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Affinity groups are small groups of people who organise and take action together. They’ve proven to be effective at enhancing activist support, sustainability and safety. At their core, they are small groups of people who trust each other and have similar views on their preferred types and levels of actions.
During this event we will facilitate the formation of affinity groups. Come alone or with your friends! There will also be time for a short introduction to XR (new member should come at 18.30) and a short presentation of the "Salon of Lies action".
Les groupes d'affinité sont de petits groupes de personnes qui s'organisent et agissent ensemble. Ils se sont avérés efficaces pour renforcer le soutien, la durabilité et la sécurité des militants. Il s'agit de petits groupes de personnes qui se font confiance et qui ont des points de vue similaires sur les types et les niveaux d'action qu'elles préfèrent.
Au cours de cet événement, nous faciliterons la formation de groupes d'affinité. Venez seul ou avec vos amis ! Il y aura aussi du temps pour une courte introduction à la XR (les nouveau membres devront venir à 18h30) et une courte présentation de l'action "Salon des mensonges".
08/01: 19h00 @Boom Café, Rue Pletinckx 7, 1000 Bruxelles (event in French)
09/01: 19h00 @Fabrik, rue du Moulin 85-89, St-Josse (event in EN/FR)
11/01: 13h30 @Ades'if, rue de Liedekerke 71, St-Josse (event in French)
13/01 19h00 @Fabrik, rue du Moulin 85-89, St-Josse (event in English)
12/01 10h-17h Actietraining (Non Violent Direct Action Training)
Step 1: Please check on your buddy (give a quick call) after the action and follow up on your affinity group. Bel vandaag nog je buddy en check even hoe het gaat na de actie. Volg ook je affiniteitsgroep op. S'il vous plaît, vérifiez ton buddy (donnez un appel ) après l'action et Surveillez également ton groupe d'affinité.
Step 2: If you need first line psychological support after the autosalon action, you can call one of these rebels: Als je eerstelijns psychologische steun kan gebruiken na de autosalon actie, dan kan je terecht bij deze rebellen: Si tu as besoin de soutien psychologique, suite Ă l'action au autosalon, tu peux contacter ces rebelles
Nele (Nederlands) 0486 78 72 17
GertJan (Nederlands) 0499 48 09 34
Aga (English) 0048784071011
Judit (English) 0468 08 75 91
Sophie (Français) 0475 36 43 35
Vincent (Français) 0456 13 68 04
Ce samedi 18 janvier 2020, Extinction Rebellion Belgium a organisé une action de désobéissance civile de masse au Salon de l'auto 2020, "Salon des Mensonges", pour dénoncer l’impact de l’industrie automobile sur l'aggravation de la crise climatique et écologique.
Environ 185 personnes ont été arrêtées, et environ 250 rebelles ont participé à des actions décentralisées durant l'événement.
On s’étonne tout d’abord du fait que la police a arrêté un certain nombre de personnes en-dehors du Salon, qu'elle ait arrêté une porte-parole d’Extinction Rebellion, empêchant ainsi les journalistes de faire leur travail. On s’étonnera tout autant que des photos des visages des personnes arrêtées aient été prises malgré le refus persistant de bon nombre d’entre elles et qu’une personne (au moins) ait été brutalisée par la police. Nous reviendrons plus tard sur ces événements.
Aujourd’hui, nous souhaitons attirer l’attention sur la manoeuvre abusive menée par la FEBIAC contre Extinction Rebellion, qui semble avoir été mise en place davantage pour nuire à l’image du mouvement que pour réellement protéger ses intérêts face aux actions prévues.
Début janvier, la Febiac introduit une requête unilatérale devant le président du Tribunal de première instance (section civile) de Bruxelles en prévision des actions prévues par XR au Salon de l'Auto. Elle ne sait pas contre quelle personne agir (Extinction Rebellion n’ayant pas de personnalité juridique et ses membres étant nombreux, dispersés et n’ayant pas au préalable annoncé individuellement participer aux actions prévues) et introduit dès lors une "requête unilatérale", c’est-à -dire dans laquelle aucune partie adverse n’est invitée à comparaître devant le juge le jour de l’audience pour exposer sa défense.
Dans cette requête, la FEBIAC demande au Président du Tribunal de première instance de prononcer en urgence une ordonnance visant à interdire les comportements annoncés par XR quelques jours auparavant. La FEBIAC insiste à mainte reprises sur la nécessité absolue d’interdire au préalable ces comportements et réclame 5.000€ par comportement qui sera jugé interdit dans l’ordonnance et par personne.
Dans son ordonnance du 9 janvier 2020, le Président considère que la demande de la FEBIAC n’est que très partiellement fondée. Il n'accorde pas les 5.000,00€ demandés par la FEBIAC et s’en tient à un montant de 10,00 euros par infraction qui sera commise malgré l’interdiction, et par personne qui la commettra. Ce montant est une “astreinte”: il a pour but de dissuader les personnes d’adopter un certain comportement (ici, de mener des actions au salon) ou de le faire cesser. Il précise également que le montant total de cette astreinte ne pourra pas dépasser 100,00 euros.
L’ordonnance (c’est à dire le jugement) en poche, la FEBIAC décide pourtant de n'en parler à personne. Certes, une réunion a lieu avant le salon. En effet, notons à ce propos que, dans un souci de sécurité et de transparence, XR a toujours annoncé ses actions et demandé une réunion avec les autorités. Lors de cette rencontre, à aucun moment la FEBIAC ne mentionne qu'elle dispose de cette ordonnance. Elle ne prend pas non plus la peine de faire une annonce dans la presse ou le matin de la journée des actions prévues par XR, pour tenter de limiter le dommage dont elle craint être victime. Elle attend que les actions soient menées, elle attend que les personnes soient arrêtées et que le salon ferme pour finalement demander à l'huissier dépêché sur place par elle-même, de faire signifier le document aux personnes arrêtées.
