Scientist Rebellion: Global Action

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

Why Scientists Must Mobilise

We are scientists and academics who believe we should expose the reality and severity of the climate and ecological emergency by engaging in non-violent civil disobedience. Unless those best placed to understand behave as if this is an emergency, we cannot expect the public to do so. Some believe that appearing “alarmist” is detrimental - but we are terrified by what we see, and believe it is both vital and right to express our fears openly.
— Scientist Rebellion - excerpt of ‘Positions and Demands’

The full list of positions and demands held can be found at https://scientistrebellion.com/our-positions-and-demands, including a list of academic signatories.

What should the mobilisation look like? Scientist Rebellion chose three core actions for the first Global Scientist Rebellion. We made sure that these actions placed activists and the public at low risk of virus transmission, taking place online, or in small socially distanced groups.

Pasting Scientific Papers

Scientists in many different parts of the world targeted universities, government institutions, and corporations that block climate action.

Some scientists chose to commit criminal damage with paint,

… exposing a system which punishes such trivialities more harshly than the construction of genocide

1-4 Day Hunger Strikes

Some scientists chose a solidarity fast. This aimed to be an opportunity for reflecting on our work, connecting to suffering and climate breakdown.

This morning I finished my 84 hours long fast. Tired, achy, dizzy, but I valued the experience I have had and reflections I have made. You can read about my own experiences, and the experiences of Tim and others by following links to SR social media!

Educational Disobedience

Teachers and lecturers held “teach-ins”. These have a tradition in academia, dating back to opposition of the Vietnam war by American academics, Apartheid South Africa, and the corporatisation of education.

Instead of the planned learning, Scientist Rebellion teach-ins expose details people need to know about the climate & ecological crisis.

Checkout this wonderful recorded teach-in by associate professor Fernando Racimo. He elegantly switches from an “important warning on ordination and clustering” (statistics) to an “important warning for survival of the planet”! Students were given the option to leave at this point, but stayed to listen to what their lecturer had to say, and contributed to a great discussion session after he finished his presentation.

Connect with Scientist Rebellion

This will be my last post written during the scientist rebellion. Fasting has provided me with a great opportunity for self-reflection, dedicating time focussing my thoughts and placing them into conversation and words.

Scientist Rebellion aren’t stopping here, we plan to scale our movement up, running more teach-ins, more actions of solidarity, sharing knowledge of the climate crisis with the public. We want our movement to evolve, to be accessible to all with a vibrant range of actions and activities taking place globally.

Climate activism can’t be outsourced any longer. YOU need to get involved in the movement. We need a billion climate activists!
— Peter Kalmus - NASA Climate Scientist

Activism doesn’t have to involve civil disobedience. We live in a system which does not hold all people equal, and some face barriers and increased risk to themselves when they take part in civil disobedience. Our movement is open to all contributions of non-violent activism, be it direct action, conversation and communication, craftivism, presentations, media, or other talents you want to put to work!

Scientists & Academics, and anyone interested in exposing the science of climate & ecological crises, join our movement https://linktr.ee/ScientistRebellion