Altrimenti siamo fottuti! Manifesto di disobbedienza civile per salvare il pianeta

by Roger Hallam

«Migliaia di comuni cittadini stanno mettendo a repentaglio la loro libertà per prendere parte alla disobbedienza civile nonviolenta. Tanto coraggio ci ha convinti a uscire dal silenzio e unirci a loro. Vi chiediamo di fare lo stesso.»
Dalla lettera aperta in sostegno di Extinction Rebellion sottoscritta da oltre cento personaggi pubblici, tra cui Thom Yorke, Jude Law, David Byrne, Neil Gaiman, Benedict Cumberbatch, Brian Eno, Natalie Imbruglia, Bob Geldof.

Non c’è tempo da perdere. Il nostro pianeta è in pericolo e le misure adottate dai governi contro il cambiamento climatico hanno fallito. Dal 1990 le emissioni di CO2 sono aumentate del 60 per cento e continuano a crescere. Nel giro di una generazione, tutto ciò che amiamo andrà perduto. Bisogna muoversi subito. Nell’aprile del 2018 Roger Hallam, insieme a un gruppo di quindici attivisti, ambientalisti e scienziati, ha fondato il movimento Extinction Rebellion, che da allora ha organizzato decine di manifestazioni di disobbedienza civile in tutto il mondo. L’obiettivo è spingere i governi a dichiarare l’emergenza climatica. Portare le emissioni a zero entro il 2025. Preparare la transizione verso un futuro in cui saranno le assemblee di cittadini a indirizzare la politica sulle misure da adottare.
La strategia è illustrata punto per punto in questo manuale di lotta nonviolenta. Stavolta la ribellione non nasce da un’ideologia. È la scienza a chiederci di reagire.

Genres: Politics, Nonfiction, Climate Change, Environment, Activism

160 pages, Paperback

Published May 14, 2020

About the author

Roger Hallam is one of the most influential and controversial campaigners of the 21st century.

He is a founder of Extinction Rebellion, Insulate Britain, and Just Stop Oil, three of the most prominent social movements in recent UK history. Over the past decade, he has worked internationally as an advisor and organiser, helping to catalyse major climate campaigns across Europe, including in Italy, Germany, and Sweden.

Roger’s commitment to social justice spans decades. In his twenties, he dropped out of the London School of Economics to join the peace movement. He later spent 30 years as an organic farmer in Wales, until unprecedented rainfall destroyed over £100,000 worth of crops — a direct experience of climate breakdown that reshaped his political path.

Following this, Roger became a researcher at King’s College London, where he produced award-winning research on the psychology of mobilisation and the strategic design of civil disobedience. In 2018, he authored Common Sense for the 21st Century, selected as Tate Modern’s Book of the Month and widely credited as a foundational text for Extinction Rebellion.

In 2023, the New Statesman ranked Roger as the 34th most influential progressive in the UK — the highest-ranked environmentalist apart from David Attenborough. In 2024, he wrote the introduction to A Green Day: Embracing Climate Action (Hachette India).

Roger’s activism has brought intense legal and media scrutiny. In July 2024, he was sentenced to five years in prison for civil disobedience — the longest such sentence in the UK since the Second World War. His refusal in court to break his oath to tell the “whole truth” to a jury led to his forcible removal by police, an incident widely reported across the British press.

He has appeared on BBC News, BBC HardTalk, and GB News, and has been featured in multiple documentary films, including The Troublemaker and Conscientious Protectors. His writing has appeared across the political spectrum, from The Guardian to The Daily Mail, and he has been interviewed by The Times, The Economist, Republik, De Volkskrant, and Novara Media.

Roger continues to write and organise from prison and under house arrest.

You can read his work at https://rogerhallam.com

Reviews

[Sean Barrs · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the first book review I have written in 8 months.

Anyone who remembers me will understand that my disappearance off this website was sudden and unusual. I wrote 4 book reviews a week for almost five years and then I vanished. I stopped reading altogether. Did anyone miss me?

So, what have I been doing instead? Protesting.

