Rebellion tips

⧖ Campaign info call 1.6.! Come hear about exciting new plans and find your place in the rebellion on 1.6. from 14-15 (2-3 PM), no registration needed: join the info call here

⧖ Med i Elokapina, del 2: Civil olydnad-utbildning på lördag 31.5.! Dessa utbildningar är sällsynta, berätta dina svensktalande vänner! Anmäl dig här!

In this newsletter

⧖ Theme: Wildfire Rebellion's theory of change

⧖ Shared rides to Wildfire Rebellion 9.6. - registration is now open!

⧖ Accommodation information for Wildfire Rebellion participants

⧖ Prepare for the Wildfire Rebellion campaign – NVDA trainings available!

⧖ Upcoming Join XR Finland 1 onboardings

⧖ Support role onboardings to join supporting Wildfire Rebellion!

⧖ During PUUhaviikko, we rebelled against forest destruction

⧖ LEIKKAUSVIRHE demonstration blocked traffic on Mannerheimintie

⧖ Join Wildfire Rebellion's logistics group!

⧖ 45+? Come for coffee and get to know us!

Ice sheets are collapsing in western Antarctica, ocean currents that regulate our climate are grinding to a halt, and the window of time in which we can act is already closing. Even here in Finland, we have slipped into a situation where a handful of politicians pursuing their own interests deny both our responsibility as part of the global north and the catastrophic consequences of the climate crisis for ourselves.

However, the majority of our country's population understands the severity of the situation and agrees with us. Hidden forces for change therefore exist, and when scientists, legal experts, former ministers, and thousands of citizens are in agreement, even the most apathetic politicians are forced to react.

Power belongs to the people everywhere: on Pacific islands disappearing beneath the waves, in the Amazon forests, in cities choking on fossil industry pollution, and in global south communities that suffer most from the climate crisis.

We are all united by the same planet, the same atmosphere, and the same need for justice. When we act in Finland, we act in solidarity with those frontline communities that have been fighting this battle for decades.

Now is the time to defend democracy – not just for our own sake, but as part of a global movement for justice. We act now so that our children will have a future.

Finland at a critical crossroads

Earlier this year, devastating news made headlines: Finland's forests have changed from a carbon sink to a source of emissions. On paper, the government promises to protect our future, but its actions blatantly violate climate law. Decision-makers continue to pursue a line contrary to the Paris Agreement and are driving us at full speed toward climate catastrophe.

The gap between necessary climate action and current policy continues to widen, even though the ongoing crisis is the greatest in history and time is running out. 

Right now the government is preparing a new climate strategy, and Wildfire Rebellion's timing is therefore really important!

In addition to accelerating the climate crisis, the government's policy threatens our country's entire welfare system. A society of human values created through the work of many generations is now being dismantled blatantly before our eyes.

Therefore, in the Wildfire Rebellion campaign we demand that:

1. Cut subsidies for destruction, not the future! Everyone must have the right to livelihood, healthcare and social services, education and culture. Cuts must be targeted at the four billion euros worth of subsidies harmful to the environment and climate.
2. The climate law must not be repealed! Climate catastrophe is accelerating – we cannot under any circumstances abandon the 2035 carbon neutrality goal. Finland must do its part so that global climate justice is realized.
3. Stop forest destruction, let natural forests grow! Logging must be returned to sustainable limits, as our forests must be a carbon sink, not a source of emissions.​​​ Forest biodiversity must be saved.​

When the system becomes overloaded, it must change

This is our opportunity: thousands of people occupying Helsinki's streets – not just for a few hours, but for several days. We create a spectacle that politicians simply cannot ignore and remind them where real power comes from. We overload the system's ability to continue "business as usual" by blocking our capital's center.

This is not wishful thinking. When Extinction Rebellion brought over 10,000 protesters to London and continued to apply pressure, the British government declared a climate emergency. In the Netherlands, the government began making plans to phase out fossil subsidies within days in a similar situation.

Now it's time to dare to act in Finland too!

