years ago, but thank you XR for at least trying.

[@wilfredsterling2124]

Economic reduction can be compensated for by sustainable consumption. To say otherwise is to say people need to buy more and more stuff to be happy. There is nothing to suggest over or excessive consumption makes people happy.

[@zoecohen9071]

Very interesting to note Lord Walney's feedback at the end on the quality of the conversation and the way the meeting was conducted... Sounds like parliament and the house of Lords have a lot to learn from us

[@jahmah519]

This is not about they or them, that was then, this is now about us. Just tell the truth about the way you feel about the environment, dont try to be clever, just be honest about your feelings, this is our time together.

[@turtletimeglass4693]

So many points I could touch on. On the balance between nonviolence and violence, it's about the outer bounds of the Overton window. As long as the opposition side ( no change necessary) does not move to the greater action is needed side it forces an escalation of the tactics, to pull the window wider. It's not something controllable it's the natural expression in a population.

[@careynazyeustt5841]

And as long as we keep calm (do no harm) we will continue ☯️🎶

[@stephenkent1102]

A very appropriate watch as I pack for going to the Rebellion tomorrow!

[@careynazyeustt5841]

Superb! Thanks to all taking part for being vulnerable, authentic, decent. Keep up the good inspirational work. Can you sense it that we will succeed in having sustainable, world wide egalitarian siblingship society on planet Earth? I can. I have love for you all for your striving to be inclusive. Hard work, team building done well! I pray that it all gets easier soon. It feels like we're nearly there. Your examples support this. May The Creator/Parent Nature bless you all with the lovely desires of your hearts ☯️🎶🌟🫂🖖

[@szkielet137]

Thank you for sharing!:)

[@thefilthykevin4282]

The nerve of John Woodcock.

[@davidpretiz4439]

Let's stop beating around the bush, it's really simple. We need to stop burning fuels Now.

[@zoecohen9071]

So well done, and so many great points made 🙏

[@zoecohen9071]

Gaya Herrington's report from KPMG also says we're still heading for economic and social collapse by 2040 on current trajectory, ie, Limits to Growth was right

[@Rudmyster]

The problem is a monumental one people hear you but they just can’t place themselves inside the movie. My mother said to me the other day the Democrats have their hands full with Afghanistan and with Global warming then she laughed. As if it was just a reality show. I said Mother You Are on the warming Planet. She just looked at me with a blank face. I stared at her and she never made a response. I realized she just couldn’t put herself inside the Movie. She couldn’t put herself in the wildfires or the flood she just couldn’t do it We live in a world of make believe in a place where reality is a TV movie. This is what you need to beat and until you beat this fact you will never win. The fight is against 24 hour 100 Chanel’s of make believe. You are in luck because I’m about to start thinking of it. I’ve just Identified who we are really fighting against. And it’s a Monster with a big head start.

[@careynazyeustt5841]

We are all getting there as we show and tell authentically with ourself and each other. I have faith and pray for it ☯️🎶🌟🫂

[@lidewij7371]

Well done guys wow! 🙏🏽❤️

[@michaelg1569]

The lord is not very concerned. He needs more information. I wonder if he thinks like he talks. 200 word's when 20 would get the point across How can we address the climate crisis without upsetting anyone's standard of living (and blaming my comrades)?

[@careynazyeustt5841]

We are living through times of great re-evolving. Ultimately all is well. Thank you however for stating your concerns ☯️🎶🌟🫂

[@michellerice485]

Ask the government what they are putting in the air 🤔🤔🤔🤔😂😂😂😂😂

[@annacarter6559]

It’s specific, stated aim is to be extreme

[@philjoyce7939]

Unsurvivable by the mamallian body, not just human.

[@captainbirdzeye4371]

yes they should

[@paulscousedownie]

Since the industrial revolution our society has flourished. We’ve had massive economic and population growth. This was brought about through the use of fossilised carbon based fuels. It’s given us humans such a mechanical advantage. Capitalism is underpinned by economic growth and consumerism. The paradox is this use of fossilised fuels is causing a forced anthropogenic climate crisis. The economic system is pushing back against climate change mitigation. XR knows this hence their none violence protests the government is part of the economic system itself. CO2 is at its highest level at 420ppm, its not going down. It’s actually accelerating. 2050 supposed to be zero carbon in 30 years time. Look at reality most of the cars trains aircraft ships are still all or mostly powered by carbon fossilised fuels. We need a revolution in power generation and power consumption? I don’t see it happening? This government and all governments pay lip service to green technology! I think we gone past the point of no return if CO2 carried on at 2% growth compounded forward the CO2 in the atmosphere will end over 700ppm by 2050. We have turn off the CO2 tap today? It’s never going to happen there are too many vested interests in the current economic model. It’s delusional thinking? Look how we’ve handled covid we got no chance with the climate?

[@paulscousedownie]

@@JeffVader time will tell if this revolution will happen? But we need to get our skates on and now! Next ten years I would say is critical, but we’ve been kicking can down the road for years?

[@careynazyeustt5841]

Good points made, however I have faith that altogether with love that we have the solutions. How about you ☯️🎶🌟🫂

[@billykirk9969]

Who the hat fit, let 'em wear it!

[@Theactivepsychos]

He didn't answer the questions. Or at least not so far.