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23 November 2020

Following hot on the heels of the national Climate Assembly UK that we reported on in the last newsletter, Warwick District Council has this month started the three months of work for our own People's Inquiry. The Inquiry is to take place with a group of thirty local people who will work together over ten sessions to consider how to address the issues of climate change in Warwick District. This is much like a Citizen's Assembly; one of XR's demands of central government is to establish a Citizen's Assembly on Climate and Ecological Justice. The invitation to take part in the WDC Inquiry was sent to 5000 local residents.

Read more: Warwick District People's Inquiry on Climate Change

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20 November 2020

A new team is doing some exciting work to shake up XR’s systems and grow our collective strength. It’s called the Systems Realignment project.

You’re warmly invited to get involved through a new ‘story-catching’ tool called SenseMaker - sign up here and read on to learn more!

It’s been said that XR is in an awkward teenage phase, trying to figure out who we are and what we want to do with our life, as a movement. This project hopes to transition us into early adulthood: we are seeking mentorship and learning from experience.

This new team includes people from within XR and outside eyes, chosen for their specific experience in looking at the big picture (video intros here).

Read more: XR’s ‘Big picture’ systems project

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20 November 2020

There really aren't words to adequately describe this act by HS2.

The desecration of memorials of children who have died fighting illness and disability in a hospice.

ACTION - If you feel moved to do so, please send a polite message to the HS2 Minister - This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

And please help spread the word by retweeting - here.

Here is a link to share on Facebook.https://www.facebook.com/ChrisGPackham/photos/a.1191263457556029/4058245837524429/

Read more: HS2 - Does It Get Any Worse?

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12 November 2020

Our Lungs Won't Last

Dear rebels,

It took four agonising days to hear them, but the American people have spoken. They have rejected four more years of fossil fuel promotion and climate science denial. They have elected someone who will rejoin the Paris Agreement and has promised a Clean Energy Revolution. In doing so, they have given all of us something precious: hope.

Asian politics has also given us reasons to smile. Both Japan and South Korea have pledged to reach “carbon neutrality” by 2050, following on from China’s pledge to do the same before 2060.

Read more: Global Newsletter #45

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08 November 2020

We had been hoping to carry out an action in front of the Shire Hall in Warwick on 14th November but due to the lock down in place, this has been cancelled.

However we would still like to ask the County Council 'What is your plan?' We are aware that WCC members are dragging their feet since announcing a Climate Emergency in July 2019 and may need a little encouragement.

So how can XRWD do this now?

One of our brave members had been planning to dress up as the Warwickshire Bear for the Shire Hall action. Instead, and to maintain an element of creativity, we are asking you as individuals or families to take photos of your favourite bear being affected by climate change events such as flooding ( eg drowning in the Leam), heatwaves, biodiversity loss, no honey for the bears to eat!

What would you like to send to the Council?

Email your photos to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. by 14th December. They will form a larger collage to send to Councillors, MPs and other groups with a press release in January. The bear photos can also be sent to the art competition for schools by going onto the Warwickshire Climate Alliance website. Drawings and pictures are also very welcome.

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07 November 2020

As rebels will probably remember, back in summer 2019 the UK Parliament (specifically, six Select Committees of the House of Commons) called for a citizens' assembly to discuss how the UK can reduce greenhouse gas emissions to net zero by 2050. Assembly members were carefully selected to give a representative sample of the UK population, they came from different walks of life and from all over the country.

Participants met in Birmingham from January to March this year and then online following the coronavirus outbreak. They were given a detailed briefing about climate change to inform their discussions and their findings were put into a report which was presented to the six select committees in September. The next stage is for the committees to work on implementing the recommendations. The Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy Committee launched an inquiry on the findings and debated it in the Commons in September.

Read more: Climate Assembly UK – a short introduction

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25 October 2020

StopHS2 Needs Your Help

After the demise of the Cubbington Pear Tree on Tuesday 20th October we feel a need to engage more members of the public who want to help when they see the reality of what HS2 are doing to their beautiful woodlands.
The threat to the Greenway at Offchurch and surrounding trees and wildlife has started with the loss of neighbouring trees and thoughtless ravage of the hedgerows.