• Science is the foundation of our action – the global scientific community and 12 former environment and climate ministers agree with us
• The law is on our side – the Supreme Administrative Court has indicated that future appeals about the government's inadequate climate action may succeed
• Our timing is perfect – the government is finalizing its climate strategy right during Wildfire Rebellion's demonstrations
• We have real commitment – over 800 have already signed up and are prepared if necessary for civil disobedience and arrest by police

We challenge at least 10,000 citizens to join us on the streets!

The idea is simple: you commit to civil disobedience if 10,000 others also commit!

How many people have we heard say "I would join if others would too"? How many are waiting on the sidelines, ready to act but hesitant to act alone?
The 10 000 challenge is their safety net – it can unleash massive hidden support across the country!

When we have several thousand on the streets, we achieve:

• the largest act of civil disobedience in Nordic history
• significant political pressure that demands answers
• a breakthrough moment whose preconditions we have been building for years

In other words: the 10 000 challenge is for those who don't feel safe enough committing to civil disobedience with 150, 400 or 1000 others.

Ten thousand people is too many to be arrested - imagine the May Day demonstration sitting down on the street! That's why partaking in 10 000 challenge is safe for anyone.

Bring the 10 000 challenge to your close ones and friends who haven't yet dared to rebel!

Veteran rebels, this moment is decisive!

If you have been part of the rebellion from the beginning, you have seen how far we have come. Today XR Finland is known throughout Finland, we are followed both on social media and in traditional media, and our message is being heard. Articles, films, music and memes have been made about us.

Our activities are already on a scale that is unprecedented in Finland. We understand the true gravity of the situation and therefore we have not only the right but also the duty to rebel until the future is secured.

We know that:

• "We are 89%": the majority of the world's citizens support stronger climate action
• 60% of Finns consider climate to be even a top political issue​​​​
• 15% of Finns would be ready for civil disobedience for the climate

Your support and commitment have built the foundation for this moment. XR Finland's uncompromising stance, regenerative culture and community spirit are the key to change both in short-term politics and in the attitude climate of the entire society.

This is not about restarting, but about scaling up everything we have learned to the level that this crisis demands!

Action timeline

June 5th: The Fire Alarm festival launches Wildfire Rebellion!
Come with us to XR Finland's first rebellious festival to listen to music, speeches and experience community! Performing at the rebellion festival are F, Elsi Sloan, Sepikka, Saarisalo, Rebekka Holi, Suistamon Sähkö, Nupu, Willamomafia and a surprise artist! The whole family rebellion festival emphasizes XR Finland's core: life as an intrinsic value and sustainability as a way of life.

June 9th: Wildfire Rebellion actions begin!
Over 800 people have committed to being arrested if necessary - and possibly thousands of others will join them through the 10,000 challenge! We are renewing Finland's protest culture: when there are enough people ready for arrest, the police can no longer arrest us all at once. Our demonstrations last longer, we further increase public discussion about the climate and environmental crisis and build pressure on decision-makers who are destroying our wellbeing that they cannot ignore.

June 10-11: Spectacle!
When thousands of demonstrators occupy Helsinki for several days, countless people will come to see what happens. Many will join in on the spot. Media attention grows, political pressure builds up.

...and finally: Our demands are met!
We move from the streets to negotiation rooms when critical mass forces the government to negotiate.

Restoring living democracy to our everyday lives

We live in times when authoritarianism is rising in various parts of the world. People feel powerless against large corporations and distant politicians. But this is not the only possible story!

We have the opportunity to rewrite the story so that ordinary people remember their power again and dare to use it. Democracy is not something that is given to us, but our common reality and society that we all actively create together.

When thousands of citizens are ready for arrests for the climate, it's about more than just demanding political change. We demonstrate concretely that ordinary people still have the power to influence and change their own future.

Why do arrests matter?

• They build sympathy and make people question a system where those who defend the future are threatened
• They mobilize new supporters when our actions strengthen people's commitment
• They change the public narrative: instead of protesters blocking streets, the story becomes about how those in power suppress the voices of those defending the climate.