Sur un plan purement légal, XR est convaincu que la FEBIAC mène en l’espèce une procédure abusive puisqu’elle réclame en urgence au Président du Tribunal d’interdire des comportements, insistant sur un risque de dommage irréparable si telle ordonnance n’est pas prise ... et qu'elle ne s'en sert finalement pas pour éviter que les actions aient lieu. Ce faisant, la FEBIAC fait perdre tout effet utile à l’ordonnance qui vient d’être rendue… Elle l’utilise uniquement pour que les personnes à qui l’ordonnance est signifiée se retrouvent à devoir payer chacune une astreinte et des frais d’huissier de justice.
Sur un plan éthique, XR ne s’étonne pas que la FEBIAC procède de la sorte: mensonges et procédures dilatoires sont le fait coutumier de l’industrie automobile.
Dans cette manière d’opérer, le secteur de l’industrie automobile tente d’intimider et de réduire XR au silence, ce qui ne saurait bien sûr être le cas pour un mouvement dont la devise est “Dire la vérité”.
A l’heure actuelle, le service juridique de XR analyse l’ordonnance qui a été rendue sur base de la requête qui avait été déposée par la FEBIAC et recueille les différents témoignages afin de mener l’action juridique appropriée.
Quoiqu’il en soit, que la procédure intentée par la FEBIAC soit ou non jugée abusive par l’éventuel juge qui aurait à se prononcer lors d’un recours contre cette ordonnance, XR insiste également sur le fait que nombreuses sont les personnes qui se sont vues signifier ce document tandis qu’elles n’avaient posé aucune action interdite par cette ordonnance: ainsi, la plupart des personnes arrêtées n’ont pas pris part aux actions à l’intérieur du Salon mais effectuait seulement une distribution de flyers sur la voie publique, usant simplement de leur liberté d’expression.
This page will be updated on January 18 with live updates and information relevant for press coverage.
Photos are here https://drive.extinctionrebellion.be
13:02 French spoke person is arrested - Here is the number for the new one (Sarah) 0498 32 147 663
14:00 Many rebels arrested but the actions are continuing
15:00 About 100 rebels arrested Actions continuing
16:02 The dying just started spread around the autosalon. All rebels will play dead untill arrested
IMPORTANT!
Summary of our research. Can be used by Affinity Groups to elaborate their talking points/ messages during the action.
We are developing some more flyer designs (please keep checking this website) :
Info leaflets on electric cars (FR):
"Parking tickets":
More material available here:
These 2 superglues work well on metal surfaces. But many other superglues work well, please test them. In general we recommend industrial-grade superglues of the thin type (better spreading) and ultrarapid drying. Those can be found in construction shops (better than supermarkets). According to some testing, these glue are completely removed if carefully cleaned with solvent (acetone). We invite to test this too.
HOW TO TAKE PART - A STEP BY STEP GUIDE
This page provides you with all necessary information to participate in Salon of Lies
Read this document carefully (make sure you agree with the action consensus)
Invite people to form an Affinity Group with you to participate in the action (join one of the if needed!)
Register to the action with your affinity group by filling
Subscribe to the
Meet with your affinity group to choose together what to do during “Salon of Lies” from the
Do the necessary preparations for your chosen actions (see )
(if you wish to carry out actions inside)
Regularly check this document, the action’s & for any updates
Meet with your AG before coming to the Motor Show for a last briefing
Go to the Salon of Lies to tell the truth! đź“Ł
With “Salon of Lies” we will disrupt this year’s Motor Show in Brussels in order to Tell the Truth about the ecological breakdown and the driving role the car industry plays in it. On Saturday 18 January (the penultimate and most busy day of the fair) between ca. 13:00 and 16:00 hundreds of participants will go to the Autosalon in small, autonomous groups of 2-6 people to carry out different actions of non-violent civil disobedience in a decentralised, but coordinated manner. Each group of participants decides autonomously about the actions they wish to perform, they prepare them in beforehand and self-organise on the day itself. The overall action will be coordinated by an action team, providing legal and arrestee support, as well as action support. Live information during the action will be given to all participants via a dedicated Telegram broadcast channel. “Salon of Lies” ends with all participants joining in a final collective action that will take place at a specific time and location that will be communicated last minute via the telegram channel.
This document provides you with all necessary information to take part in the action, please read it carefully! For any questions or requests, please write to
Important note: the Motor Show management and security, the police, and the public at large are all already informed about the action.
The car industry is one of the major drivers of climate warming and ecological breakdown. Faced with the rising awareness of the ecological crisis, car manufacturers use all means at their disposal to generate a "greener" image of themselves in order to preserve their business and profit without actually having to change anything significant to the way they conceive mobility. They have blatantly lied in the past regarding the actual ecological impact of their products ("") and they continue to lie today, reinforcing the myth that people can just carry on with the current mobility model which relies on the use of individual cars. The car industry claims to take care of the solution, but while promoting "zero emission cars", they make and sell ever more and heavier SUV's. Electric and hybrid cars are presented as THE solution for the future, as an inherently "clean" solution, but the facts about the true ecological, and human impact of scaling up the electric vehicle production are carefully hidden. In fact, the car industry has no intention to shift towards a more sustainable mobility model. They abuse people's rising ecological awareness as just another marketing trick, to postpone the problem of ecological breakdown and sell as many cars as possible in the meantime.
Brussels Motor Show is the car industry's main propaganda event in Belgium (a third of car sales in Belgium happen in the weeks around the Autosalon). By disrupting the Motor Show, "Salon of Lies" aims at denouncing all the greenwashing lies of the car industry in order to rectify the false image which car companies are manufacturing of themselves.