Many unlawful actions are being committed by HS2 workers...many of whom do not even seem to understand their own remit. You don't have to climb a tree or climb a fence. A presence is all that is needed. They need to know we are watching them and Imany local people feel a need to bear witness to the death of these magnificent trees, hundreds of which are mature oaks and many reach 200+years. There are active badger setts, bats, birds, newts etc all being damaged with special dispensation given to HS2 by Natural England.

Read more: HS2, Art Competition & A Local Group Meeting

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22 October 2020

A competition for schools in Warwick District, to draw, paint, photograph or write something that expresses your views and feelings about Climate Change.

For many people, Climate Change is mankind’s greatest challenge, and one that the world is not facing up to.

• What is happening?
• Paint a poster!
• How can we stop it?
• Write a poem!
• What can we do locally?
• Tell us what to do!
• What will the world be like in 2050?
• Scare us!
• How can we persuade the world to act?
• Show us!

Read more: A creative response to climate change

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10 October 2020

The CEE Bill gains momentum!

The Climate and Ecological Emergency (CEE) Bill now has the support of 75 MPs and if you're in the Warwick and Leamington constituency you may have spotted in Matt Western's latest newsletter that he is in support of the Bill too. Good news indeed! Thank you to everyone who has written to Matt asking for his backing. You can find out more about the Bill at www.ceebill.info

Member of Extinction Rebellion Warwick District are continuing a series of vigils at the various Town Halls to bring attention to the CEE Bill which is gaining interest and support from the public as well as MPs. On Saturday 26th September 6 rebels (the maximum number that is currently permissible with Covid restrictions in place) took stage outside the Almanac in Kenilworth to bring attention to the Bill and also to engage with the public (while maintaining social distancing rules) to discuss the climate crisis and why the Bill is so important. They also exchanged ideas on measures being taken at a more local and individual level to live in a more sustainable manner. Further vigils will take place at Warwick Shire Hall and Leamington Town Hall, with precise dates to be agreed soon and made available on the XRWD website.

Read more: Rebelling for the trees, HS2 & Amazon

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09 October 2020

A true Atlas from XR Austria

Dear rebels,

The wave of rebellions continues! Rebels are sounding the alarm across the globe and inspiring more and more to take action for the planet. Despite extremely challenging circumstances, individual doubts, and police brutality, still we rise up as one unified (decentralized) movement.

Tree huggers have never been cooler. From XR Université de Goma (DRC)

This issue covers fashion actions in Czech Republic, concerts in Austria, camps in Switzerland, and a report from the front lines of Finland, where police have been brualizing and pepper spraying rebels. Also actions across South Africa as part of the Global Climate Strike, roadblocks in Israel and tea parties in the UK.

Learn more about Fashion Act Now, an exciting global fashion group which aims to transform the ecocidal fashion industry. Check out their crowdfunder here.

Read the full newsletter here

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25 September 2020

With the momentum of the rebellion keeping us going, we have plenty of news & events for all you lovely rebels!

Have you seen the video about the Rebellion? It's well worth watching....be prepared for an emotional rollercoaster: https://youtu.be/Jhl-9UBRK4w

Read more: XRWD Newsletter - National Tree Killing Day & More

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13 September 2020

Daily rebellion newsletter from XRUK

Rebellion wraps up

Welcome to Rebel Daily #7 – the last issue of this Rebellion!

And what a Rebellion it has been.

Rebels have shown their true colours this Rebellion: the astounding bravery and dedication we’ve seen on the streets and online are testament to a movement that will not give up, no matter how nasty and unjust our opposition might become.

For some rebels involved, this is no joke. Papers like the Daily Mail have been singling out individuals to attack, even printing their home addresses. While certainly scary, we can take this kind of vitriol as a twisted mark of recognition: we’ve ‘levelled up’, as it were.

A full week after our newspaper blockade, the Murdoch press is still fuming. The government still seems unsure what to do with us. But, that’s okay. As we all know, we’re not here to be liked: we’re here to raise the alarm.

And it’s working. Almost in the same breath that they condemn our tactics, some articles are criticising government inaction on the climate crisis. Whether it’s celebrities or tragedies, the truth we represent is getting harder to ignore.

If there was any doubt, this September we’ve proved that XR has still got it. The colour and magic on the streets speaks for itself. We even resurrected the pink boat (watch its spectacular unveiling).

Read the full newsletter here