F.A.Q.

Although the target of this Code Red action isn’t directly linked to the fossil industry, many connections can be made between how fossil companies and agribusiness operate: the extractivist nature of both industries is harmful for the planet, workers in both sectors aren’t treated with the respect they deserve, and both systems contribute to harm the population on a global scale (through soil/air/water pollution, huge profits for shareholders, through subsidies that could go elsewhere…).
 Moreover, our current food system is unsustainable in large part because of fossil fuels. Many chemicals used in agriculture are based on hydrocarbons, leading to soil depletion through over-farming. Meanwhile, international food trade, enabled by fossil fuels, favours agricultural specialisation, which further endangers the resilience of our food system. Therefore, it made complete sense for us to go after agribusiness as well!

We consider the people who provide us with food to be our allies, and we actually met with a lot of farmers in the last months. We know that most farmers care for soils, animals and plants, because they depend on it to live. Unfortunately, farmers and farm workers cannot take care of the environment when the large companies that own the land, chemical products, seeds, technologies, storage facilities and vehicles impose unsustainable practices, and when the CAP money goes to the biggest polluters. We oppose the extractivist system of agribusiness, not the farmers who unwillingly depend on it. Agriculture has an essential role to play in mitigating the environmental and social crises we are facing.

Code Rouge is a big movement, a lot of us are vegans, some are vegetarians, some of us eat animals. Even within the movement we don’t fully argee on every aspect of the matter. We have worked very hard on building alliances with farmers of all sorts, also with them, we do not agree on everything. But what we do agree with is that the sytem we call agrobusiness needs to change. Animal suffering is caused largely (not only, but at a large scale) trough profit maximalisation of the farming system. Changing this system would benefit the animal cause and biodiversity. We are making the choice for this fight, to focus on what unites us rather than what seperates us. So that we are all able to move towards the world we want to live in.

There is more than enough food for everyone on Earth, and there will be enough in the future, especially in Belgium. The current problems we are facing are unequal distribution and overproduction, leading to massive waste. Moreover, intensive farming leads to soil depletion, which makes more and more land unsuitable for food production. If anything will lead us to global starvation, it is the combination of rising inequalities and intensive farming. Therefore, we rise against agribusiness because we do not want people to starve. That includes farmers, who barely make enough money to live decently because large companies capture most of the profit.

Over the past months, we have been meeting farmers and have been in contact with farmers’ unions and organizations. We don’t expect every farmer in Belgium to rally behind our action, because the people usually referred to as farmers are an extremely diverse group. Some of them have small farms and experiment with agroecology, others are bosses who own gigantic complexes and employ dozens of people. The majority is somewhere in between, using diverse agricultural techniques, and having different opinions on the future of farming. We do count on the support of many of them though, especially organizations that champion agro-ecological and peasant agriculture. You’ll find here a summary of our week of meetings with farmers, followed by a list of quotes about the problems they’re facing and their opinion on Code Red’s action.

Code Red is a movement for civil disobedience actions founded by activists, students, grandparents and active citizens, supported by various organisations and action groups such as Greenpeace, Youth for Climate, Grandparents for Climate, Exctinction Rebellion, Réseau ADES, Peace Action, Ineos Will Fall, Stop Alibaba and Gauche Anticapitaliste.

Anyone ready to use civil disobedience to bring about a fossil-free society and fairer climate policies is welcome.

Code Red is inspired by similar action platforms abroad, such as Ende Gelände, which are mobilising thousands of people for disruptive actions of civil disobedience in a plea for a just and fossil-free society.

Certainly not. Millions of concerned people took to the streets in recent years for ambitious and fair climate and social action. We are seeing progress. But real, systemic change is yet to come, while the climate derails before our eyes and the living conditions of more and more residents deteriorate. We really are now in Code Red.

Major changes in history often came about after mass actions of civil disobedience. Ordinary people willing to protest and break the law to push through change together. Non-violent, but determined. That is also our plan with Code Red .

We will communicate about that when the time is right, we still like to keep a bit of mystery 🙂

Code Red’s actions will always target fossil polluters, and we already gave a hint in May by announcing that our second action will target Engie.

Code Red works for a society where big polluters no longer have free rein, where everyone has fair access to energy and where citizens are supported to move away from climate-polluting fossil fuels. A society where publicly owned renewable energy leads to less pollution, less dependence on unreliable regimes and more peace. A society where the transition to sustainable renewable energy includes everyone, including the most vulnerable. A society with more social equality, respect for everyone’s fundamental rights, lower energy bills, sustainable and safe jobs in a climate-friendly industry, more quality of life and better future prospects for our children and grandchildren.

On this page you will find the demands of Code Rouge.

We choose to communicate publicly and mobilise for a major action of civil disobedience. We are doing this to make the action accessible to all. Our action will follow the principles of non-violent direct action and we are counting on the police to understand our rationale and resepct the constitutional right to protest.

We don’t assume they will. But of course Code Red will inform all participants about the risks in any action of civil disobedience. There are a lot of people in our movement with experience of this kind of action. Before, during and after the action, Code Red will take care of the participants and watch over the non-violent principles of our action.

Before, during and after the action, Code Red will take care of the participants. This includes support for any legal prosecution of non-violent citizens participating in the action. We are also counting on the solidarity and support of the broad Belgian climate movement.

Code Red was founded by a diverse group of grandparents and youth for climate, citizens’ movements, action groups and NGOs in the climate movement. The July action will offer different levels of engagement and be accessible to all. Not everyone who joins a climate march will also join an action of civil disobedience. But we do notice a growing dissatisfaction among many citizens about a lack of decisive action on climate and social policies by governments in this country. We invite them to join us in action!

Polls indicate that many Belgians are concerned about the consequences of the climate and energy crisis. But we understand that the current climate policy approach is alienating and causes tension. Everyone needs to be included in the transition away from fossil fuels. Moreover, big fossil polluters like TotalEnergies and Engie should no longer be given free rein. That is our message and we believe that a lot of Belgians agree with it.

The climate, energy, social and economic crisis keeps plunging more working- and middle-class families into financial trouble. Meanwhile, big and historic fossil polluters like TotalEnergies or Engie are thriving and making huge profits. Their greenwashing misleads and poisons our society. They are rewarded by politicians with bonuses and financial incentives to worsen the climate crisis, but their workers are left in the dark about their future.

In the event of police violence (experienced directly or indirectly) the consequences can be serious for your well-being, both physically and mentally. It is important to stress that the impact is different for each person and can differ from action to action. We strongly encourage everyone to check-in with themselves, their buddies and their affinity groups to see how they are feeling, before, during and after the action.

If you experience police violence during the action, you’re not alone! The care team is there to listen, support and advise you. If you’re injured, our street medics can take care of you.

After the action the street medics are available to draw up official injury reports. Such a report consists of a confidential description of what happened to a doctor and a physical examination of injuries. It can be done completely anonymous and is a legal way of reinforcing our right to protest by making this intolerable violence visible! It can also help to process what you’ve been through. We encourage you to contact the care team, with whom you can discuss what your needs are.

You can go to the Nest where medics are present. If not, contact the care team on +31 6 16 68 07 63 (Feluy site) or +31 6 16 94 22 39 (Antwerpen haven) and someone will tell you how to proceed. This number will apply for one week after the action. You can also send an email to them via this address: care.coderouge@proton.me.