XRLA¶

XRLA is the Los Angeles cell of the Extinction Rebellion international organisation.

Goals¶

XRLA shares its goals with the international movement, with a Los Angeles focus. XR aims to avoid the worst effects of climate change for future generations. To do this, we aim to jolt 3.5% of Angelenos (355,750 people) into demanding timely appropriate action by our governments. We will do this by non-violent civil disobedience actions, negotiation, education, and supporting local groups working on ecological, climate and social justice.

Join us — for your future, your children’s future, Earth’s future!

Ideology¶

XRLA aims for collective, creative rebellion to change our politics, economy and society. We work with XR in other US cities to change the American consciousness to be based on conservation of our ecosystems. XRLA fosters cooperation among citizens to quickly reach the goal of living sustainably in nature. We work to transform our society into one that is compassionate, inclusive, kind, sustainable, equitable, and interpersonally connected. We aim to mobilize organizers in LA County to work with their local communities to develop tools to address LA’s deeply rooted problems related to climate change.

Limiting temperature rise to 1.5°C is our best hope for survival. The possibility of achieving this is closing every day. It will require sacrifice by every Angeleno. But if we don’t, the consequences will be terrible. This message is not popular and it causes grief. We will help Angelenos grieve and turn grief into positive action for the future of Earth. We are in a moment of consequence like which humankind has never seen. We must rise to it.

Demands¶

Tell the truth¶

LA county and city governments must tell the truth about the climate emergency and the wider ecological emergency. They must work with the media to communicate to citizens the impending crisis and the changes we must make to mitigate them.

Zero emissions by 2025¶

LA County governments must enact legally binding policy to reduce greenhouse emissions to net zero by 2025 and reduce consumption by the governments and all the citizens of LA County. They must reverse all policies inconsistent with reaching these goals.

Citizen assembly¶

We must establish LA County and LA City citizen assemblies legally empowered to oversee the changes above, as part of a democracy that can limit climate catastrophe replacing the governance that has created this dangerous climate situation. These assemblies must operate based on science and evidence to achieve zero greenhouse emissions by 2025.

Just transition¶

The transition to zero emissions in LA County must prioritize the needs of the most vulnerable people. The county and city governments must establish remediation for LA’s indigenous people, people of color and poor communities as compensation for their suffering years of structural environmental injustice.
The county and city governments must establish legal rights for ecosystems so that historically degraded ecosystems can regenerate and thrive. We must repair the effects of historical and continuing ecocide in LA.

Principles¶

XRLA follows some basic principles:

• XRLA aims to mobilize 3.5% of LA County’s population to achieve systemic change in LA to do LA’s part to limit average global temperature rise to 1.5°C
• XRLA will act to stop the exploitation of Earth’s resources that makes likely the destruction of life on Earth
• XRLA aims to recast power dynamics in LA to foster a more just participation by Angelenos. Our present governance and economy are toxic and deadly for living things.
• Angelenos need a sustainable culture, healthy, resilient and adaptable
• XRLA members will remake the toxic systems of governance and economy in the US. Everyone in the US must question their role in perpetuating an ideology that threatens life on Earth.
• XRLA will reflect on and learn from its actions and those of other popular movements
• XRLA welcomes everyone willing to work within our framework. We work to create safe and accessible spaces for all who come to help us in our goals
• XRLA will not blame or shame. We all have participated in perpetuating this system. Everyone should make changes required for our common survival and health
• XRLA will use only non-violent tactics; they are the most effective way to foster the change we need.
• XRLA is an autonomous part of a decentralized whole
• XRLA will make decisions collectively and has no leadership “in charge of” any decision or action

We refuse to bequeath a dying planet to future generations by failing to act now.
We act in peace with ferocious love of these lands in our hearts.

Achievements¶

XR began in 2018 and as of May 1, 2019, there are nearly 400 cells on five continents — an incredible spread of a social movement.

XRLA began in January 2019 and has actively supported the local Youth Climate Strike group, SunriseLA, StandLA and others.

We published the first edition of our newspaper, The Rebellion Recorder, a newsprint broadsheet with exclusives by Bill McKibben and Peter Kalmus.

In April, we took control of the Universal Studios globe to demand that Hollywood use its worldwide influence to alert people to the climate emergency. This action was reported by news outlets worldwide and can be seen in the News section.

In September, we blocked traffic for 2 hours in front of the CNN building in Hollywood.