The truth is, I got angry and frustrated at the world. I got angry about the way we treat the planet and all the animals that live in it. I’d been using books and fantasy as escapism for a long time and then I realised that instead of trying to escape I should attempt to change the things I hate. I took to the streets and I tried to make a difference. I went on marches, I outreached directly to the public and promoted veganism and an environmentally sustainable way of life in every way I know how. I cycled across India to raise money for Veganuary. I ran (and won) a 70-mile ultra-marathon. And now I'm planning even bigger things in my attempt to make a difference.

The point is, I found the need to rebel and to fight against a system that is morally corrupt and one that will usher in the collapse of our environment if we do not do something about it. I became an activist. And I learnt that the only way we will change the system is if every single person who feels the same stands up and works towards a better future.

So here I am now, reading again. But I am reading with reason. I am currently putting a PhD proposal together geared towards sustainable food choices. All books I read from here will be those that can benefit me as an individual and can help fuel my activism and my hunger for change.

I am a member of XR (and many other protest groups) though I am YET to be involved in an arrestable action. This book details the principles behind the movement and its long-term goals.

I applaud its ambitions and will throw my weight behind them.

___________________________________

You can connect with me on social media via My Linktree
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[Carlos Martinez · Rating 3 out of 5]

This brief 'action plan' for preventing climate breakdown is quite thought-provoking and certainly well-meaning, and the writing is appropriately urgent and persuasive, but unfortunately the author has failed to understand the basic principles of politics. Hallam's proposal is, essentially, for a few thousand people to stage a series of non-violent mass actions which trigger a government collapse. Extinction Rebellion will then convoke a Citizens' Assembly, the first and key task of which will be to respond appropriately to the climate crisis.

That's all very nice and lovely, but it ignores the small issue of vested interests - the relationship between wealth and power, between capitalism and parliamentary democracy. The capitalist class tends not to react terribly well to attempts to end (or even constrain) its power, and it has a fairly effective tool at its disposal in the form of the state - the army, the police, the intelligence agencies, and so on. I'm fairly sure that a political revolution of the type Hallam describes will require more than a festive sit-down protest.

A less pie-in-the-sky approach is to think seriously about how we in the western capitalist countries can try to leverage existing political structures (along with mass pressure) to force through a global Green New Deal. The author doesn't engage with this idea at all, presumably because it doesn't fit with his ideological preferences.

In summary, this is a useful book for getting your head around Extinction Rebellion, but for a broader view of climate change you're better off with The Uninhabitable Earth: Life After Warming, There Is No Planet B: A Handbook for the Make or Break Years, The Case for the Green New Deal and The Energy Conundrum: Climate Change, Global Prosperity, and the Tough Decisions We Have to Make.

[Marc · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was quite impressed by this book, that is still looking for crowdfunding to be properly published. In it Hallam, who cofounded Extinction Rebellion, explains what is wrong with the climate (and biodiversity) and why civil disobedience is the only way to fix it.

Currently, politicians are too open to lobbyists and to focused on their own carreers to move as fast as required. I found that hard to stomach, but is is obvious that for example the Paris Climate Treaty is going nowhere. Hallam proposes to create civilians' assemblies (by sortition, which means they are representative) to do the decision making. Seems like a good idea. First aristocracy replaced monarchy, then representative democracy replaced aristocracy, now, since liberal democracy is losing its credibility - if only because it can't save us from climate disaster - it is time to replace it by something more democratic and effective.

I can't believe I am writing this.

Another thing Hallam is astutely aware of is that mere yellow vests style criticism and activism (see also the Occupy movement) without an actual plan is bound to fail. Hallam will not fall into that trap. He has a list of solutions. That's the incredible thing about climate change: it is well researched and its solutions are available, well tested and affordable.

I liked the part where he explains that the current situation requires people to ignore their in group - out group urge not to cooperate with people who are different. This is not some greeny lefty activist thing, it is about morals, duty and the end of the world.

So let's all join Extinction Rebellion and block some junctions.

