Extinction Rebellion Brighton Newsletter
1st December 2022
XRB
XR activists hit the headlines
November saw a national day of action against Barclays the most invested in fossil fuels of any bank in Europe. On Monday 14th thousands of XR rebels took action at over 100 Barclays branches across the UK to protest against their investment in fossil fuels.
Protesters carefully cracked windows, threw paint, flypostered, stickered, cleaned, glued to, and chained inside branches of Barclays. At least 25 people were arrested, spread across all 4 UK nations, including 3 people wrongfully arrested for handing out leaflets.
In Brighton local activists targeted Barclays, George Street, Hove in the morning …
… and in the afternoon activists chained themselves to the entrance of Barclays, North Street, Brighton generating a wave of public support for their action and significant publicity from The Argus.
Speaking to The Argus on the front steps of Barclays in North Street, Brighton, the protesters called for an end to the bank investing in fossil fuels to avoid a “climate catastrophe”.
Nicola Harries, 67, a retired solicitor from Brighton, said: “We do not want any more oil out of the ground. We are outside Barclays today as a symbolic action because Barclays are chained to the fossil fuel industry.
“Until it breaks free, it is not going to help us or our grandchildren have a liveable future. Stop funding the oil and gas companies. Start reducing their support for those companies.”
The four activists were arrested at the end of the day and charged with aggravated trespass. On release from custody they were met and supported by volunteer XRB police station supporters. The four Brighton activists ask for support when they will appear at Brighton Magistrates Court on December 15th for their plea hearing
...and again...
Fifteen arrests were made after climate protesters travelled to London as part of a day of action to raise awareness of several companies' involvement with the oil industry.
Extinction Rebellion South East took part in the co-ordinated action which saw fake oil sprayed on a number of businesses, think tanks and government departments.
The protest comes as climate action groups such as XR and Just Stop Oil have ramped up efforts to try to force the government and businesses to consider the planet in an effort to protect its future.
Fifteen arrests were made by the Metropolitan Police, all for criminal damage.
Lindsay Parkin, one of the arrested protesters from Brighton, said outside the Department of Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy: “This is an intervention. We cannot afford the burning and we cannot afford the consequences for ourselves, our planet and the rest of humanity as this continues.”
...and again
XR scientists in Action at Defra
April 21st 2023 confirmed
NEW! Brighton XR Winter Talks!!
We are excited to be organising a series of monthly talks over the winter months, on green themes that are relevant to local people.
We hope these talks will be informative, and also help show the range of ways that you can get involved with
Brighton XR.
Our first talk will be with the author and BBC presenter Kate Bradbury!
Kate lives in Brighton and Hove and has written a beautiful book, The Bumblebee Flies Anyway - all about rewilding
her own small garden. Her book was one of the Books of the Year in the Guardian and Telegraph. She is a regular
presenter on Gardener's World. Kate will talk about wildlife gardening with a particular focus on ways we can help combat climate change and species
loss. Free entry, tea and cake by donation.
Sunday December 4th 2 til 4pm
One Church, Florence Road BN1 6DL
Divest East Sussex
And for anyone who hasn't signed the petition yet, here's the link to sign online to demand East Sussex County Council stops investing in fossil fuels
https://tinyurl.com/affordablegreenenergy
MEETINGS
IN PERSON
We meet in person on Sunday afternoons every two weeks 3.00 pm - 5.00 pm at The Phoenix Community Centre, 2 Phoenix Place BN2 9ND
On December 4th a talk by local author Kate Bradbury (see above) will replace the usual meeting. The following meeting will be a social event on December 18th.
ONLINE
We also meet online every three weeks on a different day of the week to give everyone an opportunity to join in. Here’s an opportunity to check in if you haven’t been for a while, see what’s going on and raise topics of the moment.
Our next meeting will be on Wednesday 30th November at 7.00 pm.
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82457977055
Meeting ID: 824 5797 7055
Passcode: coord22
INTRODUCTION TO XRB
For newly joined rebels we hold a welcome and introductory meeting every week on Tuesday evenings at 6.00 pm. Come and learn how XR Brighton works, how to use the Telegram messaging system that we use for chatting and sharing information, make contacts that appeal to your personal interests and maybe pair up with an experienced buddy to help guide you through the first few weeks.
The login details are the same every week.
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87939493146
Meeting ID: 879 3949 3146
Passcode: 456681