Banksy pays tribute to Extinction Rebellion

A potential Banksy mural has appeared overnight in Marble Arch, where Extinction Rebellion (XR) activists set up camp for ten days of protests.

Though not confirmed by Banksy himself, the protestors believe the painting is indeed a gift from the elusive artist. The mural depicts a child holding an XR banner next to a freshly planted sapling, with the words: ‘From this moment despair ends and tactics begin’.

XR tweeted: “New #Banksy appeared at Marble Arch site of #ExtinctionRebellion last night: ‘From this moment despair ends and tactics begin. Despair is the infantile disorder of the revolutionaries of everyday life.’ Quote from Raoul Vaneigem’s The Revolution of Everyday Life, 1967.”

Though the London protest has come to a close, Banksy has memorialised the historic movement in this new work. According to the BBC, the protestors are working to preserve the piece, which is a poignant symbol of what Extinction Rebellion achieved over their ten day campaign.

Showing no signs of slowing down after their occupation of London landmarks, the campaigners are set to release a handbook on becoming an Extinction Rebellion activist. Titled This Is Not A Drill, the handbook will contain two parts; the first will focus on understanding the climate emergency and the widespread denial of it, while the second part will feature stories from those experiencing the effects of climate change first hand, including a Himalayan farmer, and a firefighter in California.

Featuring contributions from Green Party MP Caroline Lucas, and former archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams, the book has now been given an ‘emergency’ release by Penguin. Reportedly going from manuscript to printers in just ten days, the book is due for release on June 3. It will be printed on carbon neutral paper in a paper mill that plants two trees for every one it uses.

After XR’s ten day campaign, teen activist, and figurehead of the movement Greta Thunberg met with MPs including Jeremy Corbyn, Caroline Lucas, Vince Cable, and Ian Blackford. The group aims to continue raising awareness of the climate emergency and demanding change, still encouraging their rebels to protest against corporations damaging the climate. Most recently, XR are asking “rebels and Londoners” to camp out in protest of the HS2 railway plans. Their protest might be over, but they’re far from giving up.