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3.95 AVERAGE
3.95 AVERAGE
Okay, so first things first, I am writing from the perspective of someone who read the book hoping it would convince me to take the final step towards being an activist. This is the rhetorical promise at the start of the book, anyway. However, I found it largely underwhelming. It's not wrong in a lot of ways, but it writes in a very liberal, and never deals with the fact that Capitalism is not going to fold to a bunch of liberals locking down the streets on occasion.
First things first, let's look at the politics involved. The book has two MPs write for it, one being Clive Lewis, the other being Caroline Lucas. Going back to Clive, he was part of the SCG in the Labour party, and the SCG's most prominent member? Jeremy Corbyn. At the time Lewis wrote, he must have been hoping that XR would reward his good faith by backing the Labour party as the party with the biggest and most ambitious climate plan of the major parties, and the only one able to garner enough support to potentially lead a form of minority (or more optimistically majority) government [1]. However they didn't, and one of the founders even started his own political party, for the good of no one but his fake radical image [2]. They stayed out of it. Why? Because they can't face being called Socialist, or perhaps even cohorting with socialists is bad for their image [3]. This kind of dogmatic approach to PR is going to prevent it from actually achieving anything. Sure, the Tories might give you a 'Citizen's Assembly', but, unless you are an idiot you might like to remember they also won't listen to you. Which, btw, they haven't anyway, so great work XR, you're "aha all sides can join us approach" as aside to actually trying to court an emergent left movement in Britain has lead you to achieve... nothing.
Now for the rest of the book. The best criticism of their "mass incarceration" theory they dedicate a lot of pages to (Part Two, 'Act Now') can be found in my footnotes, I think, so I won't expand as much on that [4]. To outline it, it's that:
"The notion that 2,000 arrests will evoke the kind of systemic change needed to fight climate change is naive at best. At a time when the government has cracked down on protest, to not see that this could go the other way, and be used simply as a way of increasing already draconian anti-protest legislation and prosecutions, is shortsighted and irresponsible".
Not to say that it is the fault of those who are arrested, but that it is naive, and also vcery restrictive to people whom arrest is incredibly traumatic, as noted:
"There is an inherent privilege in being able to be arrested for protesting. The hugely disproportionate number of BAME people in prisons for relatively minor offences shouldn’t be underestimated here. To have people like Roger Hallam speaking of prison so casually undermines those who are the poorest or most oppressed in our society whose lives are ripped apart by it".
The article is great and I will link it for those interested.
Moving on, the "non-violent struggle" option they keep pushing for is great for places like the UK, where the general population is void of any real radical sentiment, but completely ignores movements in South America, Asia and Africa that use violence because they have no option. This optics drive to look good, this moral posturing, does nothing but alienate and help contribute to very real issues within capitalism, which is rallied against in the book, but also no solution is offered against. Citizen's Assemblies will, after all, feature people who disagree with you. The idea that "XR 'This is Not a Drill: an Extinction Rebellion Handbook' p.100. "Violence... almost always leads to fascism and authoritarianism", completely negates the fact that in certain countries change has only been achieved (and perhaps we should note that only systemic change has been achieved) by violent, authoritarian actions, such as the French Revolution, which in turn helped convince the English that they needed to extend voting rights to more people in order to stave off revolution [6][7].
I will finish this review another time. I will talk about some of the positives too.
[1] https://friendsoftheearth.uk/system-change/election-manifestos-labour-tops-friends-earths-climate-and-nature-league-table (link in article to report)
[2] https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/jun/25/uk-extinction-rebellion-activists-launch-beyond-politics-party-by-stealing-food
[3] https://twitter.com/XRebellionUK/status/1300794775138906114 "Just to be clear we are not a socialist movement... A banner saying ‘socialism or extinction’ does not represent us"
[4] https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2019/apr/15/extinction-rebellion-protesters-arrested-stansted-15
[5] XR (2019), "This is Not a Drill: an Extinction Rebellion Handbook", pp.95-180
[6] ibid. p.100
[7] Dann, O. and Dinwiddy, J. eds., 1988. Nationalism in the Age of the French Revolution.
