Should scientists be activists?
Scientific objectivity isn’t stopping researchers from standing up for what they believe in
Last autumn, amid the heavy rain and grey skies of London,UK, a climate revolution was on the horizon.
Extinction Rebellion (XR), an activist group who want policymakers and the public to face the climate crisis, were camping out in a wet Trafalgar Square.
During a program of coordinated activist events, protesters locked themselves to hearses, sprayed fake blood over the treasury, and plotted to fly drones over Heathrow.
Although these more theatrical acts of civil disobedience caught the most attention from the mainstream press, they were only the highlights of diverse activities across continents. Green-fingered members planted trees in Wellington, New Zealand, while Indian XR members gathered at Bhopal’s upper lake and read Greta Thunberg’s infamous speech. In the middle of Pennsylvania, USA, Black Lives Matter and XR healthcare workers connected health with the climate crisis, and offered blood pressure screening.
And now, over 1500 scientists have signed a declaration in support of XR’s aims, with the number keeping increasing.