There’s a time and place for civil disobedience

Greenpeace New Zealand has released a new campaign calling on Kiwis to join a “peaceful act of civil disobedience” on 21 March at the Skycity Convention Centre.

Referencing important moments throughout history—both local and international—a short video clip elaborates on the important role that civil disobedience has played in the fight for human rights over the years. Rosa Parks, Mahatma Gandhi, the suffragettes and Apartheid activists are all appear in the clip, reminding viewers that civil disobedience is justifiable if a cause is important enough. And in this instance, Greenpeace is arguing that climate change is an issue that merits civil disobedience. 

As explained in an impassioned released accompanying the launch of the campaign: “We cannot be silent while the world demands real climate action and our own government lies to the world and drills for more oil. We cannot sit still while animals, ecosystems and millions of people are already suffering, losing their homes and dying from the effects of global climate change.”       

While the campaign execution is simple, it does play an important role in reminding viewers that civil disobedience isn’t necessarily a villainous act, and that it has a place in certain circumstances.