First things first, let's look at the politics involved. The book has two MPs write for it, one being Clive Lewis, the other being Caroline Lucas. Going back to Clive, he was part of the SCG in the Labour party, and the SCG's most prominent member? Jeremy Corbyn. At the time Lewis wrote, he must have been hoping that XR would reward his good faith by backing the Labour party as the party with the biggest and most ambitious climate plan of the major parties, and the only one able to garner enough support to potentially lead a form of minority (or more optimistically majority) government [1]. However they didn't, and one of the founders even started his own political party, for the good of no one but his fake radical image [2]. They stayed out of it. Why? Because they can't face being called Socialist, or perhaps even cohorting with socialists is bad for their image [3]. This kind of dogmatic approach to PR is going to prevent it from actually achieving anything. Sure, the Tories might give you a 'Citizen's Assembly', but, unless you are an idiot you might like to remember they also won't listen to you. Which, btw, they haven't anyway, so great work XR, you're "aha all sides can join us approach" as aside to actually trying to court an emergent left movement in Britain has lead you to achieve... nothing.
Now for the rest of the book. The best criticism of their "mass incarceration" theory they dedicate a lot of pages to (Part Two, 'Act Now') can be found in my footnotes, I think, so I won't expand as much on that [4]. To outline it, it's that:
"The notion that 2,000 arrests will evoke the kind of systemic change needed to fight climate change is naive at best. At a time when the government has cracked down on protest, to not see that this could go the other way, and be used simply as a way of increasing already draconian anti-protest legislation and prosecutions, is shortsighted and irresponsible".
Not to say that it is the fault of those who are arrested, but that it is naive, and also vcery restrictive to people whom arrest is incredibly traumatic, as noted:
"There is an inherent privilege in being able to be arrested for protesting. The hugely disproportionate number of BAME people in prisons for relatively minor offences shouldn’t be underestimated here. To have people like Roger Hallam speaking of prison so casually undermines those who are the poorest or most oppressed in our society whose lives are ripped apart by it".
The article is great and I will link it for those interested.
Moving on, the "non-violent struggle" option they keep pushing for is great for places like the UK, where the general population is void of any real radical sentiment, but completely ignores movements in South America, Asia and Africa that use violence because they have no option. This optics drive to look good, this moral posturing, does nothing but alienate and help contribute to very real issues within capitalism, which is rallied against in the book, but also no solution is offered against. Citizen's Assemblies will, after all, feature people who disagree with you. The idea that "XR 'This is Not a Drill: an Extinction Rebellion Handbook' p.100. "Violence... almost always leads to fascism and authoritarianism", completely negates the fact that in certain countries change has only been achieved (and perhaps we should note that only systemic change has been achieved) by violent, authoritarian actions, such as the French Revolution, which in turn helped convince the English that they needed to extend voting rights to more people in order to stave off revolution [6][7].
I will finish this review another time. I will talk about some of the positives too.
[1] https://friendsoftheearth.uk/system-change/election-manifestos-labour-tops-friends-earths-climate-and-nature-league-table (link in article to report)
[2] https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/jun/25/uk-extinction-rebellion-activists-launch-beyond-politics-party-by-stealing-food
[3] https://twitter.com/XRebellionUK/status/1300794775138906114 "Just to be clear we are not a socialist movement... A banner saying ‘socialism or extinction’ does not represent us"
[4] https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2019/apr/15/extinction-rebellion-protesters-arrested-stansted-15
[5] XR (2019), "This is Not a Drill: an Extinction Rebellion Handbook", pp.95-180
[6] ibid. p.100
[7] Dann, O. and Dinwiddy, J. eds., 1988. Nationalism in the Age of the French Revolution.
challenging
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
There is no B planet - one of the most import books you’ll read.
