Talking About Extinction on the Subway
If you are a rebel with Extinction Rebellion NYC, Richard and Kyle’s subway talk training is not to be missed.
Speaking climate truth underground where people are busy commuting is a powerful act that requires courage, determination and a strong voice that will carry far.
The time for buying a bamboo toothbrush has passed.- Richard McLachlan
The most important thing we can do is talk with one another. This intuitive notion that inspired Richard to create the Subway talk tactic is actually backed by research from the Yale Program on Climate Change Communication.
People want this information. Not everyone has the luxury of time and access to be able to see environmental celebrities like Greta Thunberg or Naomi Klein speak. They might not even know these high profile climate heroes. We can bring their message to them in the subway.
It is an unusual action to raise your voice and launch into this sort of one sided conversation in a noisy fast moving subway car. Richard and Kyle advise us to write a short and sharp script to practice from. Using words that easily roll off of your tongue. Think of them as bumper stickers, a series of punchlines designed to wake passengers out of their cell phone trances.
Things like:
POLAR ICE CAPS ARE MELTING
The last five years were the hottest ever recorded.
Superstorms like Sandy, Maria and Dorian are happening more than before.
We are in a CLIMATE EMERGENCY
There is no need to be a climate scientist to state these facts. We’ve just got to own them. It also helps to share a little humility.
I never thought I’d find myself shouting in public on a train. But this is an EMERGENCY.
After Richard demonstrated his subway talk, each of us crafted a short subway script. We stood up and rehearsed our scripts in front of the group. Others gave positive feedback in this safe, supported space. Writing is different than speaking. We tweaked our words and head underground.
The trains are LOUD! People are looking downward into their devices. It quickly becomes clear that you are invading a private space. But hey, this is public space. And this is an EMERGENCY. An emergency that needs to be talked about.
One by one, we take turns giving our talks between stops, changing cars at each station. You want to make sure you have enough time to finish your mini speech before the doors open. Fellow rebels hand out XR flyers while you speak, their presence is helpful and supportive.
Each talk finished up with a mention of XR’s Global Revolution on October 7th, an invitation to join us and a thank you for listening. Many times, the car breaks into applause at the end of the talk.
I let lots of other rebels speak before I got up the nerve to give my subway talk. Considering I am comfortable with public speaking, I was surprised to find myself trembling at this task. Our cultural programing discourages shouting, especially if you are female. It took every molecule of oxygen in my lungs to deliver my message to every inch of the subway car. I yelled each line as loud as I could to make myself heard over the chatter and the train noises. I noticed halfway through my speech that some people were filming me. A few others looked up from their phones. They were paying attention. They took the flyers that my fellow rebels handed out.
Afterwards, body shook with adrenaline and relief. This was telling the truth and acting as if the truth were real. My words still need work. With every opportunity to speak I trust they will get better.
Tomorrow I’ll be speaking out on the Metro North commuter train on the way down to the Youth Climate Strike. The trains are quieter than the NYC subway and I suspect that the suit wearing commuters are not concerned about climate emergency. Here’s hoping I can inspire some to wake up and join the rebellion.
