Wildfire Rebellion begins Monday, June 9, 2024 and will last several days (starting time between 12-15, exact time to be confirmed)
Location: Helsinki (city center)
The world's average temperature has exceeded the 1.5-degree limit defined in the Paris Climate Agreement for the second consecutive year. At this crucial moment, the government is cutting healthcare and culture, while pouring 4 billion into the very entities that are burning our future.
The government is not only breaking the climate law – it is dismantling the 2035 target. Due to excessive logging, Finland's forests have already become emission sources. The scientific community is calling for even faster emission cuts and logging restrictions. However, some government parties, supported by the Forest Industry, are backing away from the 2035 target. This is no longer just about forests, but whether we allow those in power to sacrifice our common future in the name of short-sighted profit-seeking.
We have the right to life, and that is why we rebel. History has shown that when politicians fail to take necessary actions, citizens can organize, take power back into their own hands, and change the direction of society. The storm has already risen and the time for warnings is over. We cannot stand by and watch as the conditions for our lives and the lives of billions of others are destroyed.
At this crucial moment, we have the right to protect ourselves and our future. It is time for non-violent resistance.
Political demands of Wildfire Rebellion:
In this emergency, the climate movement must also be able to raise its activities to a new level. That's why this summer we are putting forward more ambitious plans. In Storm Warning, we demonstrated the power of civil society. Over 3,000 of us concerned about the future participated, we tripled our participation numbers compared to previous events, and created the largest series of disobedient demonstrations in recent history! Now Wildfire Rebellion is being built on the successful foundation of Storm Warning.
There is widespread demand for stronger climate action! We know that up to 850,000 people in Finland are ready for civil disobedience and that a clear majority considers climate issues the top priority in politics. 10,000 participants is an inspiring number, and it is entirely possible to achieve. However, it requires each of us to step out of our comfort zones and invite our close circles to join. In Wildfire Rebellion, we are learning not only from our previous campaigns but also from Extinction Rebellion's most successful campaigns around the world.
We will begin the main demonstration of Wildfire Rebellion on Monday, June 9, by occupying Helsinki's streets with unprecedented numbers. By concentrating our forces in the same politically significant place and time, we will amplify our collective voice so strongly that it can no longer be ignored. We will use tactics familiar from last year, but this time there will also be much that is new! Plans will be further specified as registrations progress, but we already promise a historic spectacle of climate action that you won't want to miss!
You can participate in the demonstration as a demonstrator, in a support role, or as a support demonstrator. Demonstrators are required to complete Extinction Rebellion's civil disobedience preparation training (Join Elokapina Part 2).
Fast track training and new refresher sessions will be organized during the weekend before the demonstration and during the demonstrations, after which you can immediately join the demonstration. Those participating in support roles are required to complete either Join Elokapina Part 1 or Join Elokapina Part 2 training (Join 1 recommended). The registration platform will also guide you to participate in the necessary training directly during registration.
Acting in a support role or as a support demonstrator does not involve civil disobedience. Support demonstrating also does not require Join training. The best way to get information about different roles and how they work is to sign up, which will give you access to the right communication channels.
Non-violent civil disobedience practiced by large groups is perhaps the single most important factor when assessing movements' ability to influence and bring about social change. The right to demonstrate is broad, and street demonstrations are completely normal and legal in Finland. Based on the police's previous unlawful approach, however, those in the demonstrator role should be prepared for assembly law-violating evacuation orders, which we are ready to resist non-violently if necessary. If our message is not heard, or if our right to demonstrate is restricted, we are prepared for a record number of arrests to demonstrate the severity of the situation.
There is power in numbers – the more demonstrators on the streets, the harder it is for the police to arrest demonstrators and issue illegal fines. For the first time in a demonstration, we will use large-scale conditional participation in arrests, allowing us to coordinate a record number of people ready to be arrested in advance. You will receive a link for this after registration.
When there are hundreds of us ready to be arrested at the same time, we can stay on the streets for a long time, spark the necessary public discussion, and bring our demands to the highest political tables in the country.
Let's make this critical moment a turning point. Our future is being dismantled before our eyes. According to leading scientists, we have only a few years to change course. Rise up on June 9 together to defend our right to life and secure a viable world for our children and all future generations. ⧖
You can sign up for one or more of the following roles.
As a demonstrator, you are prepared to participate in a street-occupation demonstration that is protected by the Assembly Act. If the police continue their interpretation that contradicts the Assembly Act and issue an illegal order to leave or relocate, you are also prepared to resist this order by remaining in the street area and being detained. This shows that you do not accept the state's inaction regarding the climate crisis, nor its attempts to disperse or relocate climate demonstrations away from locations central to the protest's purpose.
Regarding detention readiness, Wildfire Rebellion is experimenting with a new tactic: conditional participation. This allows us to map in advance how many people would be prepared to participate in the demonstration with readiness to be detained. Ultimately, each demonstrator always decides their own detention readiness. However, previous demonstrations have shown clear evidence that it is more difficult and time-consuming for police to implement an Assembly Act-violating dispersal if the number of detention-ready demonstrators is large. This also achieves the best political impact.
When detention-ready, you are also prepared to accept the consequences of disobedience, including temporary deprivation of liberty in a holding cell, as well as a possible fine (typically fines for disobedience, approximately 10-20 day-fines). In some cases, charges have been dropped entirely. If charges are brought and the court rules against the demonstrators, fines will become payable approximately 1-2.5 years after the demonstration when the trial concludes.
A prerequisite for this role is that you have completed one of Extinction Rebellion's civil disobedience preparation trainings: the Join 2 training, or the Join Storm Warning training or quick training organized during Storm Warning. If you have previously attended training by another organization or movement, we recommend completing at least the 2.5-hour version of the Join 2 training.
This role has 250 participants so far.
A support demonstrator is involved in encouraging and supporting protesters who are ready to engage in civil disobedience. As a support demonstrator, you take part in a support demonstration, which is held in the immediate vicinity of the actual demonstration. However, you do not need to have any previous experience of protesting, nor do you need to be trained or prepared to be arrested. Support demonstrators play an important role in increasing the size and visibility of demonstrations and creating a safe atmosphere for other participants.
This role has 224 participants so far.
Arrestee Support personnel provide assistance to protesters immediately after their release from detention. They wait at the custody facility where detainees are taken, ensuring the well-being of those released by offering refreshments, information, and guidance. Custody Support also notifies the personal support contacts of those who have been released. Their work is an important community effort - in addition to providing practical help, their role involves being present and offering emotional support.
This role has 36 participants so far.
Police Contacts act as a link between protesters and the police, relaying messages back and forth and trying to prevent conflicts through constructive dialogue. Legal Observers monitor the actions of authorities, document events, and ensure the legal rights of protesters are upheld. These groups operate impartially towards both protesters and authorities, with the goal of facilitating a peaceful and lawful demonstration.
This role has 24 participants so far.
The Outreach and De-escalation group acts as a link between protesters and bystanders. Their role is to calm any frustrated bystanders, prevent conflict situations through dialogue, and clearly and politely communicate the purpose of the demonstration. The group shares information about the protest and invites passersby to join the movement. Openness, positivity, and strong interpersonal skills are key in this role.
This role has 43 participants so far.
The Well-being and First Aid group is responsible for ensuring the well-being and safety of protesters. The group includes general well-being personnel, first aid personnel, and harassment liaisons. During the demonstration, the group monitors the overall atmosphere and provides support, both mentally and physically, as needed. It also provides snacks, refreshments, and rest areas for demonstration participants. The role of the group is to create a safe and comfortable environment for all participants.
This role has 55 participants so far.