Live Culture with Martha Willette Lewis Episode 54: This Is Not A Drill- A conversation with members of Extinction Rebellion NYC

Sat, 31 Aug 2019 10:55:00 GMT

This month I am in conversation with two organizers from Extinction Rebellion NYC, a group dedicated to creative nonviolent civil disobedience in the cause of the Climate Emergency. This is a particularly poignant moment to talk with them as the G7 closes, Greta Thunberg is sailing her way to NYC and the Amazon Rain Forests are ablaze.

Extinction Rebellion is ready with a roster of creative Fall protests in time for the UN Climate Action Summit in September. I speak with Kim, from the XR Arts Collective, and Justin, a Regenerative Culture Coordinator about the goals, principals and demands XRNYC has generated, and what the role of a creative person can be in such initiatives. We go over the nuts-and-bolts behind such large-scale projects, and the myriad ways people can be involved.

Extinction Rebellion officially launched in London in late fall 2018, with Extinction Rebellion NYC (XRNYC) starting shortly thereafter in December, with a first action taking place in January culminating in a disruption at Rockefeller Center Skating Rink. The mission of XRUS is to “transform our society into one that is compassionate, inclusive, sustainable, equitable and connected” and to get the government to tell theTruth about Climate Change and to act on it.

Since their inception XRNYC have had multiple public actions, including a large roadblock/die-in staged outside of City Hall and a Memorial Service for Extinct Species in in Prospect Park, Brooklyn. XR Has many artists working with them and are defined by its colorful, bold and inventive events which involve such creative outlets as sculpture, design, social theater, music and fashion.

Xrebellion is a decentralized, non-hierarchical movement, using a self-organizing system to operate. They welcome everyone, so long as they support XR’s 10 Principles and 4 demands. These are available on their webpage at extinctionrebellionus and xrebellion.nyc . Of special interest on the XRNYC page are some climate facts is under the heading The Truth.

Starting at the end of September will be their Fall Call to Action culminating in October’s mammoth International Rebellion with actions taking place globally. All are invited to attend this major demonstration and call for change, taking place October 7 EVERYWHERE.

Other realted groups looking to attract creatives to get further involved in the issues of climate change include XR’s partner organization Culture Declares Emergency which is made up of artists and cultural producers taking a pledge. More can be found here http://culturedeclares.org/

Please join me for this fascinating conversation about Art, Protest and the grassroots movement that engages the economic and political Titans in “The Fight For Our Lives”.

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Live Culture with Martha Willette Lewis Episode 54: This Is Not A Drill- A conversation with members of Extinction Rebellion NYC