Photo: Mothers Rebellion
Dear Rebel,
As a movement focused on the climate crisis, we often have to deliver bad news. Understandably, this upsets a lot of people. Bad news is hard to take. But hiding frightening truths won't make them go away, and “telling the truth” is literally our First Demand.
We get that good news is important for keeping everybody hopeful and engaged, and so we try to share it when we can. We're sharing some this month, here in this issue. But our good news might look a little different than what you're expecting. We hesitate to applaud token policies and pretty speeches by governments or corporations, since these are so rarely followed up by the kind of meaningful change we really need. We cannot get too excited about incremental progress when the truth is we are far behind where we need to be.
But we can—and do—celebrate successful acts of nonviolent civil disobedience. We celebrate people working together to build communities, help each other, and determine their own government. We celebrate mothers standing up for their children’s futures and finding new ways for all of us to be activists.
Someday, we will celebrate governments and big businesses finally telling the truth and taking immediate action.
If you’re feeling hopeless in the face of the climate crisis and looking for something to cheer you, we invite you to find solidarity with other like-minded people. Consider reaching out to your local XR group. In a time of anxiety, loss, and uncertainty, we encourage you to be part of the good news yourself.
This newsletter is brought to you by XR Global Support, a worldwide network of rebels who help our movement grow and need money to continue this crucial work.
Action Highlight
Image: Mothers Rebellion
Mothers Rebellion 2025
On April 26th, the Saturday after Earth Day, members of Mothers* Rebellion around the globe came together to #protectwhatwelove. From north to south and east to west, groups showed up for the benefit of indispensable ecosystems and precious natural areas in their communities. Protests took place in over a dozen countries including Malawi, Zimbabwe, Nigeria, Sweden, Brazil and Australia.
Mothers* Rebellion is a movement of mothers, caregivers, and allies in a growing global community on six continents. The asterisk is used because the movement is for more than just mothers - it’s also for grandmothers, aunties, daughters, sisters and caregivers and allies of all kinds. They are fighting for a sustainable present and future for the current and coming generations. They want to be able to look all our children in the eyes and say that we have truly done all that we can. They are turning their grief and frustration into action.
Mothers* Rebellion started simultaneously in both Sweden and the United States, in 2022. In May, 2023, the first coordinated protest was held in 21 countries on six continents. This past April’s event was the movement's eighth global protest.
Mothers* Rebellion uses a simple format for their protests: a circle of people sitting peacefully together in a public space, sometimes holding signs with simple messages such as the names of their children.They believe that connecting to their fear, sorrow, anger, and love for their children can give them the power they need to collectively face the climate crisis and bring about the change that is needed.
See photos from April 26th here. Follow Mothers* Rebellion on Instagram
Photo: Mutare, Zimbabwe, Mothers Rebellion
Action Round Up
14 June | USA
Photos: XR Global, Extinction Rebellion NYC, @risenresistnyc
On Saturday, June 14th, totals vary but at least 5 million protestors peacefully gathered in more than 2100 locations across all 50 states in the United States to denounce authoritarianism and anti-immigrant actions. The protest was the largest single day protest ever in the United States. The power of the people is greater than the people in power. Photo Gallery here.
25 May | Warsaw, Poland
Photo: @lena,grycel - Extinction Rebellion Warszawa
The first round of presidential elections were held in Poland on May 18th. A week later, on May 25th, Polish rebels took a stand for the climate before the second round, demonstrating against candidate Karol Nawrocki because he opposes the EU's climate proposals and wants to continue to mine coal in Poland. Extinction Rebellion Polska and Extinction Rebellion Warszawa declared that “We need a president with a plan for a just energy transition”. Unfortunately, Nawrocki won the second round by a very slim margin: 50.89 % versus 49.11% for his opponent Warsaw Mayor Rafal Trzaskowski. Support Polish rebels by following them:
Extinction Rebellion Polska Extinction Rebellion Warszawa
A Deeper Dive
Diffusing The Next Carbon Bomb
Last month, we highlighted the campaign to halt the sale of 52 new oil exploration blocks in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Now here is a chance to learn more about the growing coalition working to prevent the detonation of this massive carbon bomb and how you can help. Read this interview with one of the climate and human rights defenders leading the initiative.
