Climate Change Protests - will they make a difference?

Did they oldwoman? I guess on Gransnet I have lost the argument. Only to be expected really.

Didn't someone say that when you resort to insults and name calling you have lost the argument.

This is the dilemma though isn’t it?

Either each individual is prepared to take responsibility in their own lives for protecting the planet or we have to be prepared to give governments the power to make changes and enforce a more eco friendly life style for all of us.

Or we just carry on doing what suits us as individuals regardless.
How do you reconcile “I care passionately about the environment “ with “I must have my takeaway and bottled water.”

It’s a genuine question. I’d like to hear a genuine thought process.

And if the thread depresses you, don't bloody read it.

Why don't you go into London and talk to some of them before spouting garbage on here?

Why should a schoolboy who believes strongly in protecting, and rescuing, this planet risk life and freedom by demonstrating in China.

You don't expect much do you?

Yours was an idiot post.

And as for the Tien Mien square thing, that is so ridiculous.

That is total rubbish Monica. My GS who is one of the demonstrators tells me that there are people of all ages and social classes there. And they are all completely committed to the cause. You don't know what you are talking about.

Mine was the first response to this thread and I am returning to it having been offline since Thursday morning.

It is depressing to find with this thread having run to 19 pages, Gabriella is still having to make the point that I made then.

No-one is asking every demonstrator to be a 'sea green incorruptable', but when the issue is so personal to everyone of us and the deadlines they are setting for government and the absolutism of their demands are so extreme. It does really seem very reasonable to expect that those demonstrating will in their own lives be living all the urgency they see in the issue.

I will really believe they see the issue to be as desperate and as urgent as they claim when they mount a demonstration in Tien Mien Square.

The more I think and read about Extinction Rebellion the more convinced I am that they are mainly a rentamob of comfortably off anarchists looking for a cause that sounds good.

Grammaretto
It's my immutable position that the vast majority of protesters do not do anything of note to ameliorate the influences of emissions and all they encourage us to curb. They are IMO, typical hypocrites.
Small steps are not enough
Do you really think that using a reusable bottle and hessian bags but doing nothing else, is going to have any effect?
One single car journey wipes out any gain many times over.
You have your view and I have mine but I can safely bet that I am much more 'green' than the vast majority on here.

Why do people have to above reproach before they are allowed to demonstrate Gabriella ?
Surely if that were necessary no-one would do anything to try to change the world.
Small steps.

As far as I remember, mycatisahacker the coalition Govt. removed the funding for public information films to save a few quid. I agree with you that they would be a good idea and would show a willingness on the part of the UK Govt to take climate change seriously.

Do you all remember the public info films of the 70s?

I think it would be a good idea if these could be revived to help people understand climate change and make positive changes to their lives in small ways? I don’t know anyone agree?

Unfortunately I do think these mob tactics are counterproductive to be honest.

go.e home

Alexa
blaming the messengers
Too right.
We in the UK cannot possibly be unaware of the messages put forth in news and social media...unless you live in a cave on an island without recourse to any outside involvement.
We know, only too well and don't need a reminder from people who choose to use and enjoy the fruits of the actions they want us to curb.
Look at the mess they left/leave.
Follow them go.e to see if they too use low energy bulbs, grow their own veg, don't eat meat, don't use plastics or drive cars and recycle their clothes etc....
If you believe that the majority who demonstrated, live lives committed to saving the planet, you are sadly mistaken.
They'll still be munching takeaways and flying abroad and driving cars and using far too much water and energy and buying the latest iPhones, believe me.

Peacefully campaigning against extinction is a middle class marker. The middle classes are partly defined as being composed of individuals who take public duties seriously enough to act. Middle class individuals tend not to excuse themselves from undertaking public responsibilities.

crystaltips do you have police in your family? If so you will already know that when police leave is cancelled, any financial loss is borne by the officer concerned, and overtime pay isn't that brilliant. I expect those with families would have enjoyed some time with them. 12 hour shifts and no rest days (which they are all on until this ends) do not make for any family time at all.

As for comparing the marathon, yes those of us that live on or near the route are inconvenienced, but it is for less than one whole day, and does actually achieve its purpose. The police reopen our roads just as soon as they can along the route.

Is campaigning for the environment just for middle class people? One of the criticisms of the protest were all the people are middle class - seems like the new snobbery is to criticise someone for being middle class - strangely usually by middle class people. Hats off to anyone running a marathon - I was using this example as an event which closes down far more roads than this protest - however people don’t just run the marathon for charity plus there is a mountain of litter after the marathon btw. Usually plastic bottles.

We are mostly doing our bit for the environment. None of us is an absolute duffer and we all know more or less what is ruining lives.

Some of us grans are too frail to join Extinction Rebellion.

Extinction Rebellion.
_______________

Monica, Gabriella G54 and others please reflect that you are blaming the messengers.
No messenger is ever blameless. The message is that your kids and DGCs are going to suffer pretty badly unless governments make laws to curb big oil and others who would extinguish their lives.

How many have been arrested at the London Marathon ?

Seems raising money for charities is selfish,

Causing nursing staff to be late for work is acceptable

What a silly comment! The Marathon is at the weekend, it comes and goes to a prescribed timetable that people can organise their lives around! and the participants don't create a mountain of rubbish for someone else to clear up! So, little or no comparison!

Middle class runners ? Only the so called middle classes raise money for charity ?

Some police liked this demo as it was peaceful , they didn’t need to call in the riot squad. When I passed by on Tuesday the police were standing around chatting with tourists and drinking cups of tea which people were bringing them. Plenty of overtime pay. It’s the London Marathon next weekend and far more roads will be closed than are affected by this protest I wonder if you will be criticising all those selfish middle class runners for inconveniencing motorists.