However, arrests are not an end in themselves for us, but something we accept as an unfortunate necessity. From independence struggles to workers' rights – Finnish democracy has always been advanced by people who, during structural crises, peacefully resist unjust laws while accepting the consequences of their actions. This is a tradition that reflects deep respect for law and justice.

Possible arrests demonstrate how seriously ordinary people experience the climate crisis and how inadequately our decision-makers respond to scientific facts and democratic will of the people. We remain always committed to peaceful action and respect law enforcement officers, but we simultaneously call on those in power to direct their attention to the real emergency: the climate crisis that threatens our children's future.

Justice doesn't happen by itself...

...it happens because people like us choose to change history.

As Martin Luther King Jr. reminded us: "The arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice". Our moment to bend that arc is now! Whether you're ready for arrest or supporting in other ways, you are needed!

The more of us there are, the more certain we are to achieve our goals. So tell your family, friends and buddies that they can join in whatever way they want, in any form of demonstration. The most important thing is to be there with us!

Are you ready to join the demonstrations? Sign up now - over 800 have already done so.

Do you know someone who is hesitant about participating? Share the 10,000 challenge with them. It will be published this week and it could multiply our impact.

Can't commit to arrest? Join the supporters. Every successful action needs wellness people, legal support, childcare as well as amplifying the message on social media and elsewhere. Support demonstrators can at best multiply the size of the demonstration and show how broad a group is behind our demands. 

Let's remember that this isn't about getting arrested for the sake of arrest!
It's about using our bodies and voices to create the political pressure needed for real change.
Everyone who shows up matters, every story told matters, every mind changed matters. Together we cannot be stopped!

See you on the streets!

With rage and above all love,
Wildfire Rebellion team

Prepare for the Wildfire Rebellion campaign – civil disobedience trainings available!

Want to be part of a historic campaign? Now is the perfect time to secure your place by attending a civil disobedience training!

We are organizing a record number of 4-hour civil disobedience trainings (Join 2) during spring, so that everyone who wants to can participate in Wildfire Rebellion demonstrations and get the necessary skills. In the training you will get comprehensive onboarding to nonviolent direct action, your rights as a demonstrator, and XR Finland's action culture.

Participation doesn't commit you to anything – you can also come to learn for general education. The training also forms affinity groups with which you can safely participate in the Wildfire Rebellion campaign.

May trainings

• Thu 29.5. 4:00-8:00 PM IN HELSINKI (Animal Rebellion)
• Fri 30.5. 5:00-9:00 PM IN HELSINKI
• Sat 31.5. 1:00-5:00 PM IN HELSINKI & ONLINE (in Swedish)
• Sat 31.5. 5:00-9:00 PM ONLINE

June trainings

• Mon 2.6. 5:00-9:00 PM IN TAMPERE
• Tue 3.6. 5:00-9:00 PM IN HELSINKI
• Sat 7.6. 4:30-8:30 PM IN HELSINKI

More trainings are coming in May and June including in Helsinki, Tampere, also in Swedish and English! Check all dates and register: kulovalkea.me

After the training you are ready to participate in demonstrations in all roles!

Note: Register at least 24 hours before the training. Confirmation message with location details will be sent at the latest the day before the training.

Upcoming Join XR Finland 1 onboardings

In the onboardings, you'll learn about XR Finland's activities, meet others concerned about the climate crisis, and get involved in the movement.

May Onboardings

• Sat 31.5. 15:30–18:00 in HELSINKI

June Onboardings

• Tue 3.6. 17:30–20:00 ONLINE
• Wed 4.6. 18:00–21:00 in HELSINKI (Middle-Class Rebellion and 45+, all spots full)
• Fri 6.6. 18:00–20:30 ONLINE
• Sat 7.6. 13:00–15:30 in HELSINKI
• Sun 8.6. 10:30–12:30 in HELSINKI
• Sun 8.6. 13:00–15:30 in HELSINKI

Support role onboardings to strengthen Wildfire Rebellion!

Less than a week until the Kulohälytys festival kicks off Wildfire Rebellion! Both the festival and the June 9th demonstration need plenty of people in support roles to ensure the protest runs smoothly and safely. You don’t need to commit to the whole event—just sign up for a shift and enjoy the atmosphere or join the protest before or after your role.

