Climate Change Protests - will they make a difference?

Our neice is an ER campaigner.Ironically she is not in London for these protests as she's flown off on holiday with a big number of extended family on holiday.Whilst I share her concerns about the future of our planet I'm also quietly seething at the hypocrisy of this branch of our family who are vocal and prone to lecturing via Facebook whilst leading basically a very middle class lifestyle.So it colours my view of ER protesters unfortunately. Because I do feel climate change is a very real threat.I worry for future generations.
I wonder how many of the protesters have clocked up as many air miles on extended gap years and numerous holidays as she and her siblings.
We can't undo what we've done.I have 3 children,have always kept pets -all using up resources.And apparently our neice has vowed not to fly again.Luckily for her she's already seen far more of the world than most ordinary folk could ever dream of.
But I fear ER whilst highlighting much needed large scale action against climate change could go too far.Peaceful protests yes.Anarchic use of glueing onto trains taking up hours of commuters and police time is only going to alienate a lot of people and could be counter productive.
But then I prefer to quietly change what I can realistically in my own lifestyle. And talk about it but as Tom Heap the countryfile presenter said in a way that isn't finger wagging.
It's frustrating to feel powerless as an individual.Trying to find a balance between enjoying the one life you have,but leaving a legacy for those following.As a recent new grandma it's becomes even more pertinent.And depressing if you let it.

Let’s all kill the messenger.

But what about the message?

She wasn’t offered..... not... she want offered ?

Exactly Terribull if you are going to “talk the talk” you should first “walk the walk” !

I am looking at some of the photographs of the grinning protesters wearing fleece jackets and leather boots. There are plastic bottles, bags and sheets lying all over. One woman complaining that she want offered vegan food and soya milk in the police cells for goodness sake. Really? How terrible for you.

I agree with Granny Gravy's comment up thread, our output is infinitesimal compared to China and the US. I think causing disruption for THOSE that have to go to work, who don't have the luxury of taking time off to go on protests will not garner much support.

I also particularly agree with Monica's post about reducing the population, but will the voracious climate control protestors be prepared to also target the communities who incline towards larger families, rather than a lot of hapless commuters who possibly can't afford to procreate in the foreseeable future.

Whilst I appreciate that the younger generation see this as a problem they will inherit, I do think SOME of them don't make enough effort themselves. There's an awful lot of rubbish left behind at festivals, why aren't they taking it with them. My son and his friends were "Green" voters whilst at university, but they too didn't recycle their rubbish just left it piled up, in contrast to our remaining parents who weren't particularly mobile towards the end of their lives, but painstakingly did everything they could to sort their rubbish into the relevant collection boxes.

There's an awful lot of sanctimony surrounding climate change, at the recent Davos conference, David Attenborough addressed the subject and it was noticeable just how many had flown in on their PRIVATE JETS to listen to him. Similarly, A few weeks ago Rod Liddle wrote in the Sunday Times that his own daughter had been on the school protests, but that still didn't stop her flying off during the half term week to go skiing.

A few have questioned my assertion that the human population growth must be controlled.

I put forward this idea, because I believe consumption of the earths resources is killing it and it is the human species largely doing the consumption, either through exploitation of other species or the earths raw materials.

However what I did say in my final sentence was it isn’t going to happen

The reason I argue that is because we are all too invested in the current economic model. Either as consumers or profiteers or both.
Mere mention of a more controlled economy and society is a total anathema to the majority.

We may in years to come convince the human population that this is the only way forward, but it will be too late by then.

Protest by the young has happened for ever, and I for one welcome their enthusiasm. Our generation of ‘68 protested more than most. Remember CND, Vietnam, Greenham common? Never take away that ability to express themselves it would be a travesty. Irritation at being delayed on our travels will be as nothing once the full effects of climate warming are felt.

The human population is rising - the only thing we could control would be the rate of the rise.

There will be far more population movement as some countries become uninhabitable because of rising seas, droughts etc.

I guesss all that negativity is also aimed at David Attenborough who is doing a programme on climate change tonight.

Reducing population is already happening and some population forecasts for maximum population are lower than they have been.

In most European countries, especially Italy, average family size is below replacement level. UK family size is below replacement level. The increased population is caused by population shift from other countries, not natural increase.

