We are thrilled to announce our support for Extinction Rebellion (XR) Waverley & Borders by providing pro bono social media services to raise awareness for their critical initiatives. XR Waverley & Borders emerges from the union of XR Farnham and XR Godalming, two local chapters dedicated to fighting for climate and environmental justice.
Our primary focus is helping to amplify the message about The Big One, a massive event taking place from April 21–24. This nonviolent direct action will see 100,000 people gather outside the Houses of Parliament in London to hold politicians accountable for the climate and ecological crises.
The Big One invites everyone to "Unite to Survive" in a four-day action where people from various groups and movements, not just XR, will gather throughout Westminster and at the Houses of Parliament. The streets will come alive with People's Pickets outside government departments, a diverse program of speakers, performers, and workshops, all awash with colour and culture. There will be art and music, talks from experts, places to listen and engage, and activities for the kids.
In response to our assistance, XR Waverley & Borders Coordinator Chris Neill said:
"The support we're getting from the team at Avery and Brown is really important. We're ordinary people, volunteers with limited skills and resources doing what we can against the odds; so to have the help of professionals with the expertise and networks to help us spread our message has given us a massive boost."
The whole Avery & Brown team will be heading up to London on Friday, April 21st, which is the first day of The Big One. There wasn't even a discussion as to whether we would go or not; climate activism is a fundamental part of #OperationRegeneration – our strategy to be a regenerative business that gives back more to society and the planet than it takes.
On March 20th, 2023, the UN's scientific body on climate change, the IPCC, published its latest assessment report – "A Survival Guide for Humanity." This report, the last of its kind ahead of 2030, states very clearly that climate change is not a future threat, it's happening now. We are currently at around 1.1°C of warming and, with current climate policies, global average temperatures are projected to increase by 3.2°C by 2100. For a comprehensive summary of the report and to learn what actions businesses can take today, read this excellent article by Will Jenkins, Managing Director, Sustainability, Accenture.
Avery & Brown is wholeheartedly committed to supporting Extinction Rebellion in promoting The Big One and the wider crucial climate and environmental activism work they do. We will continue doing anything and everything we can to demonstrate that we 'walk the walk' on regenerative business practices, showing that even a small company can make a positive impact on society and the planet.
We call on other businesses to do the same. If we can do it, so can others; especially those with more resources and more money. There's no excuse. The hour is late, and urgent, radical climate action is required from everyone. The IPCC report could not state that any more clearly.
Will you be attending The Big One? >>
Let's come together and make our voices heard. Let's fight for our planet, our future, and our children's future. It's time for change, and it's time to act. We hope to see you outside the Houses of Parliament on Friday 21st April.