Wave 1 of dirty water campaign is huge success!

Our clean water and biodiversity are being exploited and sacrificed. In January, hundreds of local people took part in the first wave of Dirty Water- a new national campaign to bring the government and water companies to account for their criminal pollution.

We placed blue plaques at Seaford Splash Point, our MP’s office in Newhaven, over the River Ouse in Lewes and at Barcombe Mills. The plaques marked the government’s vote in 2019 against an amendment which would have placed a legal duty on water companies to reduce sewage outfalls. Nationally, more than 100 plaques were place and some of the MPs, including our own Maria Caulfield, were visibly shaken by the protest and unable to defend their actions.

We made amazing new relationships with sea swimmers, nature lovers, canoers, families, clubs, businesses and individuals and thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. We were even accompanied by XR samba and a local choir!

SO WHAT’S WAVE 2?

Wave 2 will focus on the water companies- and call for serious action to protect the health of the waterways, seas, creatures and people.

See our events listings for details of the action and local planning meetings.

Sign up to the national Dirty Water mailing list here

and/ or Join theDirty Water channel on the Telegram App here.

escc Digital action 26 July #youhadonejob

aim of action

Publically highlight the absurdity of having a Climate Change Committee but not having the climate emergency on the agenda. From 3pm on Tuesday 26 July.

Link to ESCC meeting details Agenda for Lead Member for Resources and Climate Change on Tuesday, 26th July, 2022, 3.00 pm | East Sussex County Council

We have three actions: 1 Email; 2 Twitter; 3 Facebook

1. email action

Email Email Councillor Nick Bennett, Lead Member for Resources and Climate Change. Copy in your own councillor and/or all councillors. Example email:

Re: Climate Change Committee: You had one job

I was astonished to see that at your meeting today you have nothing on the agenda about climate change. How can that be? Last week the UK saw the hottest ever day recorded and droughts and wildfires rage in Europe. Last week, the UN Secretary General warned that half the world’s population is in danger, and that we now have a stark choice: collective action or collective suicide. Why is climate change not front and centre to every discussion and meeting at the Council? 

The Council declared a climate emergency two and a half years ago. Since then, your climate ‘plan’ has focussed only on lowering emissions from your own direct operations – around 3% of the total emissions across East Sussex. And even on this, you are failing miserably.

We demand that the Council should not merely focus on its own emissions, but also use all its power and influence to swiftly bring positive change in four key areas across the County – transport, buildings, food production and renewable energy. And we also demand that you arrange a public meeting on your climate emergency plan, so the Council can truly listen to the concerns and ideas of its voters, and be held to account for its appalling inaction.

We’re saddened that you’re not yet ready to face up to the realities of the climate emergency or the pitiful inadequacies of your own response. And we also say – last week was just the beginning. We are not going away. We will never give up. Extinction Rebellion is not a protest group or a lobbying group. It is a rebellion. And we will continue to rebel; to take whatever non-violent action we deem necessary to bring about the changes required to save this beautiful planet we all call home.

Please let me know when the public meeting will be arranged.


email Role
cllr.keith.glazier@eastsussex.gov.uk Leader of Council
cllr.nick.bennett@eastsussex.gov.uk Chair climate committee 
cllr.godfrey.daniel@eastsussex.gov.uk Climate committee
cllr.Johnny.Denis@eastsussex.gov.uk Climate committee
cllr.roy.galley@eastsussex.gov.uk Climate committee
Cllr.Georgia.Taylor@eastsussex.gov.uk Climate committee
cllr.rupert.simmons@eastsussex.gov.uk Climate committee
cllr.Ian.Hollidge@eastsussex.gov.uk Climate committee
cllr.Paul.Redstone@eastsussex.gov.uk Climate committee
cllr.Steve.Murphy@eastsussex.gov.uk Climate committee
cllr.Johanna.Howell@eastsussex.gov.uk Climate committee
cllr.Sam.Adeniji@eastsussex.gov.uk  
cllr.Abul.Azad@eastsussex.gov.uk  
cllr.matthew.beaver@eastsussex.gov.uk  
cllr.bob.bowdler@eastsussex.gov.uk  
cllr.charles.clark@eastsussex.gov.uk  
cllr.Chris.Collier@eastsussex.gov.uk  
cllr.Penny.diCara@eastsussex.gov.uk  
cllr.chris.dowling@eastsussex.gov.uk  
cllr.claire.dowling@eastsussex.gov.uk  
cllr.kathryn.field@eastsussex.gov.uk  
cllr.gerard.fox@eastsussex.gov.uk  
cllr.Nuala.Geary@eastsussex.gov.uk  
cllr.Alan.Hay@eastsussex.gov.uk  
cllr.Julia.Hilton@eastsussex.gov.uk  
cllr.Stephen.Holt@eastsussex.gov.uk  
cllr.Eleanor.Kirby-Green@eastsussex.gov.uk  
cllr.carolyn.lambert@eastsussex.gov.uk  
cllr.tom.liddiard@eastsussex.gov.uk  
cllr.Philip.Lunn@eastsussex.gov.uk  
cllr.James.MacCleary@eastsussex.gov.uk  
cllr.Wendy.Maples@eastsussex.gov.uk  
cllr.Sorrell.Marlow-Eastwood@eastsussex.gov.uk  
cllr.carl.maynard@eastsussex.gov.uk  
cllr.Matthew.Milligan@eastsussex.gov.uk  
cllr.sarah.osborne@eastsussex.gov.uk  
cllr.peter.pragnell@eastsussex.gov.uk  
cllr.Christine.Robinson@eastsussex.gov.uk  
cllr.pat.rodohan@eastsussex.gov.uk  
cllr.phil.scott@eastsussex.gov.uk  
cllr.daniel.shing@eastsussex.gov.uk  
cllr.stephen.shing@eastsussex.gov.uk  
cllr.alan.shuttleworth@eastsussex.gov.uk  
Cllr.Bob.Standley@eastsussex.gov.uk  
cllr.colin.swansborough@eastsussex.gov.uk  
cllr.barry.taylor@eastsussex.gov.uk  
cllr.david.tutt@eastsussex.gov.uk  
cllr.john.ungar@eastsussex.gov.uk  
cllr.trevor.webb@eastsussex.gov.uk  