If the car industry really wants to be part of the solution to the climate and ecological crisis as they claim, then they should be doing all they can to help a fundamental and democratic change in the way we perceive and practice mobility, moving away as quickly as possible from overproduction and consumption of vehicles. Whether powered by petrol, electricity, or whatever other type of energy source, new, large, powerful individual cars must no longer be established as the symbol of human freedom and accomplishment: they are in reality one of the balls and chains which are holding us back.
1- Participants form Affinity Groups
Participants form groups of 2-6 people with whom they will carry out the action. These groups are called “Affinity Groups” (AG). Affinity groups are small groups of people who organise and take action together. They’ve proven to be effective at enhancing activist support, sustainability and safety. At their core, they’re small groups of people who trust each other and have similar views on their preferred types and levels of actions. If it feels right, your AG can continue to exist after “Salon of Lies” and you can find yourselves performing many other actions together!
To form an AG, you can either: 1) ask friends or people you know to form a new group with you, 2) join an existing AG if you know any, or 3) come to one of the that are organised in your city.
Important: please make sure to read the below!
2- Affinity groups decide what they would like to do during the “Salon of Lies”
Each affinity group should decide autonomously about the actions they would like to carry out at the Motor Show. A series of different actions are proposed in the hereunder. Together with your AG you decide which actions are the most relevant to you, which you feel most excited about, which you feel comfortable enough to perform… You also decide whether you would rather go inside the exhibition (for which a ticket must be purchased - see below), or rather perform actions outside of the fair buildings, or both.
3 - Affinity groups register their participation by filling in the
That way, we get an overview of how many groups and people are taking part and about what actions will take place. There you will also be asked to read and agree with our. Please register as soon as possible to help us plan the action. Adding extra members to an AG it can be done later on.
4 - Affinity groups get ready for their actions
Each affinity group prepares autonomously for the actions they choose to perform. Depending on their choice, there is more or less preparation work. See the below for more details!
5 - All participants subscribe to the “Salon of Lies”
On the day of the action, all instructions and information will be given to the AGs via a dedicated . This is absolutely necessary!
Buy an entrance ticket to the Motor Show well in advance if you wish to carry out actions inside the exhibition. On the day itself it might prove difficult or impossible to get tickets! (see below for a possible refund of your expenses).
1 - Last briefing
You meet with your AG before entering the fair grounds, in a safe place where you can do a last briefing and make sure everybody and everything is ready (and why not have lunch). Note: Each AG does this independently - there is no meeting of all participants before the action!
2 - Entering the Motor Show (before 13h)
Once they are ready, each AG enters the fair ground as if they were normal visitors of the Motor Show. Best to arrive well in advance in order to be able to get a bit of orientation and probably also stand in the line. As there will probably be security checks, everything that you need for your actions will need to be concealed.
3 - Beginning of the action
As of 13h all AGs start carrying out their actions, at their own rhythm, at the locations and moments they decide and following their own dynamic. Note: useful information and instructions to coordinate the action will be broadcasted by the action coordination team via the
4 - Final collective action
Around 16h, to round up “Salon of Lies”, following a cue and instructions that will be sent via the on the moment itself, all participants gather at an indicated location to perform a final mass collective Die-in which will probably lead to participants being carried away by security, or police, and mass administrative arrest.
5 - After the action is finished
Either all participants are free to leave the fair grounds after the end of the action, in which case we all gather for a small post action party (location will be communicated at a later stage), or we are under administrative arrest. In this case, everyone will be released during the night. At this point, if you need accommodation or if you simply wish to meet other rebels you can join the arrest support team at a location that will be communicated in due time. Important: make sure to read the carefully!
Below you’ll find a list of actions from which each AG can choose to perform during “Salon of Lies”. These actions and options can be performed in any combination and order, depending on the desires and conditions of each individual AG.
Please make sure to read and agree with the before continuing!
All these actions are to be carried out in total autonomy by the AGs. They are meant to generate a nice unpredictable and disruptive buzz at the Motor Show, while at the same time converging towards the same in terms of the messages they send and the images they create.
None of these actions aims at preventing visitors from entering or exiting the Motor Show, nor should any action attempt to do so! The purpose of “Salon of Lies” is to correct the falsified greenwashing story that the car industry is selling to the world via such events, NOT to block the exhibition.
This action has been publicly announced. The Motor Show management, the media, the security, and the police are aware of this action menu, they have had access to the same information as you and will most probably also have subscribed to our .
Taking part in “Salon of Lies” you must be aware that you expose yourself to being arrested by the police and held under administrative arrest for up to 12 hours. Please plan your day accordingly and tell friends and family about this risk.
Please carefully read the below before choosing your actions!
The risk of arrest obviously depends on which actions you choose to perform and how you do it, please take this into account when making your choice. The collective action that concludes “Salon of Lies” is conceived as to last until the police carries us away. This often results in them arresting us, but this has not always been the case in the past.
It is very likely that some of us will be kicked out of the fair, or arrested already before the end of the action. This is part of the game. Since certain actions are much more likely to lead to arrest than others, it is recommended to plan them accordingly and strategically! It is also to be expected that arrest probability will increase as time goes because police will be called in and security will also be more and more on alert.
Different actions require different skills - some people dare to do certain things more than others. Please be encouraged to dare to do things you've never tried before! Use the AG as a support group to help each individual to go beyond their comfort zone in all safety.
These actions can be carried out collectively (i.e. the whole AG performing it at the same time) but they can also very often be carried out individually, one of the AG's members performing an action at the time with the others playing support roles, often remaining incognito among the visitors. This can be seen as a way to slowly build up people's confidence and increase the intensity of the actions as time goes.