[Ryan Mizzen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was inspired to read this after George Monbiot's comments, calling it brilliant and saying that it could become a classic of political theory. I agree with George. I also think Citizens' Assemblies could be a real alternative to the political chaos and ineptitude we currently have.

[E Owen · Rating 2 out of 5]

The plan for mass disruption is a good one IF you get the numbers. Various revolutions around the world required entire infrastructures to shut down and civil resistance by the population at large to work. XR numbers are not large enough. Simmering popular resentment is required to make it work, but I’d stick my neck out and say a majority of people are rightfully concerned by climate change.

So how do you recruit them to the cause? According to this, protesters should graffiti “poor areas” (p.45) and conduct “super-noisy marches” around neighbourhoods. Sounds like a great way to make enemies out of ordinary people. Great job. As a consequence the demographics are skewed to those who can spare the time and money to protest, as well as having a cushion against any consequences: retirees, students and those comfortably well-off. From what I have witnessed, they end up disrupting ordinary people going about their business who desperately need their salary, therefore ruining any developing solidarity. To actually get tangible results entire systems need to be disrupted, think the Fire Brigade strike or RMT strikes. Blocking a bridge for a few hours and posting it on social media will not change anything.

The original Common Sense, which I am a big fan of, succeeded because colonial America was being hit in the wallet by the British crown. Years ago I emailed XR suggesting they make the economic, rather than emotional, case for system change (walking and cycling is cheaper, a circular economy for cheaper products, financial incentives for recycling etc). I did not receive a reply. Without effective challenge, the popular concern of climate change is being left to companies who gleefully greenwash their products, and politicians who guzzle up the scraps of popular campaigns. Never trust an advert that features a ukulele, or a politician who claims anything “by 2050”.

I really want XR to succeed but unfortunately I don’t think they will with this model. After 3 years, they need to change tack before time runs out.

[Miguel Rodríguez · Rating 2 out of 5]

Sentido común para el siglo 21 es un híbrido entre manifiesto y guía sobre cómo podemos parar la fúnebre trayectoria en la que estamos y evitar lo peor de la crisis climática. El autor habla someramente sobre la gravedad de la crisis climática, pero es muy superficial respecto a las causas de ella. Habla mucho de la responsabilidad de los gobiernos, pero no señala el modelo socioeconómico, ni a las megacorporaciones ni el peso de decisión que tiene el 5% más rico de la población. Tampoco menciona aspectos como la crisis energética o de materiales.

Para conseguir cambio en las políticas climáticas, Roger Hallam propone la misma estrategia que para Extinction Rebellion (del cual es co-fundador):
- Hacer muchas charlas de concienciación
- Ser inclusivo para todo el mundo
- Hacer acciones de desobediencia civil pacífica
- Exigir asambleas ciudadanas

Es un único marco de acción, que si bien puede ser útil hasta cierto punto, hemos visto en los últimos años que ha fracasado. En primer lugar es un marco de acción que sólo puede funcionar en los países del norte global donde la represión violenta no es muy grande, y en segundo lugar este tipo de protestas no ha sido capaz de conseguir el suficiente nivel de disrupción que fuerce un cambio de política real.

La Acción Directa No Violenta (ADNV) sólo es una de las muchas herramientas que tenemos que utilizar para cambiar el rumbo político y asegurar nuestra supervivencia. Las acciones de alto riesgo muy disruptivas son cada vez más necesarias, así como la proliferación de grupos auto-organizados que generen directamente los cambios necesarios para asegurar una vida digna en la era post-petróleo.

[Karin · Rating 4 out of 5]

rebellion is common sense! very straightforward in pointing out the problems in both liberal politics and leftisms. it is possible to do both: meet people where they’re at, and tell them the truth, not just what you think they can cope with.
also, wonderful commentary on the emphasis of moral purity and “goodness” only leading to statements of disapproval or critique, rather then direct action. there is no time or use for such a filtering system

and my favorite: “it is important to notice that the interests of the elites and those that carry out their orders are not equivalent, and indeed in contexts which provide structural opportunities for revolutionary changes their interests can significantly diverge.” mobilize the cops dog !!!