2. TWITTER ACTION

Example Tweets (and don’t forget to re-tweet any Tweets with the hashtag!)

@EastSussexCC why on earth is there nothing about climate change on your Climate Change Committee’s agenda today? Is this for real? #youhadonejob. We’ve just had the UK’s hottest day ever and far worse is to come. We demand a public meeting discuss your climate emergency ‘plan’

#justnotcuttingit

@CllrGlazier @GodfreyDaniel1 @CllrJohnnyDenis @RupertSimmons @bexhillian1066

*Optional press handles* @brightonargus @hoxburgh @sussex_express @itvmeridian @bbcsoutheast

@EastSussexCC as your Climate Change Committee has nothing about climate change on its agenda today, here are some ideas: How about: transport; buildings; food production and renewable energy. We demand a public meeting to discuss your climate emergency ‘plan’.

#youhadonejob

#justnotcuttingit

@CllrGlazier @GodfreyDaniel1 @CllrJohnnyDenis @RupertSimmons @bexhillian1066

*Optional press handles* @brightonargus @hoxburgh @sussex_express @itvmeridian @bbcsoutheast

action 3: facebook post and comments

a) Make a post, share to community groups (and don’t forget to share other’s posts too)

@eastsussexcountycouncil why on earth is there nothing about climate change on your Climate Change Committee’s agenda today? Is this for real? We’ve just had the UK’s hottest day ever and far worse is to come. #youhadonejob. 

As you seem to be struggling for ideas for things to discuss, here are some suggestions:. How about a proper plan for: transport; buildings; food production and renewable energy?

And how about talking to the community? This is an emergency. Last week we demanded you arrange a public meeting on your climate emergency plan. It’s the least you can do. What’s your answer? 

#youhadonejob

#justnotcuttingit

@CllrGlazier

@godfrey.daniel.01

@johnnydenis

@predstone

 @ian.hollidge.1t

We need more. Many more.

We gathered in Lewes on Saturday 26th March for our “Walk and Talk” event. This event was all about engaging with people ahead of our upcoming national rebellion starting on April 9th, 10.30am, Hyde Park – to discuss and inform, to hear people’s thoughts about our movement and on the climate and environmental emergency. To talk about our new demand – that the UK Government immediately stops investing in fossil fuels. To listen to their doubts and questions; to share their hopes and fears.  

And it was a good event in lots of ways. As you can see, there was all the colour, passion and creativity that we’re so well known for. The Crude Oil Mechanicals’ staging of a ‘tug-of-war’ between fossil fuels and renewables was brilliant. And we felt something we’ve missed terribly – the joy of joining together and taking action.  

With one notable exception (the usual stuff – environmental activists who don’t live naked in caves are hypocrites, etc), passers-by were positive, encouraging and engaged. We were delighted to see some old faces and welcome some new ones.  

But – and here’s the hard truth of it – there weren’t enough of us. Nowhere near. A movement like ours will stand or fall by its numbers. And we need more. Many more.  

