The Impossible Rebellion has been happening in London since August 23rd and so far at least 12 local rebels have taken part.

Throughout the week rebels took on various roles of arrestee support and outreach and of course tried to swell the numbers on various occupations and marches such as to the city financial district, Smithfield Market and the Department of Business Energy and Industrial Strategy. The main thrust of the protest is to get the government to stop investing in fossil fuels and start investing in alternative energy sources. There were great road blocks at strategic points to maximise interruption of business as usual. Coverage in the media was evident with some sympathetic articles written in the Guardian and elsewhere.

Midway through the Rebellion, inspired by another rebel from home, I joined the chat group for arrestee support. It was the end of the day of ‘Imagine the Impossible’ at the Science Museum (where I’d spent the afternoon speaking to the public from my ‘Crisis Talks’ table and, as I’d left, a road blockade had been forming nearby) and the action during the evening service at St. Paul’s Cathedral. Police stations in various parts of London were starting to ‘go live’ as the St. Paul’s rebels and those who were in the road blockade started to be taken into custody. The strong ethos of care for each other within XR means that once a station is ‘live’ the aim is to ensure there is support there until all rebels at that station are released from custody. Rebels wait (if possible at all exits from the station) with snacks and drinks, and emotional and practical support with which to help those newly released from police cells. 

Following on from our success at Art in the Park we were out on the streets again outside Leamington Town Hall trying to engage the public in the Climate Emergency debate by highlighting the dire findings of the IPPC report. This action will be on the 2nd Saturday of each month, so the next one is on 11th September. All are welcome to take part.