Climate Change Protests - will they make a difference?

I was alive during the second world war and I was an old enough child to appreciate food rationing and making do with worn clothes and food rations, and how my mother had to manage. So it seems natural that the climate change danger will bring challenges very like the challenges of war time. so that frugality will show up occasional inequalities.

However it's important that we all pull together and not quarrel about social class differences at this time of danger.

When I was a child in the late 60's we did not have anything like the number of electronic gadgets that people have today.

Most of my entertainment as a child came from being outside in all weathers playing with my friends. Most of my parents entertainment came from reading. We did not have central heating back then and the family all ate together at tea time rather than all eating at different times. A lot of our clothing and the like were handed down rather than buying new. Very little food went to waste as we could not afford to waste it. We had a garden big enough to grow our own fruit and veg.

We used to consume far less energy than we do today and as a result had a far lower carbon footprint.

As a society we used a lot less goods as well because people did not feel they had to replace every gadget they had as soon as a new version came out.

Many items years ago used to be produced in a modular format so that broken parts could be replaced. In todays age many products are produced in a way that is not modular so the whole thing needs to be thrown away when a part is broken.

For example my friend’s washing machine has just broken. One of the supporting struts that holds the drum in place has gone. This strut is part of a sealed unit so it cant be replaced so the whole washing machine has to be thrown away as a result. Years ago this cheap part would have been replaceable simply with the removal of a few bolts replacing the strut and then bolting it back on. Poor design plays a part in global warming.

Lots of big manufacturers operate this way today on purpose where products are designed to be thrown away rather than repaired as it increases their sales on new products. It puts profit above the environment as huge amounts of energy and fuel are used to build these products and transport them around the world.

Pretty much - don’t teach us grannies to suck eggs!

It’s breathtaking how many of you on here are using “white” and “middle class” as a slur like it’s some kind of crime. How many on here are middle class? White? The majority I should imagine, does being white or middle class mean you can’t protest about anything. What hypocrisy. Obviously no one here thinks climate change important let’s go on chucking plastic into the seas and rivers who cares. The government must take a lead, ban single use plastics, make manufacturers responsible for recycling their products, farming and fishing are big plastic polluters - the industries that supply them have got to clean up their act. Our government are too busy gazing at their own navels to do anything positive they are so afraid of upsetting the voters. Yes we might need to curb our lifestyles - did your gran drive around in. A car picking up the grandchildren ? It isn’t always necessary. I could go on but the message isn’t important to those of who would rather undermine the the message by ridiculing the protesters. No I don’t agree with their methods, but at least it’s opening the conversation. I expect you are all lambasting David Attenborough for filming wildlife and no doubt using technology and that 16 year old Swedish Girl shouldnt be speaking up no doubt.

I have solar panels, a sunken rainwater harvest tank (flushes lavatories and provides water for garden), recycle everything that can be. Take things to Charity Shops and drive an eco-friendly car.

I am not stopping flying, if we all done this the economies of countries who rely on tourism/ travelers would crash. We do drive via the tunnel if going to France.

The new aircraft are less polluting than the older models, Ryan has been outed as the most polluting airline in Europe, fortunately I would rather not go than fly with them!

Terribull


If these protests are happening worldwide, as has been reported apparently, what is the reaction of the authorities in America, Russia, India, China?
Does anyone know?

Yes, I had heard about the ex-private schoolboy activist from the very middle class background who has posted on social media about his extensive worldwide holidays.

I have so much more admiration for the 60 year old man who walked from Wales to the protest. He does appear to practise what he preaches.

Exactly so Mycat

‘Do as I say - not as I do’ springs to mind!

Exactly but taking flights and staying in posh hotels on expenses is so much more fun than conference calling from home!

And to answer the original post yes it’s made a difference to me as I now see ‘climate activists’ As even more selfish stupid and unpleasant than I did before.

One said he was a ‘freelance choir leader’ er what the actual freak is that when it’s at home

Climate change global conventions ought to take place via satellite link.

We have the technology.

They, especially, should use it to demonstrate how very serious this topic is.