[Bertha · Rating 3 out of 5]

A call and rundown for nonviolence action to ensure the extinction rebellion against the government in the name of fighting the climate crisis.

“In the case of climate breakdown, we are looking at a high probability of the death of billions of people in the next generation or two. the reformist denial of this reality is catastrophically irresponsible.”

[Stuart Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

Depressing, in that you know this is necessary but it feels like that ship has sailed.
Social Media is full of people pushing the hoax angle; the political class is still in power, with the far right making leaps and bounds across the globe. We are further from a solution to the Climate Crisis than ever.
Humanity is doomed and the failure of this booklet to challenge the status quo is deplorable.

[Christof · Rating 3 out of 5]

I feel a little bad rating this book so low. but it really has its problems. I like the idea to promote climate activism that works outside of the system and promote the idea that this could work. There is a decent argument against defeatism and how that works. But I just think he can't get over himself sometimes and think about why he is doing this and who he is. I had trouble reading some parts and then got good ideas from others, so overall glad I read this book

[Erik · Rating 3 out of 5]

This short quick read offers a lot to think about. Perhaps Hallam is most brilliant as an organizer of non-violent street protest. His advice on how to deal with police and local authorities before and during a protest -- with respect, mostly, but also with advance notice -- differs from the practice followed by some street activists, and seems very well advised.

Hallam's program at the end to cut and reverse greenhouse pollution is also convincing. It's aggressive but not unrealistic.

And XR's signature tone of moral urgency and "telling the truth" no matter how harsh is much needed in the climate movement today and comes through compellingly in Hallam's text. I also applaud Hallam's advice to try to appeal to conservatives through getting away from the buzzwords of the left and using language that's both more common and partakes of traditional values like honor, courage and integrity. Taking inspiration from Thomas Paine in this book's title shows Hallam's own laudable attempt to talk his talk, and was what caught my attention in the first place. So, kudos there.

His proposals to overthrow national governments and replace them with some form of direct democracy (National and Citizens' Assemblies instead of the UK Parliament, for example) give me more pause. I'm not afraid so much that the idea is unrealistic and won't go anywhere, which is probably most likely. Here, I'm concerned instead with what would happen if somebody actually took Hallam up on his plan for extreme, out-of-nowhere revolution.

A few examples from localities in developing nations (eg, Puerto Allegre in Brazil) don't go nearly far enough to reassure me that such an extreme idea as replacing centuries-old democratic institutions in western countries like the UK and the US with untried schemes for direct democracy isn't just unrealistic, but also very ill advised. So, it raises big questions:

a) Is political revolution really necessary to fight the climate emergency?

b) Is the "national Citizens' Assembly" governance structure sufficiently proven in practice to actually increase democracy or to accomplish needed reforms effectively?

c) Is this idea to scrap everything and start over so crazy that, if some revolutionary group actually got the chance to try it on a national scale, it would lead to guillotines in the main square or hourly firing squads of "counter-revolutionaries"?

This "national Citizen's Assembly" part of Hallam's argument raises such concerns that I'm tempted to throw out his whole approach to climate activism and just hope that Extinction Rebellion fades away without growing strong enough to subject any actual society, even in a small nation, to some kind of anarchist/Maoist reign of terror.

Of course, it's reassuring to how remember how unlikely it is that Hallam's revolution will ever take place despite the ripeness of today's political climate for unpleasant surprises like Brexit and Trump.

I'm more reassured by the non-crazy tone of the rest of Hallam's methodology that I'm willing to cautiously accept many, if not all, of his prescriptions. Climate collapse is an urgent threat to civilization and governments have failed to act for 30 years. It's time to try something new. Some of what Hallam offers may be part of what we need to save our bacon.

[The Fantasy Review · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review backlog! Review to come soon.

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[Jake R · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good intro, just very short so it glosses over things quite quickly. Almost takes it for granted that you'll agree with everything he says and so he often doesn't back stuff up. Not saying that it isn't correct or supported by evidence, he just doesn't always explain or show you the evidence.

