'The Big One'

There is plenty of anticipation leading up to this weekends events taking place in and around parliament concerning ‘The Big One’.

So who are Extinction Rebellion?

Extinction Rebellion is a global grassroots movement that advocates for non-violent direct action to pressure governments and institutions to take drastic measures to address the climate crisis.

While some may criticize Extinction Rebellion's tactics as disruptive, the group argues that direct action is necessary to bring about meaningful change. They point to the failure of traditional methods, such as petitions and lobbying, to bring about the necessary level of action on the climate crisis. "The Big One" is just one of many actions the group has organised to draw attention to the issue.

What is 'The Big One'?

Extinction Rebellion's "The Big One" is a four-day event that aims to draw attention to the urgent need for action on the climate crisis. The event is designed to be accessible and family-friendly, with a focus on peaceful, safe, and inclusive participation.

Each of the four days has a distinct focus and set of activities. Friday, April 21st is "Unite to Survive," where Westminster will be filled with flags, banners, and people. Saturday, April 22nd is "Earth Day," featuring an enormous, celebratory, and family-friendly march for biodiversity. Sunday, April 23rd is "Running Out of Time!" and coexists with the London Marathon. Finally, Monday, April 24th is "Choose Your Future," where Parliament returns and the demand is delivered.

On its website, Extinction Rebellion describes The Big One as "awash with colour and culture." The event will feature People's Pickets outside government departments, a diverse programme of speakers, performers, and workshops. The group is calling on 100,000 people to attend and is working alongside environmental NGOs, trade unionists, anti-racism campaigners, and climate activists.

Over 200 organisations are listed as supporters of the event, including Friends of the Earth, Global Justice Now, Greenpeace, and Fossil Fuel London. The Public Order Bill makes it an important time to advocate for the right to peaceful protest.

Marijn van de Geer of XR says that The Big One will be "a period of connecting and music and dance." But it is also a four-day coming together of over 200 groups with memberships totalling millions of people globally to decide what more radical action would look like for them.

Extinction Rebellion's aims for The Big One include demanding a citizen-led democracy to end the fossil fuel era and a fair society that includes reparations. The group's three core demands remain the same: Tell the Truth, Act Now, and Decide Together. The demand for an immediate end to all new fossil fuel licenses, added in 2022 to recognise the need for definable action, also remains.

To summarise, the group's demands remain the same, with a focus on citizen-led democracy, a fair society, and an immediate end to all new fossil fuel licenses.