Cardiff climate resistance group looks at new ways to encourage support for its aims
EXTINCTION Rebellion in Cardiff says its members will no longer block roads as part of its campaign of protests.
XR’s yearly strategy has been updated for 2022 and lists six key goals for the year ahead.
These include growing the movement to 3.5% of the UK population, supporting “rebels” facing court/prison, and “telling a new story”.
As part of this new story, XR says it will pay closer attention to its relationship with the public, and change the way it communicates its message.
Clare James, a spokesperson for Cardiff XR, is pleased with the change of direction.
“There will be more leafletting and more door-to-door ways of spreading awareness. We’ll be creating more conversations and asking ‘what keeps you awake’, rather than focusing protests on the XR image.
“I also think our road blocking days are over and this probably will not be part of our chosen strategy. But we stand in solidarity with activists that have done that or do that.”
XR’s road blocking campaign Rebellion of One took place in and around Cardiff last year.
It encouraged climate protesters to sit on the road to block oncoming traffic, which remains a contentious action.
Cardiff resident Steff Wilkins from Pontcanna values XR’s message but will be glad to see a change in its protest strategy.
“It’s a nuisance and someone is probably going to get hurt, but they aren’t wrong about their cause,” he said.
“They are a minority voice trying to be heard and this is a clever way of making their point, but short of picking up arms. I’m not sure that the government intervention they are asking for will be enough for climate change.”
Photo by: Cardiff Extinction Rebellion
On the flip side, Bridgend resident Marion Banks-Wilkinson continues to support road blocking as a form of XR protest and feels that it is always justified.
“They are protesting an issue which is incredibly important, and I agree with them, I would love to be protesting too. Healing the environment we share is a vital part of that for me,” she said.
The United Nations Biodiversity Conference (COP15) is to start in April this year. Clare said this event would help put the new strategy into action.
She added: “I am excited with the strategy. There’s a lot of energy from COP26 and we want to keep mobilisation going on that common ground.”
