Lincoln XR's Red Rebel Brigade visited the awe-inspiring Gaia installation at Lincoln Cathedral. They were there to symbolise the grief and anger we feel as a consequence of our leaders’ failure to protect the planet. 

They were supported by outreach volunteers who handed out leaflets and engaged with onlookers to demonstrate our opposition to new oil and gas extraction; in particular, the disgraceful decision of the Government’s Planning Inspector to allow drilling at Biscathorpe in the Lincolnshire Wolds. (See below)

Lincoln XR supporters dressed as intrepid ramblers demonstrate against the decision by Government's Planning Inspector to allow new oil drilling in the beautiful Lincolnshire Wolds. 

CROWD FUNDER HERE

SOS Biscathorpe is a small local group of volunteers who have been campaigning since 2014 to stop oil drilling going ahead in the heart of the Lincolnshire Wolds Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) next to a precious chalk-stream; there are only 200 of these fragile ecosystems in the world.

In October 2021 we were delighted that Lincolnshire County Council refused permission for a new oil production development.

 However, our joy was short-lived … the developer (Egdon Resources, now Heyco – a U.S. company) appealed to the Secretary of State to overturn the Council’s decision. 

On 3 November 2023 a government-appointed Planning Inspector did just that and ruled that oil drilling could go ahead “in the public interest” despite acknowledging that the development would cause harm to the special characteristics of the AONB and contravened local planning policies. 

He also acknowledged that the amount of oil to be extracted is very small (estimate 3 million barrels of oil) and could even be exported.

We think this decision is wrong.

Our only course of action now is to bring a legal challenge against the decision.

We have brought together a brilliant legal team who believe we have good grounds to apply for a Statutory Review.

We only have 2 weeks to file the papers and we need to raise an initial £20,000 to contribute towards our costs. Our legal team are working at a fraction of their usual fees and every penny donated will go directly towards the costs of the case.

If successful, this could be an important landmark case on the correct interpretation of planning law and policy relevant to all fossil fuel developments. The IEA has concluded that there can be no new fossil fuel development if the world is to stay within safe limits of global heating and meet the goal of net zero emissions by 2050. Our case could set a much-needed precedent for similar small campaign groups fighting to protect our environment from unnecessary oil drilling in a climate crisis.

Please donate now and share with family, friends and colleagues. Together we can help protect this beautiful countryside and our planet from the lethal effects of oil production.

THANK YOU

SOS BISCATHORPE

In love and grief, supporters stand in silence for COP28, which is commencing today in UAE.

Our expections are not great.  

 2,456 oil industry lobbyists are there- a record number............. 

 Climate change activists are raising the alarm about the devastating impact of raw sewage on Lincolnshire's waterways.

Members of Extinction Rebellion (XR) Lincolnshire assembled on Lincoln's High Bridge today (Friday), encouraging people to challenge their local water authority over the condition of local rivers. 

Lincoln XR Rhythms players supported a fantastic Save the Bees action in Newark to protest the use of banned Neonicotinoids on locally grown sugar beet. 

 Many of us went to London to take part in The Big One over the whole weekend: we helped with planning and infrastructure behind the scenes, we helped with catering, toilet monitoring and water provision, playing with the Rhythms bands, outreach work, participating in People's Assemblies and holding our designated People's Picket location- outside the Houses of Parliament. The event was a great success, with huge numbers of people from many different organisations, or just there as individuals, to express their outrage at the Government's lack of action on the Climate and Nature crises. An estimated 60 to 100000 people attended the March for Nature on 22nd April. 

 On 8th April Extinction Rebellion staged a dramatic piece of street theatre in Lincoln to highlight the dangers of oil companies seeking to expand operations in Lincolnshire. Fake oil was poured over an XR supporter, symbolising the harm that the oil industry and its lobbyists are inflicting on the planet.
An application to create a new wellsite at Glentworth by IGas Energy plc will come before Lincolnshire County Council on 17th April.
Nelly, 68 year old grandmother, said: “To extract yet more fuel from beneath the fields of Lincolnshire and add more dangerous emissions to the atmosphere is, in my view, criminal and will lead to an unliveable planet. People are already dying around the globe from the effects of Climate change.”
Atmospheric levels of carbon dioxide (CO2), methane and nitrous oxide – the greenhouse gases emitted by human activity that are the most significant contributors to global heating – continued to increase rapidly during 2022. The oil and gas sector is the largest industrial source of methane, the most potent greenhouse gas.
“World leaders must step up to alter the course of this lethal trajectory of emissions.” Nelly said. “That starts with our local leaders, our Councillors.”
The UK’s Climate Change Committee said last year that “Any increases in UK extraction of oil and gas would have, at most, a marginal effect on the prices faced by UK consumers in future.” And they support “a presumption against exploration” in decisions on new explorations.
Local Extinction Rebellion supporters are urging people to make their feelings known to their County Councillor and hope that the Planning Committee will refuse the application. 

UPDATE: Lincolnshire County Council approved the application!!!

Lincoln rebels visited Grimsby, Lincoln and Sleaford Barclays to join hundreds of other XR rebels across the UK in a protest against the bank, which is one of the biggest financers of fossil fuels in the world. Our beautiful cleaners tried to clean up the "dirty bank" and highlighted its tendency to greenwash.  A lone rebel peacefully occupied the Lincoln branch in a poignant Rebellion of One, which culminated in her arrest. Lots of interest was generated and positive outreach was done to raise awareness of the climate crisis and the bank's role in exacerbating it! Time to switch banks!

