Faced with the climate emergency, an increasing number of retirees are joining Extinction Rebellion, the international movement that uses non-violent civil disobedience in an attempt to halt mass extinction and minimise the risk of social collapse, says Rosanna Greenstreet...
On October 7 many of the older generation will join thousands of rebels travelling to London with the aim of peacefully shutting down all roads into Westminster and thereby forcing the government to act on climate change.
XR’s Demands
- Tell the truth. The government must tell the truth by declaring a climate and ecological emergency, working with other institutions to communicate the urgency for change.
- Act now. The government must act now to halt biodiversity loss and reduce greenhouse gas emissions to net zero by 2025.
- Beyond politics. The government must create and be led by the decisions of a Citizens’ Assembly on climate and ecological justice.
Here retirees explain why they have become Extinction Rebels:
Derek Langley
Retired photographer Derek Langley and his wife Jenny, both 63
“Our grandchildren are so innocent and trusting, how could you not do whatever you could to secure their future? Extinction Rebellion or XR has the right ambition – that we need to change everything and it has a plan that has some chance of success.
Jenny and I went to the XR launch in London last October and found that inspiring. A few weeks later I did the non-violent direct action training and went to London with the intention of getting arrested when XR blocked five bridges. I am in the demographic that is in the best position to get arrested; if you are black then the police might not treat you so well, if you are young it might affect your career. I am white, middle class and retired so getting arrested is not as big a thing for me as it would be for a lot of other people.
I got adopted by one of the London XR groups and camped the night in a Quaker meeting house near Trafalgar Square. I was completely terrified: I kept going to the loo and hardly got any sleep. Next day, we decided to spray paint ‘climate change equals starvation’ on the DEFRA building – there had just been a report about starvation in Africa. I was useless at painting but ended up doing a few symbols. We handed out leaflets and photographers took pictures. Because I was so incompetent, my hands were covered in paint, so I stood in front of this wall with my blue hands up saying, “I am taking total responsibility for this.”
Eventually, the police turned up and handcuffed me. It took two hours to get to the police station where they put me in a cell. The police were sweet and I have no complaints about how I was treated. They do vegan food and said that I could have two portions. The mattress was uncomfortable, the lights were bright and I was a bit cold. They got me a blanket but I could have done with another. So it wasn’t the most comfortable of experiences but I was thinking, “This is interesting, I’ve never done this before!”
I was probably in the cell for 6 hours before I got released on bail at 4 or 5 in the morning. There were some lovely people from XR waiting in the cold outside the station to make sure I was alright. I got a big cheer and everyone hugged me. You feel isolated in the police station so it was lovely to have that greeting when I emerged.
After all this I was exhausted, I think it was the emotional toll. I had a bit of an identity crisis: I had been this person who always played it safe and now this strange activist had come to the fore. In December I had to go back for a police interview. XR generally advises people to give a ‘no comment’ interview and not to take caution but, because I was still quite stressed, I accepted a caution. If I had a DBS check, it would show up but I didn’t have to go to court or pay any fines. I don’t regret it, taking a stand is one of the best things I’ve ever done.”
Retired teacher Pat Smith, 70
My journey started with Voice for Leith Hill. Our well-loved beauty spot close to Dorking, where I live, was threatened with an oil drill site. It was horrendous so I became involved and we managed to stop the site. All the time I was thinking, ‘There is more to it than just stopping oil, we need to save our world.’ So, when the drilling was averted, I started a group called Dorking Climate Emergency and then XR exploded.
My first experience of XR was when we closed five London bridges in November. During the actions that we took at Leith Hill, I became a legal observer so I carried on as a legal observer at the XR actions. It was inspirational to see so many people from everywhere sitting down and saying ‘No, that’s enough. Stop!’
As a legal observer, you watch. If you see somebody in any sort of interaction with the police you witness what happens and, if it’s an arrest situation, you give the person being arrested information about what to do. As the police are saying, ‘You’ve got to move or we’ll arrest you’ many people are shaking, they are so scared. Having a legal observer there is a comfort because they are not entirely on their own.
I’ve supported people who are being tried for XR actions and I think they found it inspirational to be able to stand up in court and say why they felt XR was so important. I don’t think many people just go along and get carried away with the spirit of the moment, most have thought it through and realise the implications which can be serious – financially, practically and emotionally.
I have two sons, one is supportive and the other is a bit scared. People have to consider the way that XR can split a family: I know of people who have had relationships flounder. Another thing to consider is that, when you are aware of the enormity of what is going on and the difficulty of making a change, it can be depressing. People I know have gone on anti-depressants. We in XR Dorking are aware of this and work to help people who are overwhelmed.
I think making a change is like walking into a lake, you do it gradually, you don’t suddenly jump in. I don’t have a car, I cycle and use public transport. I gave up meat and I am moving towards giving up fish. I try to travel by train rather than plane. I have pledged to reduce plastic and do simple things like exchanging my washing detergent for soap nuts which grow on a tree and come in a bag because even Ecover comes in a plastic bottle.”
I have five grandchildren but it’s the grandchildren of the world that I am doing this for. Having taught in Ethiopia for three years, I am aware of the effects of climate change on the world. We are lucky here, we are insulated from the worst – we are not having a hurricane like the Bahamas.
Retired garden designer Rob Simpson, 72
“I helped launch the Farnham XR group in May. I have a history with this kind of movement. Since my early sixties I have been involved with the Transition Town movement: we started a community supported agriculture project in Farnham in 2008 that is now a co-operative and feeds 70 or 80 families; we run a repair cafe and, as Farnham was a great hop growing town, we have a project getting people to grow hops and make community beer.
These schemes build community and boost people’s sense of resilience and capacity to respond to the impact of external forces such as climate change and ecological breakdown. What attracted me to XR is its policy. The problem with Transition Town was that it took place within the existing policy framework that local government act under, so you hit a ceiling in terms of the sustainability of your project. It isn’t being enabled by the over-arching framework of policies that come from Westminster. So the idea of XR going for change at the top really made sense.
I see the ecological collapse in the empty countryside that I walk around. What’s missing is the abundance of butterflies and the wildlife that, as a kid, I would have taken for granted. It is very frightening.
I’m single so I can be overly focused on XR. For instance, at the weekends I have been campaigning to get a declaration of climate emergency by the town council. I hand out leaflets on the streets of Farnham inviting people to sign an online petition, to at least show evidence that the electorate is sufficiently interested. I find spending a few hours on Saturdays and Sundays keeps me sane. I don’t know where it’s going to lead but at least I feel taking action is right. What else can I do?”
To find your local XR group go to rebellion.earth
