An Introduction to “Extinction Rebellion”
“Extinction Rebellion” is a new climate justice movement. It is a call to action against climate change and in its short existence has already spread to more than forty countries. I joined the movement about a month ago, and last week I led an introductory meeting.
About forty people of different ages came, and most of them didn’t know much about the movement. My assistant (someone I hadn’t known beforehand) did a short slide presentation, and I did the rest.
I started with a go-around—with names and why people had come. Then we split into small groups. Next I talked about the movement and answered questions, by thinking out loud about them.
Almost everyone signed up to be part of the movement!
I finished the two-hour-long meeting with a round of what was good, hopeful, or something that people were looking forward to. I got a lot of appreciations. People were excited, relieved, and hopeful. A woman said that I had cured a lot of her climate change anxiety.
Being an RCer has done so much for me when it comes to thinking big, believing in myself, daring to take on [undertake] challenges, being a model of hopefulness, staying relaxed and thinking flexibly about spontaneously-brought-up issues, keeping perspective, and seeing the good in people—among other things. Doing this was fun and empowering. I’m excited!
Höör, Sweden