The national XR bus tour came to Lincoln! Lots of outreach, wonderful conversations about how Citizens Assemblies are the way forward, many new people signed up to join our movement! 

Supporters of XR Lincoln carried a large globe around the city to demonstrate, in a striking way, how sick our planet is and how we must join together and act now to stop further harm.

 This is an ongoing campaign as Barclays are Europe biggest investor in fossil fuels. We will continue to raise awareness about their dirty investments, so...

Yesterday, on Day 3 of the Midlands Uprising brought us to Lincoln, where Lincolnshire and Midlands Rebels gathered to do a climate rally.

Five Lincolnshire Rebels entered the local Barclays branch and locked on.

They held placards sharing facts about Barclays, and personal messages about what the climate emergency means to them.

They remained in the bank until they were arrested, supported by Rebels carrying out outreach, samba, wellbeing, de-escalation.

We had so many positive conversations with the public, including many who are going to change bank - and tell Barclays why!

Overall it was an amazing day, and we are grateful to all the people who made it happen.

 
Lincolnshire red rebels visited The Earth Installation at The Collection to express grief over the Climate and Nature crises threatening our beautiful planet and to protest Government inaction.

2.05.22  Three Lincolnshire rebels, who had recently returned from the London Spring Rebellion, took part in a Podcast by Ronnie Byrne of The Lincolnite.  Listen here.

Extinction Rebellion’s Red Rebels made their County debut in Lincoln City Centre on Black Friday in November 2021. The troupe, strikingly robed in flowing blood-red garments, their faces painted white, processed around the city centre. Their slow, silent movement amongst the crowds drew the attention and curiosity of many shoppers, spellbound by their powerful, eye-catching presence. The seven performers created tableaux on High Bridge, The Stonebow and Speakers Corner, expressing through mime: their sorrow at the way consumerism dominates our lives; joy of the natural world; and strength through unity.

Other local climate activists handed out fliers to passers-by. Rosemary Robinson explained “Today is Black Friday when everyone is being encouraged to buy yet more stuff. And yet consumerism is literally killing the planet. More products mean more pollution, more carbon emissions and more destruction of the natural environment. Our fliers “Fast Fashion Costs the Earth” gives information about the devastating impacts of the fashion industry, and what individuals can do to help protect the planet”

The iconic Red Rebels have appeared in towns and cities throughout the world. They are draped in red material with their faces painted white in order to portray “living statues”. The group often mime in slow motion or create a series of tableaux during XR protests.

The Red Rebels were devised as an international performance “artivist” troupe, dedicated to illuminating the global environmental crisis and supporting groups and organisations fighting to save humanity and all species from mass extinction.

“The Red Rebels symbolise the common blood we share with all species, that unifies us and makes us one. As such, we move as one, act as one, and more importantly, feel as one. We are unity and we empathise with our surroundings, we are forgiving. We are sympathetic and humble, compassionate and understanding. We divert, distract, delight, and inspire the people who watch us. We illuminate the magic realm beneath the surface of all things and we invite people to enter in, we make a bubble and calm the storm, we are peace in the midst of war. We are who the people have forgotten to be!”

Let us know if you would like to be a Red Rebel, or you’d like the Red Rebels to make an appearance in your town..Email xrlincolnshire@gmail.com

At the Lincolnshire Showground on October 13, 2021, Lincolnshire County Council held its Lincolnshire Climate Summit during the run up to the 2021 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP26) in Glasgow.

To quote the council’s blurb ‘The summit had a fantastic line up of inspirational speakers and exhibition stands to shine a light on some of the solutions that will help us reach net zero and accelerate action towards a greener future.’

Those exhibition stands were mostly involved in promoting business ideas, some giving out shiny plastic promotional gifts which bore no connection to saving the planet. The few others that could be commended involved forestry, waste recycling and educational projects for the family.

The morning was taken up by speakers in various fields of expertise presenting 20 minutes each on global climate change; challenges to farming in the county, and more.

Central to what I wanted to hear was Councillor Colin Davie’s speech on all that the county council was doing. He gave a glowing account of how the council had reduced emissions setting a target of 68% reduction by 2025. We later realised he was not talking about the county as a whole but of just the council premises.

Conspicuously absent was the council leader Martyn Hill, whom I wanted to tackle. Despite Cllr. Davie’s assurances on how forward-thinking the council is, in the Q&A session that followed, I felt compelled to highlight that Martyn Hill is frequently on air supporting oil exploration in the county whilst at the same time criticising those who campaign against fossil fuels and mocking climate change and other environmental groups. ‘What message does his absence send our delegates today?’ I asked. Cllr. Davie told the room that Martyn Hill was a busy man. I was not impressed.

After a vegetarian and vegan lunch, provided for free, we returned for the afternoon session. This was of local business people who saw the climate change issue as either a threat to their businesses or as an opportunity to expand their businesses. Bored, we left them to their ramblings.

The organisers later sent an email wanting feedback. My criticism was that the caterers provided their good food on plastic plates with plastic cutlery and served drinks in plastic beakers. I saw the whole lot going into bin bags as they cleared.

In May 2021 A new Samba-fusion band was formed, based in Lincoln but available to attend other groups' actions.

Here they are at Cleethorpes in August, helping to make a spectacle and attracting attention for lots of outreach work.

New members are very welcome! No prior musical know-how required. Email   lincoln@extinctionrebellion.uk    and ask to be put in touch with the band if you would like to have a go!