Extinction Rebellion launches election campaign

Extinction Rebellion has launched an online election kit in the lead up to the general election to help supporters with their activism during the period.

The 15-page document has “collated resources” and offers up ideas for local XR groups operating across the UK.

Extinction Rebellion does not endorse any politician or political party, but the group hopes that the kit will help campaigners to push the climate crisis to become the “defining issue” of the election. 

“XR is beyond politics as usual – we are a non-party political movement devoted to fighting the CEE (Climate and Ecological Emergency),” the kit states. 

“We now need everyone working together to increase our chances of survival. A national citizens’ assembly will help us achieve this so its a key focus of this Election Rebellion.”

Extinction Rebellion have three key demands: for the government to tell the truth “by declaring a climate and ecological emergency, for the government to act now and reduce emissions to net-zero by 2025, and for the creation of a Citizens’ Assembly on climate and ecological justice.

The kit lays out that an action will take place every day in the 12 day lead up to the election – the ’12 days of Christmas’. 

No specific details of action are laid out in the document – with group spokesman Rupert Read explaining that people will have to “wait and see.”

“We want to be pressuring politicians and candidates all around the country to do the right thing and prioritise climate action,” Read added.

As well as protest action, the kit urges members of XR to partake in local action.

Whether it’s having an active presence at hustings, posting flyers, or asking MP candidates to explicitly support the Three Demands Bill, the kit provides a whole host of ways members can get involved with the general election and spread XR’s message.

Meka Beresford is a freelance journalist. Follow her on Twitter.