On Saturday January 26th, Extinction Rebellion Tampa Bay will be putting the demand for a climate state of emergency on the table. A crowd will assemble at Williams Park to partakein demonstrations emphasizing the severity of the climate crisis, and calling for immediate action. “Our time has nearly run out, and half-measures will no longer suffice,” organizer James Lamont said. “We are rallying to demand that all levels of government tell the full truth on climate change, that we reach zero carbon by 2025, and for participatory democracy to oversee the transition and ensure its success.
”The rally will begin at 10am. Demonstrators will march to several locations relevant to climate breakdown in downtown St. Petersburg, give public speeches, and make clear their intention to disrupt business as usual. This opening action will be a low-risk march (with a few visual surprises) as part of a national day of action designed to drag the climate conversation towards emergency measures.The recently released special report by the UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change included an urgent call-to-action for governments around the world to make "rapid, far-reaching and unprecedented changes in all aspects of society" to avoid disastrous levels of global warming. This included a goal to cut global carbon emissions by 45% by 2030 (equating to a much higher cut in places such as the US), with many critics claiming that even this call did not go far enough. Despite this clear alarm, the federal government has failed to take the steps of action necessary to prevent widespread disaster. The Tampa Bay rally is one of over 20 events that will be occurring across the country to demonstrate international solidarity, and to call public attention to the danger that climate change poses to the lives of all people.These actions are all part of a new, non-violent civil disobedience movement called Extinction Rebellion.
Extinction Rebellion came to public attention in the UK only 3 months ago with thousands participating in disruptive actions, and in that amount of time has established groups in over 35 countries and more than 25 US cities. The movement is supported by endorsements from Noam Chomsky, Naomi Klein, BillMcKibben (founder of 350.org), and hundreds of climate scientists. This will be the first of many actions leading up to April, when international actions will begin.For additional information.
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