In any case, it is strongly recommended that whatever their choices, each AG plans a good preparation, both in technical as in mental terms so that the group arrives at the Autosalon in the best possible conditions to keep it joyful and to make a great efficient mess. A lot of on-the-spot decisions and improvisation will be required.
If you do not agree with the proposed actions, or if you have another idea for something that you think would fit in, please get in touch ASAP with to question, propose, discuss. Please do not just do your thing in solo without informing the action team as this might make things more difficult for everyone!
What: Distribute flyers to visitors of the Motor Show with a clear statement about the car industry's delusional greenwashing propaganda & info about the action.
You can make your own flyers or use the templates that will be made available in beforehand in B/W for AGs to print themselves. All templates will be made available .
Where: It is very likely that security checks will be carried out at the entrances and that flyers would be confiscated and people denied entrance. Therefore, this action is mostly to be carried out outside, in the queues at the entrance, in the parking lots, anywhere where masses of visitors can be found (although any flyers smuggled inside are also a plus, obviously!)
What: Deploy a banner with a strong anti-greenwashing slogan anywhere visible. Probably better to plan many short appearances of the banner at different places than try to settle in one place for too long. Slogans and templates for making banners will be made available in beforehand , but AGs are very much welcome to make up their own!
Where: To be carried out outside of the Autosalon, as smuggling a banner inside will prove rather difficult.
What: Simple shouting of anti greenwashing slogans in crowded places. This can be done as a one-off disruption: slogans are shouted once (the group then disappears again in the crowd and repeats some time later at another location), OR it can also be carried out at one location repeatedly in order to establish a more steady disruption.
Ideas for slogans to shout can be found but every AG is welcome to make up their own.
Individual version: AG perform the action individually as they please.
Swarming version: many/all AG perform it at the same time wherever they are in the fair, prompted by an instruction on the Telegram broadcast channel.
Where: anywhere in the fair, where there is a crowd of visitors, whether inside or outside.
What: stick stickers wherever you are, preferably on advertising and meaningful places and try not to get caught doing so. (Stickers commenting on false advertising, f.i. a sticker saying “really?” to be stuck on an ad for a “zero emission” car)
Stickers will be made available via the local groups in due time.
Where: anywhere, but be aware that doing it inside implies good smuggling tactics!
What: spray slogans with chalk-spray on whatever makes sense and is visible: adverts, cars, windows… your AG can function as a visual shield, standing in front of one of the members while that person is spraying (each AG should develop their own cunning tactics)
Where: anywhere you can bring your chalk-spray can along. (Doing it inside implies excellent smuggling tactics!)
Remark: if many AGs perform this action once of twice we can already end up with a decent make up! Make sure to use washable and (if possible) biodegradable paint. (Look for examples)
What: A short ephemeral blocking of a flow of visitors to communicate a specific truth. Like an advertising intermission in a TV program: people are forced to pause and take in a message, an information.
A. Individual car-talk version: one or two persons wearing a hi-viz vest stand along an access road to a parking lot; they make a sign to the first car to stop and to roll down their window. They then start a discussion with the people in the car about the future of mobility and greenwashing by the car industry (ideas for contents will be made available ). They try to keep the (friendly) discussion going for as long as possible before letting the car go and repeating the action with the next car. The idea is that from a distance, the next car driver would think that you are a steward from the Autosalon. Although in practice, this results in a true blocking and slowing down of the visitors flow, the cars behind do not see that this is the case, they just see a person in hi-viz vest talking to the car in front and they will most probably take down their window on their own initiative… Remark: A single AG can be carrying this action on different access roads at the same time and seriously limit the throughput of visitors without creating any mass anger.
B. Mobile blockade version: a whole AG steps onto an access road with an anti-greenwashing banner and block the road explicitly for a short while before letting the cars pass and repeating it a short while after. The banner needs a slogan that does not point at the car drivers themselves, but rather takes their side, as in protecting their consumer rights against the lies of the car industry. Remark:
What: just a traditional die in, except that you do not stay dead until security comes but you stand up and move away after a while in order to be able to do it again later.
Where: anywhere, really, but preferably at meaningful locations (f.i. near a Tesla, an SUV, a particularly lying ad…).
Individual version: one person, or several from an AG fall on the floor
Swarming version: many/all AG perform it at the same time wherever they are in the fair, prompted by an instruction on the .
Remark: not to be confused with the mass die-in that will end the whole action at a location that will be communicated last minute via the !
What: simply pour a bottle (or several bottles) of fake blood onto something to highlight its true noxious nature (for more information about fake blood see below). Once the blood is poured, read a declaration out loud to the surrounding crowd to explain and take responsibility for the act and denounce the industry’s toxic behaviour. A template for this declaration will be made available .
Where: anywhere where the addition of a blood puddle creates a strong image feeding our general narrative (tell the truth). This can be inside or outside, but it must be a place where the blood will be very visible.
Remark: make sure to use washable and (if possible) biodegradable paint more information .
What: glue your hand to a target item with superglue. Take possession of the space for a maximum amount of time (until security unglues you with acetone) in order to read a declaration out loud to the surrounding crowd to explain and take responsibility for the act and denounce the industry’s toxic behaviour. A discussion / debate can ensue with visitors, facilitated by the AG. A template for this declaration will be made available .
Remark: make sure to read the and to be well prepared with your AG to carry out this action!
Where: 1) inside: on a particularly deceitful piece of advertising, on a particularly greenwashing or noxious car's windshield, on the pedestal of that car… 2) outside: on a particularly lying advertising (f.i. One of the screens in main entrance bridge), on the window of the ticket booth, on an entrance door…
It is important that you agree with your affinity group beforehand how to deal with the different situations you might be confronted with. Try to imagine all these possible scenarios together and figure out what you would do in case they happen.
