Climate Change Protests - will they make a difference?

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

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.

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.

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.

But it also includes reducing the human population.

How is this achievable Whitewave?

Logan’s Run, anyone?

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 ?

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.

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

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

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

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.

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.

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.

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

Let’s all kill the messenger.

But what about the message?

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.

I really don’t know what kind of message this is sending out to the rest of the UK and the wider world whitewave .

It’s fine to block streets and strew rubbish all over ?
It’s fine to stop people from getting to work.
It’s fine to stop people from getting to vital hospital appointments?
It’s fine to cause so much disruption that 100’s of extra police have had to be called in at huge financial cost.
It’s fine to preach about climate change but continue to wear deadly fleeces?
It’s fine to preach about the effects of eating meat and continue to wear leather boots and shoes.
It’s fine to travel hundreds of miles in a petrol or diesel vehicle in order to protest against the very same.

I would love to know what most of these people are actually living on?

As I have said up thread I happen to think most of us here in the U.K. try very hard at doing the right thing for the planet .

Yes gilly "The Messengers" need to make sure whilst they are delivering "The Message" if they want to be taken seriously, that they are not leaving conspicuous amounts of waste, don't travel unnecessarily, don't drive diesel cars (yeah thanks for that advice Gordon Brown) so detrimental to youngsters, especially those who live or are schooled near busy roads, not to mention mothers carrying unborn children, only drive electric cars, get rid of their wood burning stoves if they have those, whilst delivering the message, to admonish those such as festival goers and travellers who leave piles and piles of crap in their wake, why is it ever okay to think others will clear up your detritus, to give up on flying anywhere. I think we are all fed up with grandstanding celebrities and politicians and their "don't do as I do, do as I say message"

I'll leave it there.

gilly and terri

Thank you for proving my point.

It’s a ridiculous waste of police time and stops people from getting to work.......and for what? To hear ‘ a message’ that we hear all the time and in a country that already does a lot to help stop climate change! Those protesters need to lobby and protest outside embassies and do some research into the worst countries.
I expect a lot of them enjoyed their ‘always a rebel’ moment.

You have to remember, these demonstrations are not about today. 'Today' will have to go hang for just a little while.

This is about the future of the whole planet, and it's aimed at those in power.

You could say this country is most responsible. Because the Industrial Revolution started here. So perhaps it's right we should take the lead.

I think they are preaching to the converted Gonegirl ! I really believe that most of us are fully aware and are trying very hard to minimise our impact on climate change.

I would like to take a cross section of these people and whilst attached to a lie detector ask them how eco friendly they really are themselves .

Oh crikey do you really want us to go back to pre industrial revolution ?

If the protest is "aimed at those in power" Why are they not gathered around the House of Commons, preventing MPs from entering, or outside the embassy of those countries which are the main polluters and stopping people entering or leaving. Stopping a builder, shop worker, train driver, bus driver or whoever getting to work will change nothing and will only lose support for their movement.