July 8th, 2020 (European Union) - After months of confinement, Extinction Rebellion Europe was created by concerned citizens from across Europe declaring themselves in non-violent rebellion against the EU. Extinction Rebellion Europe is a new branch of the global movement Extinction Rebellion. This new branch will directly target the EU to ensure that the European Commission will make stopping the environmental crisis its absolute priority and to raise European citizens’ voices. Rebels from across Europe have already joined Extinction Rebellion Europe. Last week, Extinction Rebellion activists from at least 10 European countries organised protests under the slogan "Bail Out The Planet" to target the European Commission's economic policy, which upholds business as usual. In Stockholm, rebels physically blocked a domestic SAS flight. The Scandinavian airline is earmarked to receive hundreds of millions in state support from Sweden and Denmark. In Rotterdam, a canal was coloured bright red in protest of investments into the fossil fuel industry. In Edinburgh, dozens went on a bicycle ride and delivered letters to party headquarters and to the Scottish parliament. In Porto, Aberdeen, The Hague, and Munich, ‘greens strings’ were strung in front of government and EU institution buildings, demanding for the recovery from Covid-19 to be used to reduce our ecological footprint. Similar actions took place in Dublin, Torino, Milan, Paris, Dunkerque, Budapest, Helsinki, Malaga, amongst others. Extinction Rebellion Europe’s continental action display adds to the voices of millions of youth who have already taken to the streets to defend their future through non-violent civil disobedience. Citizens have called on the EC to hold up targets to achieve an ambitious and socially just ecological transition. Despite this, the European Commission has made the decision to bail-out some of the most polluting companies in sectors such as fossil fuels, aviation and transport in the aftermath of restrictions related to Covid-19. By rescuing the most environmentally damaging sectors, the EU continues to prioritise economic growth ahead of the well-being of people and the planet. Extinction Rebellion Europe demands the EU respond with a similar sense of urgency to the ecological crisis as it did with Covid-19. Nicolás Eliades (Madrid), speaking for Extinction Rebellion Europe says: “Extinction Rebellion Europe puts three demands before the EU. Firstly, all EU institutions must be honest about the extent of ecological collapse in Europe and beyond, as well as about Europe’s historical responsibility in this. Governments must also make efforts to halt the environmental destruction of the planet by reducing our consumption of resources and energy. Finally, we demand a European Citizens’ Assembly to guide this transformation.” Extinction Rebellion Europe’s coordinated non-violent direct actions will respect health authorities' basic recommendations for Covid-19 spread prevention, as they seek to raise awareness of the relevance of the issue outlined in this press release. | 