M25 protesters chaos

JaneJudge

I have had a lot of loss in my life, if you want me to explain it rationally. I don't think ordinary people's lives are expendable in the name of protest.

That’s the problem Jane because the protesters only think of themselves and their ‘cause’ and are heady with martyrdom waiting to be arrested after they have completed their stunt.

Not sure who that question is for JaneJudge but if its for me, I wasn't thinking about you at all.

Someone said people had died. Nobody died. There was a crash, I don't know the outcome or if it was in any way related to the blockage. The lady who was badly injured was taken to hospital by air ambulance. Another lady who had had a stroke got stuck in the traffic and her outcome has been very badly affected by the delay, I believe.

If anyone has any different information, I'm sure it will come to light.

Oldwoman70

It is all very well "demanding" things are done "now". Change takes time to implement and to convince some people. The vast majority of people are convinced about climate change and prepared listen.

However, sitting in the middle of the road, causing more pollution by stationary vehicles running their engines, causing people to be late for work, late for appointments, delaying people getting to hospital - does nothing to advance their cause. The government are not going to "listen to them" as long as they continue with these tactics - because they know the protesters will not have the support of the general public

Absolutely.

These protesters were enjoying their time in the limelight, and had no interest in who they were delaying and how important it may be, or how ill somebody was.The police need to move them faster in future....much faster.

I have had a lot of loss in my life, if you want me to explain it rationally. I don't think ordinary people's lives are expendable in the name of protest.

I was angry they caused a crash if you are talking about me. I think because my husband and son were not that far away from the actual crash I felt like it could have been them. They set off slightly later than they had planned to, too.

Criticise them for what they did, not something someone has made up to make it appear even worse than it really is.

Nobody gets to say their actions have killed people when it is not true.

Alegrias1 Everyone needs to know that words are important. Nobody died. Yet an offhand remark by one poster sets that idea into people's heads. Before long, those protesters are classed as people who have no respect for human life and they caused people to DIE.

I agree wholeheartedly that words are important and offhand uninformed words can cause immense harm. However a woman is now paralysed because of the actions of the protestors. Does her unnecessary suffering not merit criticism, they didn't respect her human life did they? I don't for one minute think any protestor wanted it to happen, but do you think the knowledge that it did will deter them from creating the same havoc again?

I understand what MerylStreep is posting, (disclaimer I have no idea where our solar panels were produced 15 years ago)

Some Governments/regimes jut do not care, full stop.

Some Governments/Political Parties have not got the cajones as they feel it will cost the electorate financially and therefore lose them votes.

Some will do what they can within their own perimeters

I personally just cannot see a worldwide consensus on climate change and a total rethink of global infrastructure being achieved in my lifetime, I truly hope that I am wrong, but…

MerylStreep

What can we do?
For a start every 1st world country could make its own solar panels instead of China producing two thirds of the world’s need for this product.
We bought our first in the 80s. They were made in Germany.

So bear with me on this....

China are the bad guys because of their emissions.

But China are the good guys because they make most of the world's solar cells.

But China are the bad guys because we don't want to buy from China.

I give up.

GrannyGravy13

Alegrias1

We've known about this for 40 years. I don't know how we live in the meantime. Maybe we should have thought of that sooner.

A lot of people have Alegrias1 but what individuals do will never be enough.

China, Russia, USA and even Germany need to change their industries, the U.K.’s emissions are low compared to others but we should still strive to get them lower.

I agree with you that what individuals do will never be enough. Our infrastructure needs a complete rethink, and only governments can do that. "We" is the whole world; we've all known about it but its been shrugged off and the can kicked down the road.

But I really don't see the point of saying over and over again that the other countries have to change their ways, that there is no point us doing it unless they do. (I know you didn't say that) I find that just to be an excuse for us to pretend we are virtuous and the others aren't. I don't mean individually, I mean as a country.

MerylStreep

What can we do?
For a start every 1st world country could make its own solar panels instead of China producing two thirds of the world’s need for this product.
We bought our first in the 80s. They were made in Germany.

Unfortunately you are correct, everything eventually goes back to China…

What can we do?
For a start every 1st world country could make its own solar panels instead of China producing two thirds of the world’s need for this product.
We bought our first in the 80s. They were made in Germany.

In a great many countries the police would have turned hosepipes on the lot of them.
I would love to see something like that happening.
Or perhaps the army with a few tanks to shift them.

Another point, why aren't these protesters at work?

Alegrias1

We've known about this for 40 years. I don't know how we live in the meantime. Maybe we should have thought of that sooner.

A lot of people have Alegrias1 but what individuals do will never be enough.

China, Russia, USA and even Germany need to change their industries, the U.K.’s emissions are low compared to others but we should still strive to get them lower.

We've known about this for 40 years. I don't know how we live in the meantime. Maybe we should have thought of that sooner.

All of us posting on GN are contributing to the emissions, we have electronic gadgets, internet, probably have houses stuffed with things which we wanted as opposed to needed. Many still drive, fly for holidays or to visit family (Covid permitting)

Are you and your families willing to give up the luxuries of 21st century living?

It will take many many years to convert the world to sustainable energy and renewables, how do you suggest we live in the meantime?

I do my bit, solar panels, water harvesting system, recycle and buy locally whenever possible. My new car has an eco engine, electric cars are not the be all and end all as the batteries use lithium and the production of these and the cars causes emissions.

It’s right that we should all be aware, but there is no easy overnight solution.

Thank you for replying GG13.

Everyone needs to know that words are important. Nobody died. Yet an offhand remark by one poster sets that idea into people's heads. Before long, those protesters are classed as people who have no respect for human life and they caused people to DIE.

Careless talk costs lives, remember?

Nobody died as far as I know however, there was an interview on LBC by a son who’s Mother is now paralysed after being held up for five hours in the traffic jam after she suffered a stroke.

Chestnut

Now Caroline Lucas (Green Party) has piped up in support of the protestors. Never mind the people who suffered and died as a result of their actions. Blocking primary routes is always going to seriously affect innocent people, they should find another way that does not cause suffering and pain.

There are children starving to death in parts of the world because of the effects of climate change and severe drought. Those innocents have asked for nothing from this world except enough to eat, and the actions of the developed world are denying them.

Who died as a result of the protesters actions?

Who died?

Now Caroline Lucas (Green Party) has piped up in support of the protestors. Never mind the people who suffered and died as a result of their actions. Blocking primary routes is always going to seriously affect innocent people, they should find another way that does not cause suffering and pain.

It is all very well "demanding" things are done "now". Change takes time to implement and to convince some people. The vast majority of people are convinced about climate change and prepared listen.

However, sitting in the middle of the road, causing more pollution by stationary vehicles running their engines, causing people to be late for work, late for appointments, delaying people getting to hospital - does nothing to advance their cause. The government are not going to "listen to them" as long as they continue with these tactics - because they know the protesters will not have the support of the general public

The government aren’t listening to “the science” though are they? They are listening to the fossil fuel lobby and people with vested interests in polluting the planet, building HS2, the arms manufacturers etc

The Science. Righty-ho.

Did The Science tell them to open a new coal mine and start off a new oil field?

They won't though.

They will listen to the science, not protesters