Distribute roles: 1) De-escalation mediator(s) (see “ below), 2) Telegram follower(s) : that person makes sure that the AG is always up to date with all the info that is being broadcasted via the action’s 3) Video and Photo documentation (see “” tutorial below)
Agree on what to do after the action, when and how to debrief
Some templates will be provided for you to use but do not hesitate to make up your own contents, as long as they fit into the action narrative!
If you plan to carry out an action in which you will speak up to the other visitors, make sure to practice your text a couple of times in the days before the action. Best is to do this by organising a little rehearsal with your AG. You do not need to learn the texts by heart, you can read it out loud on the moment.
In many cases, the actions that you carry out will generate reaction from the part of the other visitors. These reactions can be positive, but also negative, even hostile, or simply perplexed. Our main goal is that people understand why we are doing what we are doing, even if they disagree. We do not want situations to become violent or aggressive so the way we behave must be exemplary.
In all cases it is always good to be proactive, to go talk to people immediately, to engage in a dialogue rather than creating a front. In most cases, simply explaining what we are doing in a friendly and patient manner is enough to calm the situation.
For each action which your AG performs make sure that at least one person takes the role of De-escalation Mediator. This simply means that this person is especially alert to the situation and takes the initiative to go talk to people if needed. This also counts if all members of the AG are involved in an action. The De-escalation Mediator is the one who will step out the first in case of need.
Don't forget that you might be facing visitors of the salon, who could be aggressive. Keep in mind it's not them we are against, and that we should always keep peaceful and try to de-escalate in order to avoid panic movement or injures among activists and/or visitors.
In some cases, a situation of conversation or debate might happen with the other visitors. Engage as much as possible with the debate when this happens and try to help facilitate it. Take the role of moderator, ask people for their opinions. The more other visitors engage with what we are proposing, the better. Turn the Motor Show in a place where people reflect on mobility in a critical manner!
This action is derived from “”. It symbolizes all the destruction that has already occurred and the one that is still to come if we do not act now. In the context of this action, the blood symbolizes the true impact of the car industry, all the harm that it does, under cover of greenwashing.
The blood should this be poured in a significative place, where the killing effect of the industry is clearly revealed. When you pour the blood, do it in a calm and demonstrative way, do not rush or try to hide your action. It must appear as a responsible act for which you are ready to face the consequences.
Since there will most probably be security checks, it might be difficult to bring in bottles of red liquid. For this reason, it is better to bring red pigment powder (go to the for more details) which you can easily hide on you (in your underwear, f.i.) and discretely mix into a bottle of water once you have passed the security check (having a non transparent thermos bottle with you could be useful).
When you glue-on, you basically take possession of place and time for the cause. Since you cannot be removed, people have to bear with you. The object you will attach to is symbolically very important. Glueing on also shows a string determination from your part. It has a strong emotional implication on onlookers.
In order to glue-on well and safely please respect the following guidelines:
Use high-quality superglue (see examples )
Test it at home before you use it at the action. Make sure you try to glue yourself to something to experience how it feels, to learn how to do it and which difficulties you might encounter.
You need to cover the palm of your hand with the glue, and apply your hand on the object you would like to glue onto immediately. The quantity of glue you apply is important, if you do not put enough glue, it might dry too quickly and/or not stick well enough - if you put too much, you might have to wait for too long before the glue sets.
At any moment during the day, police might step in to arrest you, or security might attempt at kicking you out. In both cases, you should never attempt at actively resisting them. Instead, just fall dead on the floor and force them to carry you away as a sack of potatoes. This is called passive resistance and is a very easy and efficient way of slowing down and dramatising the arrest. You do not need to “play dead” you just need to be totally limp and let them do all the work. That way security carrying you away in the crowd will be a little show on its own.
A crowdfunding campaign has been set up to finance the entrance tickets of the rebels who choose to perform actions inside the exhibition. Please indicate in the subscription form whether you need your entrance ticket to be refunded (please only request refund if you really need it!). You will need to buy your ticket yourself and ask for refund after the action. Since we do not know how much money we will raise, nor how many people will need a refund, the available sum will be split between all those who have requested a refund. Any surplus will go to XR Belgium to finance its other activities.
Access the crowdfunding platform
Legal advice is being carefully studied and finalised - this information will be updated latest on January 8th.
In general terms, judicial risks related to this action are considered to be very low. Administrative arrests are likely. For as long as there is no direct material damage civil law suits are unlikely.
Please read and agree before engaging in an action with XR!
This agreement is the binding framework for actions by Extinction Rebellion Belgium.
Anyone who acknowledges this rebellion consensus is welcome to participate in actions by Extinction Rebellion (XR).
We are taking action to make the public as well as the governments of the world aware of the ecological, social and political crisis we are in.
We rebel because we and all the living beings we share this planet with are threatened by extinction.
The basis of our actions are our ten principles and values as well as our three demands.
Because of the political, economical and social reality we are forced to breach the societal normality through disruptive actions of peaceful civil disobedience and we believe by doing this we can induce the necessary change. We regret having to disturb the public life and the public order. We behave peacefully and respectfully towards our fellow humans as they are trying to go on with their daily routine.
Peace and respect for all life are central values of our rebellion. Misanthropic and discriminating statements and actions are not welcome.
We are strictly non-violent when it comes to our actions, communication with the public, the police and among ourselves. We treat every human with dignity and respect.
We film and take pictures of our actions in order to generate publicity.
Rechtsmisbruik van FEBIAC tegen Extinction Rebellion
Op zaterdag 18 januari 2020 organiseerde Extinction Rebellion Belgium een actie van massale burgerlijke ongehoorzaamheid op het Autosalon 2020, "Leugensalon", om de impact van de auto-industrie op de verergering van de klimaat- en milieucrisis te hekelen.
