Climate Change Protests - will they make a difference?

It's a plant - bees like the flowers! (Callistemon)
Isn't it great about the bees of Notre Dame

Callistemon:

" " Gransnet contributors are not the whole demographic of older people. Grans are 1.English speakers who 2. can afford the money to run a computer and don't include 3. grans who are not interested in any weighty matters that are connected with politics"
That does sound like a conclusion to a report!"

I suppose it does. My impression and it's only an impression is that grans' opinions may be like the general population's opinions. And it looks as if people feel helpless to influence big events other than by their personal efforts.

I believe that huge demos bring the message to many people who previously have not taken much notice of such important events as climate change. Celebs are not angels but their presence alerts more people can than ordinary middle class folk.

Callis - whatever

It's a plant - bees like the flowers!

I'm not sure the protestors were doing just fine before Emma turned up, to use your wording GG "the daft cow" from Stroud Dr Something or other who invited everyone to take the day off and young Mr Boardman-Pompous do not do the movement any favours either. Or those camped on the pavement with their "one use coffee cup and plastic bottles" and I imagine everyone will be waiting to see if they do a good clear up on their departure.

They need to offload the dilettante element and find some representatives with more gravitas. who can refrain from making asses of themselves.

Anja
if only that was so. Most nations are not really getting to grips with the problem. CO2 and other emissions continue to rise and the window of change is getting smaller and closer

Then wouldn't it be better for countries that are making inroads to celebrate their achievements, celebrate benefits reaped and show the tardy countries what is to come and what can be done. There is far more incentive to change when praise is given rather than damnation.
Tardy countries are more likely to get on the bandwagon when they see that the eco friendly programmes are now de rigeur and are not tied to taxation or penalties.

I am in agreement that we all need to do a lot more! But this dreadful chaos caused by selfish and opinionated people, only make you feel antagonistic towards the whole thing.
The hypocrisy of celebrities like Emma Thompson is astounding, and I really don’t take kindly to being lectured by her! I haven’t been on a plane for the last ten years!
We had a massive family discussion about this yesterday, and I think the general consensus was, that all they are succeeding in doing, is making thousands of people’s lives a lot more difficult, these people, probably doing their best, like most of us, to help slow down climate change

They should put that boat on one of the plinths. Be better than that scraggy horse.

Probably her fault that boat got moved.

Can't we ignore the dotty celebs? The protestors were doing fine before they landed! Grrr.... Oars into everything.

Oh, I would like to say a thing or two to that Emma Thompson. Daft cow.

Forgot the

I agree with Callis - whatever there.

I don't want to be part of a target group. I don't wanna be surveyed!

Great posts janipat

I think the us and them creeps in when you get celebs and campaigners pontificating to the rest of us and being outed as hypocrites.

Everyone on here is concerned about climate change but that doesn’t mean you think this demo was selfish and damaging in the extreme

Excellent post Terribull and your last paragraph is spot on.

Gransnet contributors are not the whole demographic of older people. Grans are 1.English speakers who 2. can afford the money to run a computer and don't include 3. grans who are not interested in any weighty matters that are connected with politics
That does sound like a conclusion to a report!

RL is Real Life Alexa, I believe.

TerriBull you have just written what I was about to, but much more eloquently!

There are so many insulting and patronising posts directed at anyone who doesn't agree with the actions employed by the protestors, very much "them and us".

"most gransnetters don't contribute to threads like this one"

Fear of being admonished I imagine if they present an opposing point of view, not everyone has the confidence to do that.

Regarding the specific action by the Climate Change Protesters:

Two main points:

1. People who spearhead such movements are likely to be ridiculed if it's found out that they have clocked up air miles themselves on holidays to far flung places for holidays and then tell others flying should be undertaken in emergency scenarios only Being interviewed on a US talk show, is I would imagine not an "emergency". I don't think it's very wise to then further put your foot in it by declaring "if I could fly clean I would", subliminal message coming from that statement, maybe not everyone who flies thinks like this, just me

2. Disrupting ordinary people's lives going to work and particularly smaller business is not the way to garner support for what is undoubtedly a massively important issue and making fatuous invitations to the workforce "to take the day off to come and join in the fun" is pretty banal and shows that person to be lacking in any kind of understanding of the vast majority of the working population.

All this just reinforces the "them and us". Just too presumptuous for words.

Finally it seems to me that there are those who like to make the assumption that anyone who opposes the methods employed by the current protesters clearly doesn't care about climate change

Callistemon, what is RL ?

I have not concluded anything. I am trying to get an overall impression of the main sections of opinion in these more serious threads in Gransnet.

If it's not about politics, then why were the protestors not targeting specific businesses?

They can't target Costa because many of them, including Emma Thompson, have been photographed with their Costa one-cup plastic coffee cups!! [grin} Hypocrisy again.

Climate change is NOT about politics
But politicians have the means to change things.
If it's not about politics, then why were the protestors not targeting specific businesses?

Alexa I hope you don't use such flimsy assumptions to extrapolate information and use as conclusions for reports in RL.

Sparklefizz, you are right. I forgot that variable.

Climate change is NOT about politics (btw).

Varian and Alexa I think it's unwise to make assumptions based on contributions to political GN threads. I'm sure I'm not alone in being one of the people who is doing as much as I possibly can, but just not virtue signalling on here or on FB.

I have commented on hypocrisy because it makes me angry, but other than that I don't post my own political views online because I am a private person.

Gonegirl:
" Alexa I guess it just shows that most people prefer a quiet life. grin "

That's the default attitude Gonegirl, however I might also say that

despite that the great majority of demonstrators prefer a quiet life thousands have demonstrated on the streets of London and other big affluent cities .