Climate Change Protests - will they make a difference?

mycat if they demonstrated in parks they would not get noticed.

crystaltipps Thu 18-Apr-19 16:54:59

What a strange post.
Questioning the hypocrisy of some of the protestors does not mean that I am polluting the planet, discarding plastic in the local river or along the roadsides (although some people must be from the appearance of the AONB near me!) nor that I am not concerned about pollution, climate change.
Rather, I think that the protestors are aiming this at the wrong people. I would not expect them to fly off to China or America to protest (and goodness knows what would happen if they did but I don't think that this is the way forward and they are in danger of their message being lost on people who may become angry at their methods.

If they are targeting the UK Government perhaps they should have done this when Parliament was in session?

Yes, I'll be watching David Attenborough and listening, taking heed of his message, and try to overlook the fact that he has spent his life flying around the world in polluting aeroplanes in order to bring us those wonderful programmes.

Well he must be the only teenager on the planet then. Or maybe 13?

He's 17.

Hear hear callististemon

And GoneGirl perhaps you could explain to him how zero contract hours work and how his actions are hitting the poorest in society and will not make anyone any more aware of climate change than they were before but unfortunately have pissed off large swathes of London and the country in general.

Oh well at 17 he’d aware then., sorry but one day of disruption ok fair enough but this now is just sheer cruelty inflicting on millions of other hard working and often poor people. It’s so wrong and so unfair of them now.

Surely that was not artificial turf that they used to create a 'hayfield' on one of the London Bridges?
I do hope it was real turf.

I can't find any news reports of XR protests in China yet.
Does anyone have a link?

But it's not unfair to the planet, which matters a lot to our children, grandchildren, and their children.

Callistermon

Agree totally

rubbishing the message the protesters are trying to get across by criticising them for not being perfect, or for being the wrong colour or class, is to my mind, being part of the apathy that has led us to this position. Who could protest according to some on here? Only those who grow their own veg, walk everywhere, make all their own clothes, and are obviously not white or middle class or part of the 21st century would be allowed to comment. That is unrealistic but never mind any criticism will do if it makes you feel smug.

No one is saying it doesn’t matter!!

Of course it does but disruption on this scale costs small businesses and costs jobs! Real people are loosing their jobs. They can’t earn. Can’t pay their bills. Can’t access hospital appointments.

It’s targeting the innocent.

I think many of us know that.
So who is doing all the polluting in my AONB? throwing out fast food junk, plastic bottles along the road? It is not anyone I know. All fast food outlets are some miles away, so presumably they eat as they drive along then sling the rubbish and must encourage their children to do the same as there are Fruit Shoot bottles amongst the debris.
A 78 year old friend takes his life in his hands litter picking along a stretch of it (no pavements and it's a winding road) only to walk back again and find more has been dropped in the meantime.

It’s reported that they intend to target Heathrow Airport tomorrow...........not sure they will get support from people who have saved up for their holidays only to find their flights cancelled!!!!

I don’t think criticising mob rule makes you smug.

I think the definition of smug is not giving a dam about other people’s jobs and livelihoods because you are all right jack.

These posh protesters will return to leafy constituencies and have not one care for the misery they have created for Londoners.

Yes, but Urmstongran there are instances that show the other side.
A close relative was a mounted police officer during the miners strike and got clobbered when a chunk of concrete was heaved at him causing him to fall, then he was in kicked in the head rendering him unconscious. He never woke up and died 8 days later leaving a wife and 4 young daughters.
He was in his 30s.
I also have a brother who was there.
IMV, times change and the PC brigade have made ridiculous rules which have extracted any teeth that police previously had.
They now think it's better to mingle, hence gangnam style dancing at carnivals and bumper car shenanigans at fairgrounds. The 'We're one of you' style of policing.
I certainly don't agree with it.

If Heathrow is effected following the bloody drone debarcle we will defiantly become even more of a joke to the world than we are already.

My belief is the police fed up with the cuts to their numbers are enjoying this. I really do.

I was born in 1943,and I can remember quite clearly sweet rationing, taking my rationbook + 3d or 6d to the local Tobacconist to buy whatever . My childhood was much like yours Alexa with my mother doing all the domestic things, even preserving eggs in a bucket of waterglass! (we kept chickens) clothes were homemade, toys mostly second hand. Things had improved by the 1960's but again, things had to be looked after, and were mended frequently!! When I married in 1964 we were given a pop up toaster!! that toaster was mended again and again and yet again! it lasted years! Now of course you can't repair even a blown element so it has to be a new one!

It could have been done differently. I had to walk from Charing Cross to Bond Street (then back) yesterday to meet a lovely Gransnetter for coffee. It was a bit of a struggle but it was worth it. But how about people needing to do that to get to work? I have sympathy with the cause but I’m sure a different approach could have been arranged. And as for disrupting Easter traffic at Heathrow? That’s despicable.

I think the points made about mending things is really interesting and true. I well remember my dad stripping down the car engine, mending of the rented TV and radio etc. Even things like darning tights. We just don’t do these things anymore. Or can’t as said above due to lack of spare parts.

GrannyGravy13
I have items bought in Primark 6 years ago which get worn often, in fact, I have jeans and a top plus cardigan and backpack with me at the moment on a day out in Brighton.
I have yet to have to mend or throw out anything at all that I have bought in Primark. It is all wearable, usable and immaculate...believe me. It's obvious that you don't shop there because you have no idea how long their goods last.
Of course, if you want to spend £135 on a fashionable dress only to find that it's made in Sri Lanka in the same factory as Primark wares, or how about a pink suede leather bomber jacket costing £120 in M&S made in Vietnam, then I guarantee that they won't last any longer and you'll get sick if the sight of them when they're no longer in fashion.
The Duchess of Cambridge has worn H&M and Zara clothing and that's stuff I buy too.
You're far too snobby to be a savvy shopper.
Who wants to keep wearing the same clothes for 15, 20, 30, 40 years?
You can sell stuff you no longer want on eBay or give to a women's refuge as I do.

Affected debacle definitely.
Mycatisahacker

GabriellaG54, I was referring to the damage caused to regions in third world countries by our “throwaway mentality” to fashion. A whole lake has disappeared. Sweatshops are used by manufacturing in all price brands.

By the way I have a summer maxi dress worn on every holiday for the last 22 years.

No, not smug crystaltipps
Realistic.

Our eldest daughter at 41y sounds just the same as Gonegirl’s grandson who is 17y. She has been banging on about these issues (sensitively) for over 20y. She (like he) practices what she believes in. Has it made any difference? Probably not in the big sea. But she feels she has tried. And to her, at least, that counts.

What little we can all do does count- whether it is adjusting our diet, insulating our homes, travelling less, walking and cycling more or campaigning. None of use on our own can do much but together we can make a difference,

Varian so true.