Climate Change Protests - will they make a difference?

Observations from various posts on here.
It's not "just a few days" it will be the full 2 weeks if they have their way. It's not just commuters inconvenienced. The arrogance of saying taxis are a viable alternative for getting to hospital appointments, are the protestors going to chip in for those that can't afford one?

And finally this quote from one of the leaders.
Extinction Rebellion co-founder Dr Gail Bradbrook has warned that the group's tactics could escalate "if our demands are not met".
She said: "More people are joining us all the time. We're having a fantastic time here."
So pleased they are enjoying themselves, shame they're creating misery for others.

Yes well. I have just ridden my bike into town and back, breathing all the filthy fumes you lot put out in your sodding cars. Anyone else doing that little bit to help the environment? Or are you all going shopping/gym/all other short journeys, in your cars?

My grandsons go a really good (LA) school in London, and guess what? Yep! it's next to a busy London road. grrr.

Two weeks is a few days when you compare it to forever.

About time London streets were given over for a wile to non-motorists. Who said car drivers should have it their way all the time?

Save your pennies for a few weeks if you really can't afford a taxi.

Btw - warning. Travelling on London buses is horrific.

Who cares if they are "annoyed". The protestors are pretty annoyed about wild animals losing their God given environments.

I have just ridden my bike into town and back, breathing all the filthy fumes you lot put out in your sodding cars. Anyone else doing that little bit to help the environment? Or are you all going shopping/gym/all other short journeys, in your cars?

Who's this you lot and you all? I don't drive, never have. And you think travelling on London buses is horrific? Can you explain why? We have an hourly bus service to our nearest town, three miles away (so we're not exactly way out in the country). The single fare is £3.20. Sometimes it doesn't turn up. The last bus back
leaves at 7pm. We've no station. What I wouldn't give for a frequent, cheap bus service!

Btw - warning. Travelling on London buses is horrific.

No it's not - it's fab!

I wish I could ride a bike gonegirl I really do but my MS prevents me from doing so. I can walk okay these days (touch wood) but just can't manage the turning actions of pedalling.

Anyway besides that I'm really not sure how I could go about my daily life without the use of my car. I do school runs 3 times a week in 2 different towns, I pick up and drop off my DD's baby at least once, often twice a week, I look after my dad at the opposite side of town to where I live, travel to work in yet another town and do various hospital appointments for myself, DH and my dad too.

No cheap public transport around here either Maggiemaybe in fact it is outrageously expensive.

gilly I don't think you have to justify your use of a car!

I don't need a car because of where I live, London Transport is great, and I don't have to ferry family members here and there.

"Save your pennies for a few weeks if you really can't afford a taxi."

How insensitive! You obviously can afford taxi prices, some can't. Not much point when you need a taxi now not in a few weeks.

I never drive into central London, don't drive anywhere where there is decent public transport, and use buses a lot. They're brilliant! You really shouldn't be so quick to assume you're so much better than the rest of us.

Thank you River but I feel that some people jump to so many conclusions and forget that there are many reasons why someone might NEED to use a car rather than walking or cycling. Me not being able to drive would negatively impact on so many other peoples lives other than my own .

Of course the bigger picture is that if my DGC could get into a school close to home then they would not need to be driven backwards and forwards everyday.

I pity the poor folk on zero hours contracts who are unable to get to work and won’t get paid.

Of course the white middle class protesters on a jolly will be in professions that pay their holidays and sick days.

Selfish selfish selfish

They re not all white
They are not all in cosy professions - many are retired, self employed, students etc
It’s MUCH MORE SELFISH to
use up the planets resources, poison the oceans and destroy habitats and species and expect to go on living our cosy wasteful lifestyles without a thought for future generations than to take part in a protest.

They are pretty much all white and all the ones I have heard are very middle class. They are causing great hardship to millions of other humans who are just as interested and informed about climate change as they are but need to work!!!

One day would have been ok. All week is bloody ridiculous self indulgent virtue signalling look at me face book nonsense.

Retired on good incomes!

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

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?!!

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.

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.

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 ?

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.”

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.

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.

It’s a bloody disgrace