[Anarcouple]

I have immense respect for Roger Hallam given the huge impact he has had on Extinction Rebellion gaining momentum. He is a seasoned activist from whom we can learn a lot - especially on the logistics of organising mass mobilisation and publicity stunts. I especially appreciated his appeals to direct and participatory democracy. However, for someone who took inspiration from the Civil Rights movement among others, his oversight of the ways by which XR can alienate others took me aback. For instance, Hallam calls for designing meetings to be welcoming and inclusive for all to build a mass movement. However, Hallam says that criticism should be restricted to critical problems. While this correctly points out the issues with endless criticism which detracts from taking action, Hallam could benefit from some reflections on the liberal deliberative standards which can inflect this expectation and the risk of sweeping conflict under the rug rather than confronting it to strengthen groups. This reminds me of a disillusioned previous member who cites respectability politics as part and parcel with the downfall of Extinction Rebellion.

Hallam also calls for using “culturally neutral” messaging in a “universalist language” to build a mass movement, but this is problematic and suggestive of the primarily white middle class composition of environmental groups. Granted, this appears to be Hallam's way of encouraging reflexivity on cultural class signifiers to create an inclusive space, but is premised on the false belief that neutrality is truly possible. The same rings true for Hallam’s advice on how to engage with the police, which rings death to differential treatment by the police (i.e. communicate it's non-violent, meet with them beforehand). Hallam supposed that a “sophisticated” approach will prove successful in police negotiations and that meeting police brutality with “humour” and “grace” will successfully disarm officers. This all culminates in Hallam’s concluding appeal to Republicanism and Liberalism in a way which reeks of eurocentrism. His radicalism feels hollow when he makes room for a transitionary direct democracy whereby we retain the symbolic functioning of the monarchy and a parliament (albeit which is subsidiary to the national citizens assembly). Such suggestions bring forth an immense degree of scepticism that the establishment would ever concede such an arrangement when they won’t even allow for proportional representation currently.

Hallam propagates the mistaken belief that post-modernism amounts to little more than “presentation” rather than “reality”. His disconnect with poststructuralist thought is evident by his repeated appeals to scientism and rejection of “post-truth” politics in favour of his vision of objective reality. I get why, considering to corporate interests obscuring the climate crisis. But the text leaves much to be desired by way of nuance.]

Finally, the romanticisation of what Hallam refers to as a British political tradition of avoiding mass bloodshed during structural change is particularly blind to colonial violence during struggles for liberation. Amritsar does not forget the British wrath which met calls for structural change.

[Jake Marin · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an insightful outline for the kind of organization that we need around this issue, and as someone who is interested in climate activism, it was a great read.

That said, I cant help but feel that the outline Hallam proposes is not applicable on the scale that he claims it is. Hallam's ideas are informed by personal experience with climate activism and a historical civil rights context. But these claims that the kind of organization responsible for localized political and social changes can be applied to the global ecological crisis seem reductive and idealistic at best.

The ecological crisis is intertwined with major resource (food and energy) networks and distribution, currently wrapped up a in a powerful global corporate infrastructure, which Hallam plays down, and only briefly touches on. Redistributing, and fundamentally changing the global economy is what makes the ecological crisis so difficult to act on. We are talking about every person in the developed world drastically changing their lifestyles. A complete 180 socially and culturally in industrialized countries which currently use militarized police forces to shut down climate activism as they did at Standing Rock in the US.

This is an issue that no Citizen's Assembly, selected by sortition, will be able to resolve in the manner Hallam claims. It will not be done with a few hundred thousand people getting arrested. I support the sentiment, and a lot of Hallam's ideas are inspired and even approach poetic moments, but I think what he has here is an activist's field guide which will be part of a much bigger, and even more inclusive outline for how to end the ecological damage we are doing, and regenerate the Earth for future generations.

[Mothwing · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a very scary, but very direct book calling to global action and showing how that could... very easily be organised. Hallam introduces easy steps to organise protest and direct action that reminded me a lot of the things Graeber writes about Occupy, though they differ on the stance of the police.

