Source: Counterpunch
A revolutionary slogan by climate scientists “1.5C is Dead – Climate Revolution Now!” emblazoned the streets of the world on April 6th spawned by the Sixth Assessment Report, Mitigation of Climate Change, Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) released April 4th.
Overnight, civil disobedience by climate scientists erupted in 25 countries on every continent enraged that the IPCC report was “watered down” at the behest of governments that are “unwilling to phase out fossil fuels.”
Wednesday, April 6th will go down in history, as Global Warming Bastille Day marked by the world’s largest ever protests by scientists sick and tired of mealy-mouthed responses by governments that cater to the fossil fuel wealth syndrome that intentionally misled the public and pays off politicians to keep pumping oil regardless of massive ecological destruction.
Scientists have had enough. They are fighting mad and striking back by hitting the streets, chaining themselves to government and private industry buildings, gates, bridges, and entryways in bold demonstrations to stop fossil fuel dead in its tracks.
Scientists chained themselves to the front door of the JP Morgan Chase building in downtown LA. The bank is the world’s leading funder of oil and gas projects.
Climate scientists chained themselves to the White House fence demanded that President Biden declare a “climate emergency.”
Scientists splashed red paint on the steps of the Congress of Deputies in Madrid and blocked a bridge near Germany’s parliament building… calling out “political mismanagement” and “lies” and “business as usual” destroying the planet’s ecosystems.
An op-ed in The Guardian declared: “Earth breakdown is much worse than most people realize.”
And, that is a primary issue and major catalyst for rebellion by scientists throughout the world. They see the breakdown; they measure it; they live with data that shows rapid deterioration of the planet’s life-giving ecosystems. Deterioration is pronounced and advanced beyond climate models. The survival of the planet is at stake.
In a letter to President Joe Biden 275 scientists demanded: “Follow the Science, Stop Fossil Fuels.” Food & Water Watch, along with the group of climate scientists, coordinated this effort, including scientists Peter Kalmus (NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory), Sandra Steingraber (American biologist), Robert Howarth (Cornell University), Mark Jacobson (Stanford University), and Michael Mann (Penn State).
President Biden was urged to “build a renewable energy economy” by exercising his “executive authority to redirect these massive investments, mobilize the country, and rally the global community around a program of energy security through a rapid transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy.”
“We urge you to lead boldly, take on the fossil fuel titans, and rally the country towards a renewable energy future,”
At Shell’s London headquarters scientists used modified fire extinguishers to spray biodegradable fake oil on the building’s façade.
Microbiologist Abi Perrin, taking part in the London action, said: “I’m here today because I’m so frightened by seeing the stark warnings of the world’s scientists being ignored and suppressed by governments and powerful corporations who are putting economic growth and short-term profit above the survival of life on Earth. I am joining hundreds of scientists across the globe taking similar actions today, in the hope that this will help in some small way to change the course that we are on. Shell has known about the harm their products and activities cause since before I was born, yet throughout my lifetime they have kept expanding their fossil fuel operations, wrecking lives, communities, ecosystems, the world’s climate and our prospects for the future in the process.” (Source: Breaking: Scientists and Academics Throw Fake Oil Over Shell Hq, Extinction Rebellion.uk, April 5, 2022)
Extinction Rebellion is the world leader via civil disobedience holding governments responsible for fossil fuel destruction.
Extinction Rebellion’s key demands are:
1. Government must tell the truth by declaring a climate and ecological emergency, working with other institutions to communicate the urgency for change.
2. Government must act now to halt biodiversity loss and reduce greenhouse gas emissions to net zero by 2025.
3. Government must create and be led by the decisions of a Citizens’ Assembly on climate and ecological justice.
Net zero by 2025!
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2 Comments
Corrections…
Precious (not previous) sectarian ideological hovels
If we don’t (not done) clear the mine field.
And the Left Landscape must in a visible and very public way get behind a GLOBAL GREEN NEW DEAL and dispense with petty critiques of it being not radical enough or merely some kind of reformist capitalist apologia because that just creates confusion and vacillation. The folk, us normals, have to know and have something to believe will work NOW, Thant can be done NOW.
It’s akin to clearing the mine field first. Then the left landscape inhabitants can walk the terrain, argue, discuss, debate or even divide themselves into their previous sectarian ideological hovels around what needs to be done and write their countless books and essays and do their countless podcasts and YouTube stuff for the rest of us ordinary folk to stumble across and argue about. But if we done clear the mine field, then any future MIND field of bullshit is rendered obsolete.
Terrified too. For my kids, not me.
GLOBAL GREEN NEW DEAL NOW…then fight for post capitalist reorganisation…READ THE BLOODY BOOK NO BOSSES (that’s my review)
See ya.