Come to a support role onboarding to learn more! There are still two support role onboardings before Wildfire Rebellion. The onboarding starts with a joint session, after which participants break into small groups based on roles. We need many people for these roles, so feel free to join and learn—signing up doesn’t mean you have to take a shift!

Final Support Role Onboardings:

Mon 2.6. 18:00–20:00, ONLINE and IN-PERSON, all roles
Register here.

Sun 8.6. 13:00–15:00, IN-PERSON (Helsinki), all roles
Register here.

More up-to-date information on support role onboardings in the Element room Elokapina | Announcements!

Questions? Ask user @orangiina on Element!

During PUUhaviikko, people rebelled against forest destruction

During Elokapina's PUUhaviikko, organized across the country on May 16–22, protests took place in Oulu at the Stora Enso factory, in Kuopio at the Haapaniemi power plant, in Tampere at the Tampere Energy power plant, in Helsinki in front of the Finnish Forest Industries Federation, and in Äänekoski at the Metsä Group factory.

Actors in the forest industry are responsible for the current situation in which our forests have shifted from being carbon sinks to sources of emissions, and biodiversity loss is accelerating. The forest industry's impact on Finland's net emissions is greater than that of the technology, chemical, and energy industries combined. Finland will not reach its international emission reduction targets or its land use sector goals, which will cause costs in the billions. Yet the government 1) does not intend to limit logging volumes, 2) supports both the forest industry and burning forests for heat with millions in subsidies, and 3) has weakened forest protection.

The forest industry also receives special treatment from the government regarding biodiversity targets: the government set criteria for protecting old-growth forests so strict that according to their age limits, only 9.3% of forests in Southern Finland and 13.6% in Northern Finland qualify. Internationally, however, Finland has promised to protect 30% of its land area and halt biodiversity loss by 2030.

The gap between actions and promises is unsustainable.
We continue our rebellion for the forests at Kulovalkea!

LEIKKAUSVIRHE demonstration marched and blocked Mannerheimintie

On Monday, May 26th, Sotekapina stopped traffic in Helsinki on Mannerheimintie in front of Kiasma and demanded the government reverse cuts to the social and healthcare sector. In a performance on the roadway in front of Kiasma, social and healthcare professionals collapsed exhausted onto the street while figures representing Orpo and Purra waved scissors.

Social and healthcare students and professionals participated, demanding a change in government policy, as the cuts are collapsing public services. Instead of cutting social and healthcare services and social security, the government must make a different value choice and target cuts at environmentally harmful corporate subsidies. The wellbeing services counties must adjust their budgets by €3.5 billion between 2024–2026. At the same time, the state distributes nearly €4 billion annually to activities that damage the environment.

The demonstration highlighted that the latest €170 million cuts by Petteri Orpo’s government to social and healthcare services especially affect low-income families with children, those in child protection, people with disabilities, and the elderly. At the same time as cuts have led to layoffs in the wellbeing services counties, the government has decided to use tax revenue to increase Kela reimbursements for private doctor visits and lower income taxes for the highest earners.

Sotekapina will continue demonstrating in June as part of Elokapina’s Kulovalkea campaign!

 Join the Wildfire Rebellion logistics team!

Do you enjoy transporting things from one place to another? As a logistics person, you'll be moving all kinds of items (like festival tents, food, or sound equipment) to wherever they’re needed during your shift. Transport is done by bicycle as well as by car and van. You can also help set up program tents and sound systems.

Are you available on June 5th or between June 9th–11th?
Send a private message on Element to @morton

45+? Come for coffee and get to know us!

Elokapina’s 45+ community group — for those who see themselves as middle-aged or older — is having a coffee meetup on Monday, June 2nd, from 18:00 to 20:00 at the café downstairs in Oodi Library, Helsinki. You’re warmly welcome to come meet us in a low-threshold setting. Feel free to invite or bring along anyone interested in Elokapina.

Warm greetings & welcome!

45+ External Coordinator @havunen
45plus@elokapina.me

With rage, and above all, with love