It also answers my question why, in my very leftist town that prides itself on being very alternative and has a strong group organising Fridays for Future, the car plant, steel works, and head offices of our various aerospace companies remain very unimpeded. I am not pointing fingers, but it had always baffled me that this simply never happened. They're very easy to reach by public transport, and there are several very important roads going past them. But it makes sense, because most people in the middle class bubble would never dream of organising sit-ins.

And thus, fifty years of the gently affluent promotion of wasteless stores and organic cotton and cycling paths and voting green will very likely kill us just as dead as the excesses of the others the people in my own bubble are demonizing. This book is very good at showing that this is bigger than all of us and requires action decades years ago, and if not then, then now.

Throughout the book, Hallam writes that usually, a crisis is necessary to galvanise people into action, a crisis of the magnitude of a world war, say.

Here is it is, here is that crisis, as everybody I know is sitting at home due to a virus that's bringing all of our healthcare system to its knees world wide and I am wondering if it will be enough.

[Benjamin L Bachand · Rating 1 out of 5]

Not worth reading but I had to finish watching this train wreck. The book states the only way to defer what will be global catastrophe and billions of deaths due to climate change is to peacefully rebel and replace the government; there are no arguments for any other path. This is like suggesting the only way out of prison is by blowing it up.

The principle failures are primarily economic, political and thoroughness. First, individual self interest, why should I as a first world citizen act now for someone else’s future? Especially, when I benefit the most from current standard of living/consumption. The book is released and available primarily to those with this dilemma and it’s not addressed. Second, after the ‘rebellion’ when a single country is taking expensive action against climate change, what is the incentive for other countries to do the same? Reference prisoners dilemma and free-riding. Is there to be simultaneous rebellions in each country or will the new climate policies be ‘enforced’ by the new peaceful rebels? I think the end states of this ‘rebellion’ idea are either ineffective country specific actions or conflict in trying to globally enforce an economic climate agenda not accepted by other sovereign states. The fact the political ramifications of the suggested ‘rebellion’ are ignored is troubling. It’s like the communist manifesto suggesting action only in England.

[Terry Rankin · Rating 5 out of 5]

In March 2019, I joined Extinction Rebellion (XR) US and attempted to establish a local chapter in the Orlando FL area. That effort failed.

In November I read Roger's COMMON SENSE book and wholeheartedly reconnected with its message and vision. In early 2020, I joined the core team of XR America, the 'other' national XR movement and was able to work directly with Roger for a few months in that effort to establish a dynamic American branch of XR. My part in that effort also ultimately fell apart. But by then I had connected with some leading members of XR abroad, especially in the UK. XR grew rapidly and remains one of the top tier nonviolent activist movements in the world today.

My involvement with XR and Roger lapsed from mid-2022 until October 2023, when a call went out for establishing a leadership team to support and assist Roger and his protege Robin Boardman take the various movements they'd founded to the next level. I joined 'Roger's Helpers' team right away and remain today as a member of the core team of what is called now Revolution in the 21st Century ('Rev21').

COMMON SENSE persists as a seminal work for Roger's activist vision and his praxis for taking it to the streets in massive numbers. To stay current, visit rogerhallam.com regularly, and watch for new monographs to come, e.g., *50 Articles The Media Wouldn't Publish* just released on Amazon and available through his website (also one of My Books here in goodreads).

[Roger · Rating 3 out of 5]

A booklet that tries to be both a manifesto , a pamphlet and a guide.

As the author states, this book is intended to bring about the same movement that the "common sense" of Thomas Paine set to free the USA from oppression, but in here it is mildly exposed that instead of having a group of people as our enemies, now we have a complete worldwide neoliberal system that needs to be broken down to evolve into something better.

As for the pamphlet part the author, who were one of the main figures in the organization Extinction Rebellion, incentivizes to joiningt his organization as a means to push forward the needs of the society.

And a Guide as it lists some ideas and visions for what the future should have .

While being an informative read, sometimes the author loses himself in details, repetitions or going around the same matter, which should have been avoided since it increases the difficulty to keep reading until we get to the juicy parts.