Van de 250 rebellen die deelnamen aan gedecentraliseerde acties tijdens het evenement, zijn er ongeveer 185 mensen gearresteerd.
Allereerst is het opmerkelijk dat de politie een aantal mensen buiten het salon heeft gearresteerd. Ook een woordvoerder van Extinction Rebellion werd gearresteerd, waardoor de journalisten hun werk niet konden doen. Het is evenzeer opmerkelijk dat de gezichten van de gearresteerden werden gefotografeerd ondanks de uitdrukkelijke weigering van velen, en dat ten minste Ă©Ă©n persoon brutaal werd aangepakt door de politie. We komen later op deze gebeurtenissen terug.
Vandaag willen we de aandacht vestigen op het misbruik dat FEBIAC heeft gemaakt van Extinction Rebellion. Dit lijkt eerder te zijn opgezet om het imago van de beweging te schaden dan om de belangen van de federatie daadwerkelijk te beschermen tegen de geplande acties.
Begin januari heeft FEBIAC een eenzijdig verzoekschrift ingediend bij de Voorzitter van de Rechtbank van Eerste Aanleg (burgerlijke rechtbank) van Brussel, in afwachting van de door XR geplande acties op het Autosalon. FEBIAC weet niet tegen welke persoon zij zal optreden (Extinction Rebellion heeft geen rechtspersoonlijkheid en haar leden zijn talrijk, verspreid en hebben niet eerder individueel aangekondigd dat zij aan de geplande acties zullen deelnemen). Daarom heeft ze een "unilateraal verzoek" ingediend, d.w.z. een verzoek waarbij geen enkele wederpartij wordt uitgenodigd om op de dag van de zitting voor de rechter te verschijnen om verweer te voeren.
In dit verzoekschrift vraagt FEBIAC aan de voorzitter van het Gerecht van eerste aanleg om een dringend bevel uit te vaardigen om het optreden te verbieden dat XR enkele dagen voordien had aangekondigd. FEBIAC dringt herhaaldelijk aan op de absolute noodzaak om dit optreden op voorhand te verbieden en eist 5.000€ per persoon per optreden dat in de verordening als verboden wordt beschouwd.
In zijn verordening van 9 januari 2020 is de Voorzitter van mening dat het verzoek van FEBIAC slechts zeer gedeeltelijk gegrond is. Hij kent de door FEBIAC gevraagde 5.000,00 € niet toe en houdt het bij een bedrag van 10,00 € per overtreding en per persoon die de overtreding begaat. Dit bedrag is een "dwangsom": het doel ervan is om mensen te ontmoedigen om een bepaald gedrag te vertonen (in dit geval om actie te ondernemen op het salon) of om het te doen ophouden. Ook wordt bepaald dat het totale bedrag van deze dwangsom niet hoger mag zijn dan 100,00 €.
Daarop besluit FEBIAC om het bevelschrift (d.w.z. het vonnis) stil te houden. Uiteraard vindt er een vergadering plaats voor het salon. In dit verband merken we inderdaad graag op dat XR, omwille van veiligheid en transparantie, zijn acties altijd heeft aangekondigd en om een ontmoeting met de autoriteiten heeft verzocht. Tijdens deze vergadering vermeldt FEBIAC op geen enkel moment dat het dit bevelschrift bezit. Evenmin neemt zij de moeite om hierover een aankondiging te doen in de pers, of op de ochtend van de door XR geplande actiedag, om de gevreesde schade te beperken. Integendeel. Ze wacht tot de acties worden uitgevoerd, tot de mensen worden gearresteerd en het salon de deuren sluit. Dan stuurt ze tenslotte de deurwaarder zelf ter plaatse om het document over de gearresteerde mensen te laten betekenen.
Op zuiver juridisch vlak is XR ervan overtuigd dat FEBIAC in deze zaak een onrechtmatige procedure voert. Eerst verzoekt ze de voorzitter van de rechtbank dringend om het gedrag te verbieden, onder het voorwendsel van risico op onherstelbare schade indien een dergelijk bevel niet wordt gegeven. Maar vervolgens heeft zij het bevel niet gebruikt om deze handelingen te voorkomen. Op die manier verliest FEBIAC volledig het nuttige effect van de verordening die net werd uitgevoerd. Ze gebruikt ze enkel om iedereen aan wie de verordening wordt betekend, een dwangsom en deurwaarderskosten te doen betalen.
Vanuit ethisch oogpunt is XR niet verbaasd dat FEBIAC op deze manier te werk gaat: leugens en vertragingstactieken zijn in de automobielindustrie aan de orde van de dag.
Op deze manier probeert de automobielsector XR te intimideren en het zwijgen op te leggen, wat natuurlijk niet het geval kan zijn voor een beweging met als motto "Vertel de waarheid".
Momenteel analyseert de juridische dienst van XR de verordening die werd uitgevaardigd op basis van de aanvraag die door FEBIAC werd ingediend, en verzamelen we de verschillende getuigenissen om gepaste juridische stappen te ondernemen.
De door FEBIAC ingestelde procedure zal in beroep door de rechter al dan niet als misbruik worden beschouwd. XR wijst er ook op dat veel mensen die dit document ontvingen, geen enkele door dit bevel verboden handeling hadden verricht: zo namen de meeste gearresteerden niet deel aan de acties op het salon, maar deelden ze gewoon flyers uit op de openbare weg, enkel gebruikmakend van hun vrijheid van meningsuiting.