Average family size has fallen to close to replacement level and across Asia.It is only in Africa that family size is still high.

What more could we do? Give plenty of warning and then give child benefits for the first two children only, except in the case of twins etc. This should only apply to children born after the relevant date. Share attribution of benefit between both parents, so that it is noted on their tax records whether they have fathered children and whether, therefore any children are entitled to childbenefit or not.

Draconian? I do not think so. Will it cause a few problems, yes, but compared with the effects of global warning?

I will not respond to any posts for a few days. I am away until Monday without internet access.

Not at all janipat and I don’t believe people realise just how serious the situation is.

How to reduce the human population you ask Maggiemaybe? Logan’s Run! Just goes to prove my point about the ignorance of some people. There are, of course, ways that this can be achieved without resort to draconian measures ?

But it also includes reducing the human population.

How is this achievable Whitewave?

Logan’s Run, anyone?

Work and hospital appointments are not the only reasons people want to move around the capital.
There are numerous routes taking in the major hospitals which don't need to wade through protesters and, if people have hospital appointments (a tiny proportion of the population) between now and April 29th then there won't, by the same token, be staff there to attend to them.

Bit of a sweeping statement there Anja I think more people care than you give credit to. I wonder how many would still be supportive of this "fuss" if it was them unable to get to work, hospital appointments, the local transport prevented from running etc It's easy to support disruptive action when it doesn't affect you personally.

Is a big fuss the right way to go about this though? And, as I said, are they targeting the right people?

Will worldwide governments take any notice at all of the fact that Londoners are inconvenienced, the sick cannot access hospitals for treatment?
Of course not.

And it’s not our generation who will suffer .....but your grandchildren.

They have my support because unless someone creates a big fuss nothing will get done and time in running out.

Actually I think it’s too late anyway.

Good on them for caring and protesting because most people either don’t give a damn or clutch their pearls at these ‘awful people’

Gonegirl did you miss my question about is it fair that Londoners trying to go about their lives are to be disrupted this way, until 29th April if one of the organisers gets their way? I support every effort to save this world, I just don't see how hurting ordinary people is the way to do it, it hasn't saved one gram of carbon and will actually have added to pollution.

Yes Urmstongran, but this daughter of yours is part of the solution not part of the problem.

Oh the irony of all the litter in the photos including plastic bottles!

If we cut down on our buying gas-guzzling 4×4s, clothes...blah blah, it will put people out of work.
Imagine everyone in the UK pledging not to buy anything new for a whole year, apart from food.
What about the shops which keep the window displays lit up like Blackpool illuminations 24/7 and stores like Currys who have banks of tvs on all day?
My own village cuts down on street lighting at night and many shops use bamboo and re-use pulp as food cartons. Waitrose don't have 5p plastic bags and most people I know and see, have re-usable hessian bags.
I myself am a low energy user, lower than the energy users lowest scale for a single person household but no matrer how much we conserve, how few flights we take (and GNs do fly a fair bit) or how often we use public transport (and I certainly do) other countries, especially Asia and the USA are criminally responsible for doing nothing about it.
The BBC iPlayer programme Storyville about their Facebook employees in Asia, shows the squalid conditions in which they live, the absolute mountains of rubbish in their communities yet the company has no interest in a movement to educate these countries and help reduce the waste.
My using a low energy bulb is but one grain of sand in all the deserts on the planet.

why would an eco warrior block public transport?
Fools.

gillybob I was talking about my grandsons when I said they are on school hols. I have no idea who the adult protesters are or what they do.

Our eldest daughter is 41y. She has always been an ‘environmentalist’ girl. In her teens (in the 90’s) she got nicknamed Miss Save the Whale (bless!).

Apparently one of the biggest things one can do to save the planet is to not have a child. - using up resources, so many other things I forget... anyway she put her money where her mouth is, so no grandchildren from this daughter.

I'm sure they're serious, but, you know, put your money where your mouth is!! I certainly wouldn't be proud of my granddaughter for causing so much disruption against people who are probably being put to great, maybe life threatening inconvenience for days on end. If she were to protest outside an embassy, or even better, a foreign polluting country's government buildings, then that would be admirable, but in the safety of the UK? I don't think so!