Is Civil Disobedience Necessary?

We are, without a doubt, in a time of climate collapse. 2024 was the hottest year in human history, breaking the record set by 2023. In the United States within the past 5 months, hurricanes have devastated the southeastern part of the country, claiming over 250 human lives. Since January 7, wildfires have destroyed more than 18,000 structures in California, forcing tens of thousands of people from their homes. Meanwhile, President Trump has released a slew of executive orders that "directed agencies to open up more areas for oil drilling and mining, halt permits for wind farms and end subsidies for electric vehicles."

If all of the above wasn't concerning enough, billionaires have taken the United States hostage. After billionaire families contributed roughly 18% of all money raised during the 2024 election cycle, at least 25 of them have been given cabinet positions. According to Public Citizen, "The collective net worth of Trump’s top appointees is reportedly estimated to exceed $460 billion, including Elon Musk’s $400 billion net worth." For reference, President Biden's cabinet's collective net worth sat around $118 million. These oligarchs appear to be executing a full government takeover while the climate crisis explodes.

That being said, the billionaires are outnumbered in America at 806 billionaires to 335 million others. All signs point to revolution. Just 806 individuals now control 57 percent more wealth than the 65 million households comprising the poorer half of the population. For perspective, in France just before the Revolution of 1789, the wealth possessed by the top 1 percent was also slightly under 60 percent.

It's been proven that small individual actions like recycling won't turn the tide of the climate crisis, although they certainly don't hurt. The true force for survival change lies with world governments and corporations, and non-violent direct action has proven to be the way to do it. Erica Chenoweth, a political scientist at Harvard University, confirmed with studies that civil disobedience is "not only the moral choice; it is also the most powerful way of shaping world politics – by a long way." According to David Robson at the BBC, "Nonviolent protests are twice as likely to succeed as armed conflicts – and those engaging a threshold of 3.5% of the population have never failed to bring about change."

It's time to ask the question: At what point does it become a moral imperative for all of humankind to participate in civil disobedience to demand that those in power take immediate action to mitigate the worst results of the crisis? Has that point already passed? If so, what would an effective uprising look like? If we don’t participate in that uprising, even in a small way, can we consider ourselves “good people”?

As we enter this new era of open opposition to facing the climate emergency, we must consider their own complicity in the success or failure of the planet's future, beyond the basic environmental actions that are currently de rigueur in western society. Are we "good people" anymore for simply recycling? In a time of collapse and oppression, does "goodness" require more drastic action?

Are you Ready to Rebel?

XR Boston regularly hosts free online Non-Violent Direct Action (NVDA) trainings, and you can always access the full list of upcoming NVDA trainings here: https://xrboston.org/action/?tag=nvda. During a NVDA training, you'll become familiarized with direct action theory, discuss the process of preparing for and executing arrestable actions, and learn about the many non-arrestable ways to support direct action. Once you've received NVDA preparation, you'll be ready to join XR Boston in safe non-violent civil disobedience!