It’s worth noting that this book can come off as slightly repetitive because of it being a collection of essays from various people. Although, it does offer different perspectives from a range of backgrounds and does recognise privilege.
As an economics student it’s clear to see that the current economy is severely flawed and will not aid in sustaining this planet, even prior to reading this book. Systems need to be overhauled and changed.
Definitely, definitely worth a read.
It’s worth noting that this book can come off as slightly repetitive because of it being a collection of essays from various people. Although, it does offer different perspectives from a range of backgrounds and does recognise privilege.
As an economics student it’s clear to see that the current economy is severely flawed and will not aid in sustaining this planet, even prior to reading this book. Systems need to be overhauled and changed.
Definitely, definitely worth a read.
A succinct and varied collection of 35 short essays from the people of Extinction Rebellion and their allies.
The first half of the book, "Tell The Truth", details the nature of the crisis we face, from a number of viewpoints: from the indigenous people who most see and suffer the multiple effects on nature, to the California firefighters despairing at the shifting battleground they are fighting on. Especially eye-opening is Douglas Rushkoff's "Survival of The Richest", on how the super-rich plan to meet the oncoming crisis.
The second half, "Act Now", kicks off with a number of pieces by the people who organised the XR protests, explaining exactly how they did so - everything from the strategy to the catering to spending time in jail - and how you can do the same. Following that are more general pieces on the economic and political actions required to face the crisis.
Scattered throughout the book are some of the striking graphics and slogans that have made the XR brand instantly recognisable.
I hadn't been sure what to expect from this book - perhaps a lot of banging on the same drum as I have heard many times before - but it takes and engaging variety of topics in a fresh way and, although there is plenty to be pessimistic about in here, it is not a pessimistic book.
The first half of the book, "Tell The Truth", details the nature of the crisis we face, from a number of viewpoints: from the indigenous people who most see and suffer the multiple effects on nature, to the California firefighters despairing at the shifting battleground they are fighting on. Especially eye-opening is Douglas Rushkoff's "Survival of The Richest", on how the super-rich plan to meet the oncoming crisis.
The second half, "Act Now", kicks off with a number of pieces by the people who organised the XR protests, explaining exactly how they did so - everything from the strategy to the catering to spending time in jail - and how you can do the same. Following that are more general pieces on the economic and political actions required to face the crisis.
Scattered throughout the book are some of the striking graphics and slogans that have made the XR brand instantly recognisable.
I hadn't been sure what to expect from this book - perhaps a lot of banging on the same drum as I have heard many times before - but it takes and engaging variety of topics in a fresh way and, although there is plenty to be pessimistic about in here, it is not a pessimistic book.
challenging
informative
reflective
slow-paced
hopeful
informative
challenging
informative
fast-paced
hopeful
informative
reflective
slow-paced
challenging
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
I have mixed feelings about this book.
I love the message, at least the part of needing to do something to change what is happening now with our planet. I also think that they might have a decent idea as to how to effect that change. However, as a book, I hated it. The fact that it is written by so many different authors, making chapters only about 3 pages long and al lot of them kind of saying the same thing but slightly different was highly annoying. But the main thing that made this book annoying was the fact that for the first 100 pages they only explain why we need to do something against climate change and say that we should rebel, maybe even put our lives on the line, but don't explain how this rebellion will help the cause of climate change. Start with why we should join, sure, but then at least also explain what your aim is exactly and how what you do will help.
I love the message, at least the part of needing to do something to change what is happening now with our planet. I also think that they might have a decent idea as to how to effect that change. However, as a book, I hated it. The fact that it is written by so many different authors, making chapters only about 3 pages long and al lot of them kind of saying the same thing but slightly different was highly annoying. But the main thing that made this book annoying was the fact that for the first 100 pages they only explain why we need to do something against climate change and say that we should rebel, maybe even put our lives on the line, but don't explain how this rebellion will help the cause of climate change. Start with why we should join, sure, but then at least also explain what your aim is exactly and how what you do will help.