Scientist Rebellion: Act Now

This is the second of a series of blog posts that I am writing during the Global Scientist Rebellion, March 25th-28th 2021

For three full days during the global scientist rebellion, I have chosen to fast alongside dozens of other scientists. This is a choice I have the privilege to make - right now many people around the world, including in the UK, face hunger. Despite the world producing enough food for all, and having the resources to do so several times over, in Yemen alone millions of people are at ‘acute risk’ of starvation¹.

I have decided to fast in solidarity with those who currently suffer hunger, and all who will face hunger in the future as irreversible loss of ecosystem functions, warmer temperatures, and extreme weather disrupts our food supplies².

As I write on the evening of day 1, I have not eaten for 24 hours. I feel hungry, but otherwise fine. I am not doing this to cause myself harm or pain. I am fasting as an aid to self-reflection, and also in the hope that the collective action of at least 100 scientists right now will help build a movement of those willing to act and demand climate action.

Whilst I plan to fast for a relatively short time, others engaged in civil resistance to government inaction over climate change have engaged in longer hunger strikes. In October 2019, over 300 people from around the world engaged in fasts, lasting from 1 week to over a month³.

Rev. Tim Hewes is currently fasting for the 14-day duration of his prison sentence, which he received for non-violent direct action⁴. The Diocese of Oxford made a statement that “While Rev Hewe’s protest has broken the law on this occasion, he and fellow activists remind us all of the moral imperative to act, right now, for the sake of the Earth.”

We are in an emergency. We must act now! Consider what actions you could take to raise ambition for climate action. Whether it is writing to your MP, sharing pictures of your protest sign on social media, talking about the climate emergency with friends or colleagues, there are a lot of ways to start making a difference.

Scientists Rebellion member Stephen Wright, described the collective effort needed to succeed as like wind eroding a sand dune. Whilst at first you will not notice the individual grains of sand being shifted, over time it is undeniably changed.

Be that grain of sand!