Trond Blindheim claims in a feature on news that “climate activists can take it easy” because “consumers on a savings flare” are unlikely to set new sales records during this year’s Black Friday. That is probably true, but his argument shows that climate activists are more necessary than ever. Talking about consumption is perceived as moralizing. Nevertheless, we need a social debate about material overconsumption, without people experiencing it as a personal attack. Of course we should be allowed to buy things we want, but our planet simply cannot tolerate us getting everything we want. You have a responsibility to make a clear distinction between what you really need and what you can do just fine without. If it’s tight in the wallet and you have to have something on sale – drive on. I – and other climate activists – have more important things to worry about. If there is one thing that unites climate activists, it is the focus on system change, not “environmentally conscious consumption”. We need new systems that look after our ecological foundation that nourishes and sustains everything we love; democracy, food, water, social trust and our economy. The climate movement has long since abandoned a moral finger pointing towards individual consumption. At the same time, Blindheim’s argument shows the need for climate activists. His analysis is purely economic; less money, less consumption. However, the climate and nature crisis requires more than economic and technological solutions, the crisis also requires a deeper change in values. Consumption change is difficult because habits create our social reality; high consumption is the norm and because we want to fit in and participate, there is a great fear of breaking with established practice. When consumption has increased through the pandemic and the average Norwegian has 350 items of clothing in his closet, we need climate activists – along with everyone else – to create new norms, values and practices that distinguish between necessary consumption and overconsumption. Instead of recognizing the importance of new norms, Blindheim’s chronicle is an absurd amalgamation of stereotypes that stigmatize us climate activists. Extinction Rebellion Ung has secondary school students, kindergarten staff, student teachers and documentary makers. We are a diverse group that cannot be reduced to “an academic elite” from an “idealistic upper class”. I was born and raised in Greenland in Oslo, where poverty and war experiences have been central from the very beginning. Do not reject our seriousness and the sting in the injustice of the future we inherit by putting us climate activists in a constructed booth that many find it comfortable that we are in. I am sick of the view and the stigmatization of climate activists. We have become a target because we put our finger on our collective cognitive dissonance. Incitement and threats of violence are the price we have to pay. Rather, let’s direct the critical questions and frustration at those who are actually exacerbating the climate and nature crisis – oil companies and nature-destroying projects – not us climate activists who are desperately trying to hold these forces accountable for the wrongs they commit. FOLLOW THE DEBATE:
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The globe can’t stand us buying everything we want – Speech
