XR BOSTON’S “FUNERAL FOR NATURE” PROCESSION

Who: Massachusetts members of the international environmental movement Extinction Rebellion (XR), who made national news by shutting down morning traffic in Boston last September, who staged multiple sit-ins at the State House last year in Governor Healey's office, the House chamber, and Senate chamber, and have had an ongoing Stand-Out at the State House for nearly a year protesting the Healey administration's negligence with respect to climate change.

What: XR Boston invites everyone to The Funeral for Nature in downtown Boston on Saturday April 20. The event will feature the Red Rebels, the Boston Area Brigade of Activist Musicians (BABAM) marching band, members of XR Boston, and the Puppet Free Library. There will be periodic die-ins by participants, and a funeral procession featuring seahorse puppets. 

The Boston action is part of a global observation that includes funeral processions taking place simultaneously in England, Australia, Sweden and Portugal. 

The Red Rebel Brigade is an international performance artivist troupe dedicated to illuminating the global environmental crisis. It supports groups and organizations fighting to save humanity and all species from mass extinction. The Reds serve as a physical manifestation of climate grief, wearing red to symbolize the life force that connects all living things.The troupe was formed as part of the Extinction Rebellion Spring Uprising in April 2019, and has been growing in numbers and recognition ever since. (https://redrebelbrigade.com/) 

UK Red Rebel organizer Doug Francisco says of the global Funeral for Nature: “There is no better time to act than right now. It is clear that we are in a crisis and there are no second chances - we have to do something immediately. We hope that this demonstration, in its beauty and urgency, will incite action in more cities across the world. We want to see Red Rebels on streets across the globe, spreading the message that if we don’t act now, we won’t be able to act at all!”

Where: The parade starts at the Public Garden entrance at the intersection of Boylston and Arlington Streets in Boston’s Back Bay near the green line Arlington MBTA station

When: Saturday April 20 at 2 pm

Why: Global organizers planned this event to coincide with Earth Week to highlight that we are at a tipping point for nature. Around the world, biodiversity is being annihilated at a terrifying rate. We are entering the ‘sixth mass extinction’ event and the consequences will be catastrophic if we do not act swiftly. In spite of promises from governments, biodiversity loss proceeds at a rapid pace.

The World Wildlife Foundation reports that “human-driven global warming is changing the natural world, driving mass mortality events as well as the first extinctions of entire species. Every degree of warming is expected to increase these losses.” (p 4) “Though natural cycles and fluctuations have caused the earth’s climate to change several times over the last 800,000 years, our current era of global warming is directly attributable to human activity—specifically to our burning of fossil fuels such as coal, oil, gasoline, and natural gas” (NRDC)

Despite Governor Maura Healey's 2023 executive order directing the state to develop biodiversity goals for 2030, 2040, and 2050, local biodiversity loss shows no sign of slowing. Massachusetts has made no mention of embracing 30/30, a worldwide initiative which would protect 30% of the planet’s oceans, land, and freshwater by 2030. XR Boston demands that Massachusetts tell the truth about the climate crisis by declaring a climate and ecological emergency now. The government must take immediate action to halt biodiversity loss and to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to net zero by 2025.

“Clearly not enough is being done about biodiversity loss. Locally in Massachusetts, saying no to new fossil fuel infrastructure and immediately setting aside at least 30% of the state for wildlife habitation would be a good first step towards addressing this crucial issue” stated Boston Red Rebel organizer Kathleen Scharf.

Susan Lemont, XR Boston spokesperson, added, “I don’t know what Maura Healey is waiting for. The science is clear. Massachusetts must address biodiversity loss now. We have no time to lose” 

Event Details: Funeral procession, Red Rebels, BABAM marching band, die-ins

Photo and Video Drive: 2024.04.20 Funeral for Nature

PRESS CONTACT:

Susan Lemont  lemontsusan@gmail.com, 781 307 0143

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Extinction Rebellion Boston is an autonomous chapter of the international grassroots movement, Extinction Rebellion (XR), which started in London in 2018. The purpose of XR is to tell the truth about how dire the ecological and climate crises are and spark immediate action in order to prevent climate and ecological collapse. We aim to mobilize people around the world to utilize nonviolent direct action to demand that governments take radical action to avert societal collapse caused by widespread climate and ecological disaster and to protect frontline communities, biodiversity, and the natural world. This movement is non-political and unites all of humanity behind a singular goal of a just and livable future for all. Learn more about Extinction Rebellion at: xrboston.org

XR Boston’s recruiting, training, and capacity building is supported by the Climate Emergency Fund, which strategically supports ultra-ambitious organizations demanding solutions to the climate crisis at emergency speed.