Long Read
Sabotage is On the Menu
In the UK, ecoactivists are increasingly turning to something new: sabotage. How far will it go? And how might it change the climate movement? Read the full story here.
Dispatch from XR España
Image: XR España
Officially, 2024 was the year with the highest temperatures ever recorded. Last month brought extraordinary temperatures to the Iberian Peninsula earlier than normal. So Extinction Rebellion España sent us their top tips for keeping cool in 2025:
- Apply sunscreen.
- Hydrate well.
- Denounce the fact that high temperatures are the result of crimes against humanity by the fossil fuel industry for their own profit, despite knowing the climate consequences.
- Eat lightly and look for fresh produce.
- Avoid doing sports in the middle of the day.
Remember that we all need stable weather and a fair world to live in.
Follow Extinction Rebellion Spain on Instagram
Book of the Month
What If We Get It Right: Visions of Climate Futures
by Ayana Elizabeth Johnson
Books on climate optimism can be irritating and disappointing because they so often ignore the many reasons for pessimism. Instead of telling us why we should hope in the face of seemingly insurmountable odds, they just ignore the seeming insurmountability and assert that everything will be okay. Johnson’s book is different, because it doesn’t comment on whether success is likely at all. It just explores what success might look like, and what the successes we’ve had so far have looked like.
It’s hard to work towards a victory one can’t imagine, so Johnson has gathered her friends to help us imagine it. The book consists of a series of interviews with experts in various fields, from science to finance to politics. All the interviews are fun and friendly in tone. They read like people (mostly women) having coffee together.
The vision presented is both genuinely encouraging and richly informative. The only thing really missing is any discussion of how the opposition might be dealt with; as we have learned, there are people who don’t want climate action and are busy fighting us to keep it from happening. What does winning those fights look like? Do we convince them to convert? Lock them all up? Maybe such questions can be handled by a sequel.
Overall, Johnson gets it right. And because many of the interviewees, and Johnson herself, are not white, the book effectively centers needed voices that don’t always get included.
Avoid Amazon. Support local bookshops. In the UK, buy your books at Bookshop or Hive. Buy used through Abe Books (international).
Quick Watch
Should YOU Be A Climate Activist?
As climate change intensifies, more and more climate activists are taking to our streets - including rebels of Extinction Rebellion. The question is, does blocking traffic, throwing soup, and gluing oneself to buildings make any difference? And how do activists like these fit in with other climate movements—like boycotting banks, marching, and building community? And will it really take disaster for activism to finally turn the tide on climate change? Watch this video by YouTuber ClimateAdam, which explores the impact of activism with professor and activist Dana R. Fisher.
Watch here: Should YOU Be a Climate Activist?
Emergency Readiness
Los Angeles experienced deadly wildfires in early January. Intense rainfall in Peru led to severe flooding and landslides in March. Recently Spain, Portugal, and parts of southern France had a complete black out. Mozambique, Madagascar, and Malawi have been hit by repeated cyclones.
These are just a few of the calamities that have affected people all over the world in the first months of this year. XR Global stands in solidarity with all those affected. We are also looking forward and thinking about how everyone can be more ready for the unexpected. We'd like to hear from anyone who has experienced a disaster or loss of essential services about what was the most important thing they learned. What do others need to know to be better prepared? What do you wish you had known? Email us your top recommendations at xr-newsletter@protonmail.com
XR Global Support Volunteer Openings
Our movement is made up of people from all walks of life, contributing in different ways with the time and energy they can spare. Here at Global Support, we are looking for remote volunteers. Most positions involve 2-3 hours per week, and you just need internet access. We have openings for the following roles:
- Writers for this Newsletter: If you like to research and write short updates, conduct interviews and are familiar with social media, please email us at xr-newsletter@protonmail.com
- Translators (German and Hindi): Find out more here.
- Developers for our global website: If you know HTML, CSS, Javascript and Vue.js, please email us at xr-newsletter@protonmail.com
If you have any questions or feedback, we want to hear from you. Get in touch at xr-newsletter@protonmail.com
Get involved in XR wherever you are! Check out our ** global website, learn more about** ** our movement, and connect with rebels in your** ** local area. Forward this newsletter to a friend. If this was forwarded to you, join us and subscribe to the XR Global Newsletter.**
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.
