Photo: XR Argentina

Dear Rebel,

“If the fire does not go out, it is because fire is business” is a saying of the Argentine activists you’ll read more about below. Their statement applies to the experiences of concerned citizens everywhere. While the new year may have tempted us with promised new beginnings, we are now far enough into 2025 to know that those with power are still committed to business as usual.

In the stories below, you’ll be reminded that governments and corporations are still wedded to overconsumption, war, and climate destruction. You’ll read about how they use existing power structures to conquer today without a thought for tomorrow. We know that witnessing the use of so much power to uphold business as usual can feel infuriating.

That’s why, in these stories, you’ll also read about how XR groups across the world are standing up to those power structures. XR rebels are regular people, with jobs, families, and dreams, who are putting themselves directly in the path of that power with the conviction that another world is possible. Nothing less will do.

If you feel drawn to these brave rebels, we invite you to remember that there is a place for everyone in this movement. If you identify with the activists grounding planes and blocking roads, you most surely have a role to play. But if your strengths lie more in strategy, or accounting, or art, then we need you too, and you can and must act. Read on to learn how.

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Photo: XR Argentina

Put Out the Fire Now

13 FEBRUARY | Argentina

“If the fire does not go out, it is because fire is business”, say rebels in Argentina.

Ongoing fires, a direct result of extractivism, have devastated more than 48,000 hectares of native forests, plantations, and homes. The province of Río Negro has declared a state of emergency. Yet, the government of President Milei continues its suicidal course of criminalizing eco-defenders while defunding social infrastructure, including fire fighting.

Communities throughout the Andean region have been forced to fight fires with on their own and by relying on donations, only to be harassed and scapegoated by the state, which has falsely accused the Mapuche and other ecodefenders of starting the fires – an attempt to deflect from their own incompetence and ultimate responsibility.

On 13 February, rebels held simultaneous actions in 30 different territories across Argentina together with Coordinadora Plurinacional BFS, Jubilados Insurgentes, and Indigenous Mapuche communities.

During the coordinated day of action, XR Argentina held a two-hour long “semaforazo” (traffic light strike), occupying an entire intersection during red lights to raise awareness about the fires, their true causes, and to demand immediate action from the government.

They then marched to the Plaza de Mayo with their fellow environmental organizations and there read statements holding various business interests, such as real estate, mining, and agriculture, accountable for the fires. Across Argentina, rebels and their allies denounced false solutions and the repressive divide-and-conquer tactics of the state, making their demands clear:

● Stop harassing and criminalizing the Mapuche people, who are not responsible for the fires.

● Stop harassing, stigmatizing, persecuting, and violating the rights of those who protect and defend the Earth and risk their lives to save the forest.

● The government must allocate money to fight fires. Enough of defunding. PUT OUT THE FIRE NOW.

Action Round Up

6 FEBRUARY | England XRUK activists shut down Farnborough Airport to oppose plans to nearly double private jet flights—an obscene move that ignores the climate crisis. Protestors from XR Waverley and other local groups joined residents to block the airport’s main entrance, calling out the eco-crime of private aviation. Private jets are ten times more carbon-intensive than commercial flights, and this expansion would only worsen the climate emergency. It’s time to stop airport expansions and to put people over privilege. The planet can’t afford this.

Photo: XRUK

12 MARCH | Africa The 69th session of the UN Commission on the Status of Women (CSW69) ran from 10 to 21 March. This year, women from rural communities in Cameroon, Kenya, DR Congo, South Africa, Uganda, and Zambia shared their powerful stories of struggle and resilience in the face of climate injustice. They’ve had enough, and they’re demanding action—not just from those in power, but from us all. It’s time for the more privileged women to step up, use their influence, and help create the transformative change we need.

13 JANUARY | Italy The repression of peaceful dissent has taken a chilling turn in Italy. On January 13, 23 activists from Extinction Rebellion, Free Palestine, and Ultima Generazione were arrested at a nonviolent demonstration outside Leonardo Spa, Italy’s biggest arms manufacturer. Despite fully cooperating and providing their IDs, they were detained for over seven hours, hit with arbitrary charges ranging from “seditious gathering” to “moral complicity” for simply being present. Some received expulsion orders from Brescia, while several women were subjected to degrading strip searches and forced to do squats—a humiliation not inflicted on men. This blatant abuse of power exposes the deepening criminalization of climate and anti-war activism in Italy. Yet, as history shows, repression only fuels resistance. The fight against war profiteering and ecocide will not be silenced.

Photo: XR Italy

FEBRUARY- APRIL, In the Netherlands, rebels have returned to the A12 highway—again and again—demanding an end to fossil fuel subsidies. The government’s response? Water cannons, mass arrests, and violent repression. But every crackdown has only strengthened the movement. Thousands have joined the call to stop the fossil fuel industry from burning our future. They won’t stop.

On Saturday, April 5, Extinction Rebellion rebels will once again block the A12 highway in The Hague, demanding an end to fossil fuel subsidies. Among them will be concerned citizens and healthcare professionals, standing together to expose the deadly consequences of government inaction. As health professional Cornelie van Kampenhout explains: “The climate crisis is the greatest public health threat of our time. After the last A12 blockade, the debate was focused on restricting protest rights and rerouted ambulances. But the core of our protest is this: health is a human right—and that right is being undermined by mass fossil fuel emissions.” Meanwhile, the Dutch government hands out up to €46.4 billion a year in subsidies to polluters, while allocating a mere €1.8 billion for international climate action in 2025.

Photo: XR Netherlands

Book of the Month

On Tyranny by Timothy Snyder

Tyranny is the greatest enemy of climate action these days, and it’s on the rise in many countries. Call it fascism, call it autocracy, call it oligarchy—in whatever form and by any name, it’s frightening. The only good news is that tyranny has been fought before and even beaten. Timothy Snyder is a Yale history professor who specializes in the various dictatorships of twentieth-century Europe. This little book (it fits nicely in a coat pocket) distills what he’s learned into twenty simple lessons.

Do not obey in advance. Remember professional ethics. Make eye contact and small talk. Be calm when the unthinkable arrives. Be as courageous as you can. And fifteen more.

Each one-sentence lesson is explained with a page or two of clear, straight-forward text. Each is based on patterns seen over and over in real historical dictatorships. Each is based on what real people did (or failed to do) as their countries fell under tyranny.

It’s scary that many of us need such a guide, but having it is oddly reassuring. There’s a grown-up in the room who knows what to do.

Avoid Amazon. Support local bookshops. In the UK, buy your books at Bookshop or Hive. Buy used through Abe Books (international).

Quick Read

The Beautiful Insanity of Activism

Announcements

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Mastodon is another alternative to mainstream social media, and features decentralized, community-driven spaces. Join us there:

https://mastodon.social/@ExtinctionR@social.rebellion.global

Join us!

Our movement is made up of people from all walks of life, contributing in different ways with the time and energy they can spare. Chances are, we have a local group very close to you, and we would love to hear from you. Or you can help out remotely!

Thank you

Thank you for reading, rebel. And an extra-special thanks to all those who sent us ideas about the Second Demand – we’re still discussing it!

If you have any questions or feedback, we want to hear from you. Get in touch at xr-newsletter@protonmail.com.

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This newsletter is brought to you by XR Global Support, a worldwide network of rebels who help our movement grow. We need money to continue this crucial work.

Donate What You Can