So much has changed since we started our movement. We’ve had a pandemic, now we’ve got war in Ukraine and a cost of living crisis. But the reason we started XR hasn’t changed. The need to act is more urgent than ever; the window in which we can act is closing rapidly.  

We understand that dealing with Covid and war and rising prices is exhausting. It’s just relentless, and most of us are feeling knackered. Some days it feels hard enough just dealing with the everyday stuff, never mind thinking about environmental activism.   

We completely get it. But somehow we must dig deep, find the courage to face this, the greatest crisis of all. and the energy to do something about it. 

So, we’re appealing to you, with love and undiminished hope – come and join the April rebellion. Bring your energy, your passion, your talents, your spirit.  

There is so much you can do. And make no mistake, we need you. History needs you. The world needs you. 

STOP FOSSIL FUELS!

The government is having so much trouble with our original three demands, so we are adding a new, easier one… as a kind of stepping stone… to help them out: End the fossil fuel economy now: Stop fossil fuel investments.

Most scientists, most world leaders and most of the population agree it is too dangerous to go over 1.5 degrees of warming. But if we continue to extract fossil fuels we will. It’s as simple as that. And that means condemning the young to famine, war and a life of disruption. (And people think our road blocks are disruptive!)

It sounds a big ask because we’ve been tied up in the fossil fuel economy for so long. Everything revolves around it. Just look at the situation in Ukraine: Europe’s dependence on Russian Oil; the Russian grab of Ukraine gas reserves; the mad face-off over oil supplies; and the artificial pricing structure totally unrelated to local markets. Ever think you are being controlled?

So when you think of the precipice we are standing on with global heating…stopping new gas and oil investment is the very least our government can do to protect us- isn’t it? Claire Farrell, one of the co-founders of Extinction Rebellion said this is the least radical thing we’ve ever asked for. “Even the International Energy Agency is asking for this. They are hardly cutting edge.” She’s right!

We’re getting ready for a new big rebellion from April 9th and we will disrupt until our immediate demand is met. As part of our preparation we are inviting the community of Lewes, Seaford, Newhaven and surrounding areas to join with us to walk, talk and come together on 26 March.

Come along with us. Share your feelings, ideas, worries and hopes. There’s no pressure to join XR (although we hope you will!). Let’s talk.

Find out more about the Walk and Talk event .

Find out more about our other demands on the Extinction Rebellion UK website

the strategy is here!

Three and a half years ago we started the biggest Civil Resistance movement in Britain since the Suffragettes. Some say it’s the most successful start-up in history, with groups in over 100 countries and on every continent – even Antarctica.

The reality? We’ve only just got started. And in 2022 we step up.

Find out about the strategy on the Extinction Rebellion UK website

Actions you can do at home or locally!

Can’t get to London for the Impossible Rebellion which started on 23 August? Well there’s more to rebellion than being annoying in capital cities. Are you a keyboard warrior?- Join the Digital Rebellion. Like sewing or walking?- Support the Coat of Hopes. Want to talk with people in your community? – Help local run crisis talks. There’s something for everyone. And everyone is needed.

Coat of hopes starting bank holiday monday

See this event link to see how to get involved: Be there at the start of the Coat Of Hope’s journey! (xrlewes.org)

community crisis talks starting tuesday 31 August

We’ll hold the crisis talks the government won’t. Let’s take our table and pink tablecloth and yummy treats out into our communities, and listen to each other and make a vision of how we want our world to be. If you have time to spare on Tuesday. or any time in fact, please email xrlewes@gmail.com

digital rebellion until friday 3 september

Join this amazing wave of action from your phone or computer. Put pressure on the institutions fuelling this crisis, through social media commenting, emailing and whatever you fancy! Lots of guidance on the Digital Rebellion page on XR UK website

money rebellion actions- watch this space!

We’ll be focussing on Barclays and HSBC who still pour billions into to fossil fuel projects with no sign of stopping

Image for the August 2021 rebellion showing the words Act for the Impossible

Join the August Rebellion!

We’re at a crucial moment in history. Our climate is breaking down and life on Earth is dying: accelerated by our economic system and supported by our politicians. We need urgent change and we need it yesterday. We need to step up. Let’s make the impossible happen. For two weeks from 23 August 2021, we will take non violent direct action, both locally and in London. We’ll join together with other groups and movements to bring about change. Planning is underway, keep up to date with events, rebel training and more on this website and through our regular emails. 

CRISIS TALKS

If our leaders find holding emergency talks so impossible, we’ll bring people together and do it ourselves. We’re planning activities locally and in London. Can you join in?  

DISRUPT THE CITY OF LONDON

By focussing on the City, the Rebellion will target the root cause of the crisis. We’ll occupy and disrupt the institutions causing the most harm. You can take part as an arrestee or in a support role.