SRTI Campaigns - Scientist Rebellion Turtle Island

Scientist Rebellion Turtle Island engages in multiple campaigns to advance the Scientist Rebellion mission.

Don’t Look Away

For the Don’t Look Away campaign, we blindfold statues and hang signs on them. The goal of these “Don’t Look Away” actions is to direct global attention to the ecological emergency, by blindfolding iconic statues. This creates powerful images and a clear message: those in power are ignoring the crisis.

Cornell on Fire Says “Don’t Look Away”
Cornell On Fire actions condemn university administration’s silence and silencing in the face of an existential crisis. We call on Cornell to declare a climate emergency. We blindfolded and gagged the statue of Cornell founder and adorned him with a message to those in power at Cornell: “The science is clear. Don’t look away. Don’t muzzle protesters. Declare a Climate Emergency.”
Calling on Leaders to Speak Up about Climate Catastrophes
On January 6th, we sent our petition to President Biden, calling on him to declare a climate emergency before he leaves office. One day later, the climate emergency came to the people of Los Angeles county, in the form of unprecedented wildfires. We again call on President Biden and the Democratic party to make a very clear and public statement connecting the ways climate change has made catastrophes like this more intense and more frequent.
Rebellion on Consumerism: SRTI December Salon Report
Our working definition of consumerism: an economic theory and social order that encourages people to buy more goods and services than they need for survival or status, based on the idea that consumer spending is the key to economic growth and individual well-being. We use nonviolent direct action to prompt reconsideration of the consumerist agenda, and seek to create a space where people can imagine alternatives like a wellbeing (buen vivir) economy.
Don’t Look Away: photos with blindfolded statues
The goal of these “Don’t Look Away” actions is to direct global attention to the ecological emergency, by blindfolding iconic statues. This creates powerful images and a clear message: those in power are ignoring the crisis.

Rapid Response Action Team

Scientist Rebellion Turtle Island launched RRAT, the Rapid Response Action Team campaign, to fight media silence on the connections between catastrophe, climate and cause when bad things happen. We are creating a library of videos, press releases, facts and talking points we can use in this struggle for truth.

RRAT Blog Posts

Federal Grant and Loan Freeze Puts Science in Jeopardy
On Monday, January 27, the acting Director of the US Office of Management and Budget tried to put a freeze on grants and loans that many researchers rely upon. The new federal administration in the US is apparently attempting to suppress the ability of scientists to speak the truth.
The Impacts of Agriculture on Water Policy in California
A tiny fish, the Delta smelt, became a misunderstood symbol of California water policy. A California-based scientist who studied the impacts of dairy farming on water and air quality explains why the smelt is significant for understanding water quality in the Delta, and a major driver of California water shortages: Big Ag.
Rapid Response Action Team Activates
RRAT, the Rapid Response Action Team, was created to fight the silence and make the connections between catastrophe, climate and cause when bad things happen. RRAT is creating a library of videos, press releases, facts and talking points we can use in this fight for truth. We have decades of science predicting these climate-change-intensified disasters to back us up.

Summer of Heat

Summer of Heat 2024 was amazing, with 13 weeks of sustained actions in New York. Summer of Heat 2025 is going nationwide. Look for more info soon.

Scientists Help Deliver a Summer of Heat
Banks are a high-leverage target for climate action. Scientist Rebellion has been engaged with the Summer of Heat campaign, targeting one of the largest funders of new fossil fuel projects: Citibank. Scientists have participated in nonviolent Summer of Heat climate actions in New York City and across the United States.
SRTI Makes a Splash at ESA
Scientist Rebellion Turtle Island activists went to the Ecological Society of America conference this month. We made a lot of new friends, a fair amount of noise, and a little good trouble as we worked to grow the movement confronting the intersecting climate and extinction crises.

Ban Private Jets & Fly Less

Punking Private Jets
One scientist’s story of becoming an online disruptor, mocking private jet companies for their callous excesses and climate harm. Includes great examples and resources for trying this yourself.

Fossil Free Research

Cornell on Fire Says “Don’t Look Away”
Cornell On Fire actions condemn university administration’s silence and silencing in the face of an existential crisis. We call on Cornell to declare a climate emergency. We blindfolded and gagged the statue of Cornell founder and adorned him with a message to those in power at Cornell: “The science is clear. Don’t look away. Don’t muzzle protesters. Declare a Climate Emergency.”
Scientists Rebellion against Fossil Fuels at AGU
Images and info about our AGU activities. Scientists signed petitions and pledges, and talked with us at our booth. We projected activist messages. We hosted a workshop, made oral and poster presentations, held a pod discussion, and two outside social gatherings. It was a busy week!

Arizona’s Public Service (APS)

The Scientist Rebellion Turtle Island Southwest Chapter invites you to take part in our campaign against Arizona’s Public Service (APS) for its significant dependence on fossil fuels and its ongoing profit gained from deadly heat waves and price gouging, which disproportionately affect the most vulnerable members of our society. We call on APS to stop its role in exacerbating the climate crisis. Arizona deserves better. Our children deserve a livable future.