C. Impromptu Ted Talk version: this can take place wherever people are walking by, or hanging out: the ticket queue, a lounge, the access bridge to the entrance of the fair, probably most places inside the fair. One single person holds a short informative speech around key ecological facts on mobility and how the industry is cheating to the bystanding crowd. A discussion about this can follow, facilitated by the AG. A template for the speech will be provided in beforehand here and can simply be read out. Remark: while one person does the talk, the other members can play the role of interested bystanders which will help get people's attention.
Choose the position of your glued hand carefully because you might stay in that position for a long time: it needs to be comfortable enough!
Once your hand is in position keep it totally still for a couple of minutes before testing whether it sticks.
Once the glue has set, it holds very well. The only way to take your hand off without hurting it is to use a solvent (acetone, or similar). You will need to wait until security or police comes to free you - but your goal is to stay in position as long as possible…
Make sure you have tested the solvent as well before glueing on. Always give a bottle of solvent to someone else in your AG so you can detach yourself without the help of the police in case of need.
If your hand is pulled off violently it will injure your skin badly. It is very important that you indicate on your hand that it is glued on by either pinning a paper under your hand when you glue on, or by writing on your skin with a felt marker.
When you glue-on, it is imperative that at one other person from your AG stays next to you. That person must make sure that everybody approaching is aware of the glue and care for your wellbeing for as long as you are glued on.
Our understanding of non-violence includes not actively resisting measures by the police. In case of clear-outs and arrests we behave peacefully and refrain from active physical resistance, for example by linking arms with each other.
Our own safety and the safety of our fellow humans is our highest priority. We plan actions carefully and pay attention to keeping emergency escape routes accessible.
We constantly inform ourselves about the potential legal consequences of our actions and only move into action once we are aware of those consequences.
We do not carry out any actions under the influence of alcohol or other drugs.
In addition to protest and civil disobedience we create a regenerative culture that is healthy, adaptable and resilient. We support each other during the creation of this culture in order to overcome our toxic system together.
We encourage our fellow humans to become active and contribute towards the necessary change.
We are aware that not every human is privileged to take the legal risks of committing civil disobedience.
When we carry out actions of civil disobedience, we do this with the awareness that there are people who cannot take the associated risks. We stand by them with the same solidarity they give us when we are arrested or experience other forms of repression by the state. This mutual solidarity is of the utmost obligation to us all us all.
We respect that there are socio-political and climate policy movements that differ from us and maybe choose different tactics and ways of communicating during their actions.
We invite all humans who accept this rebellion consensus to help us bring about the necessary change together.
Abuso de poder del FEBIAC contra Extinction Rebellion BĂ©lgica
El sábado 18 de enero de 2020, Extinction Rebellion Bélgica organizó una acción de desobediencia civil masiva en el Salón del Automóvil 2020, "Salon de la Mentira", para denunciar el impacto de la industria del automóvil en el agravamiento de la crisis climática y ecológica.
Alrededor de 185 personas fueron detenidas y unos 250 rebeldes participaron en acciones descentralizadas durante el evento.
En primer lugar, es sorprendente que la policĂa haya detenido a varias personas fuera del SalĂłn, que haya arrestado a un portavoz de Extinction Rebellion, impidiendo asĂ que los periodistas hagan su trabajo. Es igualmente sorprendente que se hayan tomado fotos de los rostros de los detenidos a pesar del rechazo persistente de muchos de ellos, y que al menos una persona haya sido maltratada por la policĂa. Volveremos a estos eventos más tarde.
Hoy queremos llamar la atención sobre la abusiva maniobra de la FEBIAC (la Federación belga del automovil y del ciclo) contra Extinction Rebellion, que parece haber sido montada más para dañar la imagen del movimiento que para proteger realmente sus intereses frente a las acciones previstas.
A principios de enero, FEBIAC presentĂł una solicitud unilateral ante el Presidente del Tribunal de Primera Instancia de Bruselas en previsiĂłn de las acciones previstas por XR en el SalĂłn del AutomĂłvil. La FEBIA no tiene conocimiento de contra quĂ© persona actuará (Extinction Rebellion no tiene personalidad jurĂdica y sus integrantes son numerosos, están dispersos y no han anunciado previamente de forma individual que participarán en las acciones previstas) y por ello presentĂł una "solicitud unilateral", es decir, en la que no se invita a ninguna parte contraria a presentarse ante el juez el dĂa de la audiencia para su defensa.
En esta solicitud, la FEBIAC pide al Presidente del Tribunal que dicte una ordenanza urgente para prohibir la conducta anteriormente anunciada por XR. La FEBIAC insiste de forma reiterada en la necesidad absoluta de prohibir previamente estas conductas, y reclama 5.000 euros por cada persona y por cada conducta que se considere prohibida en la ordenanza.
En su ordenanza del 9 de enero de 2020, el Presidente considera que la petición de la FEBIAC sólo tiene un fundamento muy parcial. No concede los 5.000 euros solicitados por la FEBIAC y se limita a una multa de 10 euros por cada infracción que se cometa a pesar de la prohibición, y por cada persona que la cometa. Esta multa es una "penalización": su objetivo es disuadir a las personas de adoptar un determinado comportamiento (en este caso, de actuar en el salón) o de pararlo. También especifica que el importe total de la multa no puede exceder de 100 euros.
En posesiĂłn de la ordenanza (es decir, la sentencia), la FEBIAC decide, sin embargo, no mencionarla a nadie. Por supuesto, una reuniĂłn tiene lugar antes del salĂłn. De hecho, señalamos que, en aras de la seguridad y la transparencia, XR siempre ha anunciado sus acciones y ha solicitado una reuniĂłn con las autoridades. Durante esta reuniĂłn, en ningĂşn momento la FEBIAC menciona que tiene esta ordenanza. Tampoco se toma la pena de hacer un anuncio en la prensa o en la mañana del dĂa de las acciones previstas por XR, en un intento de limitar el daño que teme sufrir. Espera a que se lleven a cabo las acciones, espera a que las personas sean detenidas y el salĂłn cierre, y finalmente envĂa al agente judicial al lugar para entregar el documento a las personas detenidas.