While not having the same impact as it was wanted, it still have some of the most important concepts with which our societies will battle during this century: climate and democracy. and if we keep thinking that just our clickactivism is enough or waiting for the system to naturally change, it certainly will lead to a mass genocide to which we all are responsable

[Matt · Rating 3 out of 5]

Has the right urgency around the problem and lays out a lot of good reasons why inaction is not an option, but is unrealistic and overly optimistic about the post-rebellion plan which makes the objective of overthrowing the government pretty much a nonstarter. How would we expect to carry on with all the things that government does right, or at least more right than would be the case without government or with a nonfunctioning government? Expecting the formation of a new government and a peaceful handover by the old government is a bit of wishful thinking. Vote, vote, vote and demand action from politicians, invest in technology (most of it already existing), and demand that the companies you do business with, as a consumer or in business to business, are as focused on ESG as they are on financials (hint: success comes when pursuing both).

[Andrew · Rating 2 out of 5]

There are huge weaknesses in the current 'official' responses to Climate change but I cannot see the extreme measures proposed in this book as being effective either. Mr. Hallam wants the overthrow of governments, not just tacking Climate Change. Extinction Rebellion depends on the power of protesters being arrested but the evidence is that police forces keep the number of arrests at a minimum, taking away the power.
And how do you prevent peaceful protests becoming violent? The current protests in Hong Kong were initially all peaceful but have now turned violent. I think the author is naive to think that his proposals will turn out differently.
But I have to admire the efforts of Extinction Rebellion. The question is: What do I do with this admiration?

[Lazarus Orr · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read through this book very quickly. Even though I'm a big fan of Hallam, I also wanted more material to go over that fits with the theory of change and Extinction Rebellion ( for which Hallam is a co-founder). This book delivered all that and more. It's no non-sense, just like Hallam. There's nothing apologetic or fancy here. It's just material you can use to grow your local chapters, and inspire yourself and others to get organized, and rebel. Hallam's academic background make him the perfect delivery vehicle for this type of work. I hope he continues to publish, as Extinction Rebellion grows.

[Bryan Cebulski · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ehhh good intentions and some keen insights but Hallam lets corporate power off the hook way too easily by arguing that lack of proper environmental regulation is solely a government failure (it is on the surface, but public and private are way too entrenched not to address concurrently); he seems weirdly antagonistic to socialism (compares it to fascism in one offhand comment); and I think the George Floyd protests have shown concerted, massive nonviolent direct action does not necessarily make governments listen and respond well.

[marxiana · Rating 4 out of 5]

une vision et description claire sur la possible rébellion qui pourrait changer notre système.
comme l’auteur est anglais, il base sa description sur son pays, donc il y aurait quelques adaptations à faire si on veut appliquer sa théorie quelque part d’autre.
il donne des pistes de réflexion très interessantes.
en plus, le livre est simple à lire (langage démocratique we love)

let’s get to it.

[Jes Hancock · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked that this booklet not only called for action but also gave us a step by step plan for not only staging a rebellion but how to finance the change and what to do after the Rebellion to ensure it's prolonged success.

[James Duffy · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting and innovative outline of political nonviolence theory and motivating climate action. Last two chapters had me hooked, definitely a great read for anyone interested in power dynamics and climate catastrophes. Warning: will make you want to take to the streets.

[Jesse · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a fab instruction manual. Great to read alongside the new climate war. I would have like some more empirical evidence hence the -1 star. Thought provoking and a I think a reasoned call to action. I would be interested to hear what anarchists make of it.

[Erin Fletcher · Rating 4 out of 5]

- Good book to introduce people to civil resistance and the climate crisis
- I believe the author's positions on a few things have changed such as him stating that we are a movement of movements
- Four and not five stars because the writing could be clearer

[Steve Lawless · Rating 5 out of 5]

Important political action for our time. Inspired me to watch The Children's March.

[Jim Kennedy · Rating 5 out of 5]

The perfect guide for civil disobedience tactics in the age where they are most needed.