Abergavenny Extinction Rebellion held its first Rebellion Day on Saturday December 22.

Extinction Rebellion (XR) is a new and growing movement demanding of local and national government that climate change is recognised as an existential emergency and acted upon immediately. Rebellion Days are peaceful, nonviolent protest events conducted by local XR groups to pressurise councils to pass Climate Emergency motions and take action to achieve carbon neutrality by 2030.

XR member Rob Proctor explained, “I am a local Monmouthshire resident with two young children. I am genuinely concerned with the future for them and want to make sure that I do everything in my power to try and hand over the same opportunities and environment I have been able to enjoy and benefit from.”

Abergavenny Rebellion Day took the theme of a Remembrance Procession, to mourn the species already lost in the ongoing sixth mass extinction event caused by human activity. Local accordionist Simon Bilsborough played mourners clad in black, wearing beautiful wool and felt animal heads created by local artist Diana Wallace, and around 150 people carrying banners and flags from the Market Hall to the square outside Shackleston’s Chemists. The procession was paced by the slow drums of Taiko Mynydd Ddu, stationed at the Market Hall. XR member Mary Ann Swanson began a roll-call of species extinguished since 1970, each one honoured with the word ‘gone’ called in response by the crowd, beneath a banner proclaiming ‘200 species lost every day’.

But this was about inspiring change as well as lamenting loss. Banners testified to XR’s being a resounding call to action. ’There is no Planet B’; ’Melt the greed, not the Arctic’; ’Treat the world well: it was not given to us by our grandparents; it was loaned to us by our children.’

As the processionists sang songs warning of the emergency and rallying the public to act, XR members talked to members of the crowds gathering to watch, gave out leaflets, answered questions and recruited people inspired to become involved or learn more.

The procession then retraced its steps to the Market Hall and stopped here for more readings and songs while a phalange of four slipped down to the opening of Cross Street, and blocked the road with a large banner declaring: ’Rebel For Life.’ Drivers aiming to turn up Cross Street were obliged to change route and the smiling protesters found that of the continuous stream of two-way traffic inconvenienced during the blockade, only one driver expressed indignation, while upwards of twenty more tooted their support, waved Thumbs Up out of their windows or called out in solidarity: ’Well done!’ and ’Thank You!’

The procession joined the blockade and the third theme of the day played out as group members Rob Proctor and Alice Sidwell spoke about the existential threat to humankind posed by global warming, and listed XR Abergavenny’s demands of Monmouthshire County Council: that it pass a motion declaring a ’Climate Emergency’, enact measures to achieve carbon neutrality in Monmouthshire by 2030, and work with other UK councils and organisations to identify and implement methods necessary to maintain global temperatures at below 1.5 degrees.

The procession, swelled with new recruits, roll-calling extinct species and singing, returned through the town and continued to Post Office square, where our responsibility to the wellbeing of future generations was symbolised by the passing of a model globe from an elder to a child. The roll-call was completed, more songs were sung, and the event closed with conversation and reflection. Pints and coffees from The King’s Arms refreshed, a brazier gave winter warmth and children, faces animal-painted, climbed and hung wreaths from the Post Office tree.

Group member Diana Wallace said, “I have been increasingly concerned about Climate Change for many years and have lobbied politicians about more support for renewables, and about ending fracking, road building and airport expansion; but this has fallen on deaf ears in a business and profit-as-usual political culture. I have joined Extinction Rebellion because at last here is a movement which seriously challenges the political indifference to the existential crisis we face.”

“We can’t help but see beauty in nature” reflected Alice Sidwell, but somehow we have still created systems and societies which depend on its exploitation and destruction. I believe that the changes we can make to slow climate change and reduce environmental destruction can also lead us to more fulfilling lives and equal societies. Through coming together to tackle the serious issues of our time we grow as a community. Extinction Rebellion provides a space for this.”

The event follows the COP24 talks in Poland at which David Attenborough warned: “If we don’t take action the collapse of our civilisations and the extinction of much of the natural world is on the horizon”.

Local Extinction Rebellion groups throughout the UK are now building on the movement’s launch in October and its month of action in London in November, in which activists super-glued themselves to the UK’s Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, spray-painted the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs and disrupted a City Hall ‘disaster planning meeting’. Thousands converged on the Thames and blocked five major bridges in central London in the UK’s biggest peaceful act of civil disobedience in decades. For two weeks, swarming events blocked streets, gridlocked traffic and caused economic disruption. Regional Rebellion Day, on December 15, saw local groups across the UK, including Cardiff and Carmarthen, pressing their local councils to pass climate emergency motions.

To date, the London Assembly and the local councils of Machynlleth, Shrewsbury, Bristol, Stroud, Frome and Totnes have passed Climate Emergency motions.

“We urge other institutions to follow suit as the first step in acknowledging we are in an emergency,” said Dr. Larch Maxey of Extinction Rebellion. “Extinction Rebellion groups are rising up to face this emergency. Throughout the UK and the world we are seeing people coming together to take direct action, to demand that there is an emergency response to what we face. Rebellion for our future and our children’s futures is an idea whose time has come.”