En un sentido puramente jurĂdico, XR está convencido de que la FEBIAC está llevando a cabo un procedimiento abusivo en este caso, ya que pide urgentemente al Presidente del Tribunal que prohĂba el comportamiento, insistiendo en el riesgo de un daño irreparable si no se dicta tal orden... y que luego no la utiliza para impedir que las acciones se lleven a cabo. Al hacerlo, la FEBIAC hace que la ordenanza pierda todo efecto Ăştil... La usa Ăşnicamente para que las personas a las que se les notifica la orden estĂ©n obligadas a pagar una multa y los honorarios del agente judicial.
Desde el punto de vista ético, a XR no le sorprende que la FEBIAC proceda de esta manera: las mentiras y las tácticas dilatorias son comunes en la industria del automóvil.
En esta forma de operar, el sector de la industria del automĂłvil trata de intimidar y silenciar a los XR, lo cual no puede ser el caso de un movimiento cuyo lema es "Decir la verdad".
En la actualidad, el departamento jurĂdico de XR está analizando la ordenanza que se ha emitido en base a la solicitud que habĂa sido presentada por la FEBIAC y está recogiendo los distintos testimonios para emprender las acciones legales correspondientes.
En cualquier caso, independientemente de que las diligencias iniciadas por la FEBIAC sean o no consideradas abusivas por el juez en el recurso de apelaciĂłn contra esta ordenanza, XR tambiĂ©n insiste en el hecho de que muchas personas fueron notificadas con este documento a pesar de no haber realizado ninguna acciĂłn prohibida por esta ordenanza: asĂ, la mayorĂa de las personas detenidas no participaron en las acciones dentro del SalĂłn sino que sĂłlo distribuyeron folletos en la vĂa pĂşblica, simplemente haciendo uso de su libertad de expresiĂłn.
FEBIAC takes abusive legal action against Extinction Rebellion
On Saturday 18 January 2020, Extinction Rebellion Belgium organised a mass civil disobedience action at the 2020 Motor Show, "Salon des Mensonges", to denounce the impact of the car industry in worsening the climate and ecological crisis.
Around 185 people were arrested, and about 250 rebels took part in decentralised actions during the event.
First of all, it was surprising that the police arrested a number of people outside the show and they arrested a spokesperson for Extinction Rebellion, which prevented journalists from doing their job. It was surprising that photos of the faces of those arrested were taken even when not allowed, and that one person (at least) was brutalised by the police. These incidents will be addressed by XR in another occasion.
Today, we wish to draw attention to the abusive legal action taken by FEBIAC against Extinction Rebellion, in an apparent effort to harm the image of the movement rather than to really protect FEBIAC's interests in the face of the planned actions.
In the beginning of January, Febiac lodged an unilateral application to the President of the Tribunal of First Instance (civil court) of Brussels, anticipating the actions planned by XR at the Motor Show. FEBIAC did not know against which person it could take action (Extinction Rebellion has no legal personality and has several members all over, most of whom had not previously announced individually that they will take part in the planned actions) so it filed an "unilateral application", i.e. in which no opposing party is invited to appear before the judge on the day of the hearing to present its defence.
In this application, FEBIAC asked the President of the Tribunal of First Instance to issue an urgent order to prohibit the actions that had been announced by XR a few days earlier. FEBIAC repeatedly insisted on the absolute necessity to prohibit these plans beforehand and requested a fine of 5,000 € per act determined to be forbidden by the order and per person.
In an order on January 9, 2020, the President determined that FEBIAC's request was only partially valid. He did not decide on a fine of 5,000 € as requested by FEBIAC, but on a fine of 10 € per offence, and per person committing it. This amount is a "penalty payment": its purpose is to dissuade people from behaving in certain ways (in this case, engage in actions at the show) or to stop it. The order also specified that the total amount of this penalty payment could not exceed 100 €.
With the order (i.e. the judgment) in hand, FEBIAC nevertheless decided not to disclose it. A meeting between FEBIAC and Extinction Rebellion took place before the show. It is important to note that in the interest of security and transparency, XR always announces its actions and requests to meet with authorities beforehand. At no time during this meeting did FEBIAC mention the order. It also did not bother to announce the order to the press, or in the morning of the day of XR's actions, to possibly limit the damage it might suffer. FEBIAC waited for the actions to be carried out, people arrested and the salon closed. Only after these events did FEBIAC ask the bailiff, sent alone, to have the document served on the people arrested.
On a purely legal level, XR is convinced that FEBIAC's actions are abusive. It requested that the President of the Tribunal prohibit behaviour under the pretext that it would suffer irreparable damages if such an order was not made. It then failed to use the order to prevent these actions from taking place. By making these decisions, FEBIAC made the order effectively useless. Its purpose was thus to require that the people to whom the order was served pay a penalty and bailiff's fees.
From an ethical point of view, XR is not surprised that FEBIAC proceeded in this way: lies and delaying tactics are common in the car industry.
By operating in this way, the car industry is attempting to intimidate and silence XR, which is evidently impossible for a movement with the motto, "Tell the truth".
At present, XR's legal department is analysing the order that has been issued on the basis of the application that had been filed by FEBIAC and is collecting various testimonies in order to take the appropriate legal action.
In any event, whether or not the proceedings instituted by FEBIAC are considered abusive by the judge ruling on an appeal against this order, XR would also like to highlight the fact that many people served with this document had not actually taken any action prohibited by this order. Most of the people arrested did not take part in the actions inside the show but only distributed flyers on the public highway, and exercised their freedom of expression.
