Climate Change Protests - will they make a difference?

Strange not to see lily Allen she’s usually where there’s a cause

The Extinction Rebellion group, which is calling for flights to be used only in emergencies, insisted that any flight she had taken was an “unfortunate cost in our bigger battle to save the planet”.

An Extinction Rebellion spokesman said: “If Emma Thompson wants to come and help out, that's great, she's using her platform which is incredibly valuable to anyone.

“If she has to fly around the world like a climate lawyer might have to fly around the world, it seems counter productive in the short term but we are looking at the bigger picture.”

A climate lawyer might "have" to fly around the world? Never heard of boats and trains? And will this lawyer fly in splendid isolation in the plane or will other "worthies" get to fill the other seats? Of course we need to act now to limit our impact on the planet, but having opt outs for the likes of Emma Thompson is just not on.

good point mycat maybe she’s on holiday in some exotic location or other (essential travel if course) otherwise I’m sure she would be there !

What the hell is a climate lawyer anyway?

No idea lol but they have to jet around the planet apparently!

Please don’t waste time criticising individuals for their choices- it’s a much bigger picture. governments have to act now, people will be inconvenienced and have to be less selfish, most people won’t unless they are forced to. It’s not about I’m ok I recycle - you maybe put stuff in the recycling but what happens then? Lots of it end up in landfill anyway. We may have to go back to food buying without plastic- fish, cheese, meat in greaseproof paper, veg in your bag, deposits on all plastic bottles which have to be returned and recycled by manufacturers , but while governments are in thrall to big businesses and don’t want to upset voters they aren’t going to do anything. Most people would be prepared to do a lot more - we need to lobby and protest- it’s the only way of getting anything done.

crystaltips

Are you this pompous in RL?

I bet a climate change lawyer stays in top class hotels on expenses.

Nice work if you can get it.

Also where’s David Lammy? He’s gone from being a good sensible bloke to a shouty slightly dillusional prat.

He’s normally pontificating too.

Most people would be prepared to do a lot more - we need to lobby and protest- it’s the only way of getting anything done.
As I said earlier in the thread, right message, wrong methods.
Yes, we all have to do our bit; if we give up recycling because we think it only goes to landfill anyway we will get nowhere. Lobby your council, hold them to account (ours has a good record for recycling). But don't block the streets and disrupt others' lives.

Do the protesters honestly think that this will make governments change their minds? DH is an advocate of wave power/hydro-electric power - but is it happening? No, one big scheme got cancelled. The street lights here are on all day - he is on his own mission to stop that - but nothing happens.

Don't build on flood plains, they are there for a purpose, don't use that dreadful artificial turf, plant insect-friendly plants, etc etc - we can all do our small part.

crystal you cannot assume because posters do not agree with the methods that XR are using that they are not concerned and not doing their best (nor that they shop in Primark although why that has relevance I don't know as much of our clothing is manufactured in the Far East).
I doubt that many Gransnetters fly around the world constantly like some of those who lecture others on how to save the planet.

Well crystaltipps you've ruffled a few feathers!!
Good on you.
I seem to remember we are commemorating Christ's death on the cross today.
I'm sure there is plenty in the New Testament about loving eachother, forgiveness and in the old OT about stewardship of the earth.
The more we can talk about our fears for the future the more chance there will be of arriving at some common sense.
I'm smugly sitting on a busy train today and I try to think about my journeys and holidays but this thread has been very informative and there is much more I could be doing.

Such a pity that Parliament had stood down for the Easter recess when the protesters were gridlocking London.
What bad timing.

Well quite callistermon

Do as I say not as I do.. Emma Thompson

I do hope they were using environmentally friendly glue when they glued themselves to Jeremy Corbyn's fence, the train etc etc.
www.greenlivingtips.com/articles/Green-glue.html

I certainly wouldn't mind buying loose vegetables, (anyone remember string bags?!) other purchases wrapped in greaseproof paper or any other paper come to that if it would help to get rid of endless unnecessary plastic! The trouble is that we've all got so used to food that needs little or no preparation, instant salads, washed veg often even cut up for minimal effort, that to go back to how things once were, would for some be at best difficult, for others actually bordering on efffrontery!!!

Some grandparents fly to another country to see their families, , Emma Thompson flies to America for the Oscars , far more important .

Jabberwok A community shop has opened in our town. It's run by volunteers and is trying to be as environmentally responsible as it can be.
Many families with young families come in looking for organic veg, pesticide free toiletries and milk in glass bottles.etc
It's popular with young people as well as us oldies.
There is still some plastic but packaging manufacturers are working hard to improve things.

A bunch of attention seeking nincompoops full of virtue signaling selfishness!! If they all practised what they preached well done. But no such luck!!

namsnanny they said the same about civil rights activists and the suffragettes.

mycat are you so rude in rl?

Thing is people are aware of this issue and do care and are willing to make changes like less plastic etc.

But when you have mass disruptions on this scale and gleeful looking rioters dancing in the streets while their actions are causing massive upset and job losses and you have celebrities who fly more times in a year than most of us do in a life time lecturing us all it’s very off putting.

crystaltipps

Only if I feel I am being patronised.

crystaltips you say don't bother criticising individuals, but surely nobody wants to be lectured by hypocrites? Isn't that what we often criticise individual MPs for, saying one thing while doing the opposite themselves? Of course the whole issue is much bigger than these individuals, but I seem to recall thatCameron's "we're all in it together" has garnered much derision, not least because the high moral stance wasn't followed through. Nobody's saying they have to be perfect, but they should at least be doing their utmost to fulfil the message they're preaching.

I don't believe these demonstrations would lose sympathy for the cause. People would have to be pretty small-minded and selfish for that to happen. The cause is bigger than all of us.

You have no right to be "put off" Mycatisahacker. It's your planet too. And that of your children and your grandchildren.

These demos could very well bring forward a zero emission time, by encouraging politicians the like to cut out the talking and show some action.