You actually couldn’t make it up could you

An Extinction Rebellion Activist who claimed air travel should only be used in emergencies, has taken several skiing holidays and has flown to various far flung global sites allegedly. I'm sure a skiing holiday for exhausted eco warriors could in some circumstances be deemed an emergency maybe he had to dig someone out of an unexpected avalanche, or maybe he was just taking the piste who knows! Anyway I'm just so grateful to those selfless high profile folk who regularly fly to meetings about climate change to warn the rest of us just how damaging it is to fly, unless of course one is flying to a meeting about climate change

Anyway, next time I feel the urge to book a flight, I'll try and flag up in my brain "Emergencies Only" ...bite my lip, and carry on with the booking, but in fittingly, guilty and subdued manner

Yes Mycatisahacker - Thatcher’s Police were given terms & conditions way above and beyond in the 1980’s. They were dubbed ‘Thatcher’s Army’.

Several of our friends during those years were in the Police.

Stories I could tell would make your hair curl.

Urmstrongran

Absolutely agree. I also think the police have been generally ignored and had their numbers culled by TM so they are quite content to sit back and let the government get the blame for this. They can quite rightly site police cuts so can’t deal with it.

Thatcher had the police in her pocket.

‘connived’

It’s the sheer arrogance of them that angers me. Such middle and upper class patronising and pontificating.

I thought we were a laughing stock over Brexit but things are now worse.

As ever in this country it’s the loud shouters and the show boaters who seem to rule and who we have to listen to while decent honest working people are ignored patronised sneered at and discounted.

Can't help contrasting the way today's Police have surrendered the streets to the nice middle class kiddies and conived in bringing London to the current state it is in with the way the miners were hammered into the ground ( literally) those years ago.

But then they were working class and no mummies and daddies to plead for them or tell the cops to back off.

If this was a working class movement you would see a very different response. Guaranteed.

It’s a bloody disgrace

Just a few points on electric cars.Someone posted they were very slow.They aren't like a milk float !.Our Nissan Leaf accelerates like no other car I've ever driven when knocked out of Eco.Not that I speed of course, but handy when pulling out of a busy junction.Range 140 miles but have been all over in it.Tbh on a long journey a 30 minutes stop to charge makes me a safer, less tired driver and I always need a loo stop anyway.
The biggest problem re electric is the cost.And charging if you don't have off road parking.We were lucky to inherit a bit of money and decided to use it to put solar panels on the house,and use towards the car.And an ex demo one so considerably cheaper but like new.
No going back to petrol or diesel .I also drive an electric van for work and it's brilliant.Quiet,clean and I hate sitting behind vans and cars chucking out fumes.
Of course there's a cost to the environment just making them and the batteries.But with 800 houses going up near us and the local school I can't think how much cleaner the air would be, and quieter, if the government prioritised the infrastructure and prices came down.

On the front of The Evening Standard the headline "Eco Protesters threaten to shut down Heathrow Airport". Lets just hope it doesn't inconvenience any of their number, because some have been exposed as enjoying far flung holidays or God forbid anyone really important who cares deeply enough about our planet to frequent overseas talks and conferences on the matter.

Apparently they are heading off to Heathrow airport tomorrow:

“The Extinction Rebellion demonstrators are expected to start targeting the aviation industry, having already taken over London's streets and caused commuter misery.

Activists claimed they would 'raise the bar' on protests having already taken over Waterloo Bridge, Oxford Circus, Parliament Square and Marble Arch this week.

Organisers today said they are prepared to escalate the group's tactics if their demands 'are not met' - with 'thousands more rebels' expected to join in the coming days.”

Maybe they all walked to London wearing sack cloths and rope sandals ? Maybe those cheap tents weren’t mass produced in China ? Maybe those thousands of plastic bottles will all be collected up and taken home with them ? Maybe none of them have ever flown in an aeroplane in their lives ? Maybe pigs fly ?

yes can see how those protests would go down in China, Russia, Catalonia and the USA!!

It’s just w jolly for these people. They don’t give a fuck about the millions who can’t get to work so are not paid.

Agree it’s mob rule by patronising well off bullies.

As if they are the only ones who care about climate change!!!

I guarantee you every one of those idiots takes flights on a regular basis, drives a car, has central heating and electricity.

Then go and protest in countries that make no effort at all we all know who they are. All this having such a jolly time, lets hope you clear up your jolly mess (Glastonbury?!!) and perhaps spare a jolly thought for those who don't enjoy your middle class patronising jolly privileges! Unless the whole world pulls together over climate change nothing is going to alter. As for meeting the protesters demands! What are their demands and how do they suggest we reach them when most of the world couldn't give a fig?!!

Retired on good incomes!

Students so not working then living off the bank of mum and dad!