Pass me the bucket...

I have read the entire thread and am amazed at the polarisation of views! It seems to me that anyone who disagrees with XR methodology has been immediately assumed to "not get it" about climate change but reading through the posts shows that is not the case. Most of those disagreeing with XR methods, are apparently aware of the issues but dont agree with the actions to raise the profile of those issues. Not many are suggesting alternatives but a few are.
Others are reminding about responses to the disruption caused by eg suffragettes..now viewed positively because of outcomes that have benefited our societal systems and women as individuals and as a group.
There seems to be a view that unless one has always lived a blameless non polluting climate loving life, one can't wake up and smell the coffee now (not sure what Juliet Stevenson can do about her 4 children at this point, but surely that does not mean that she cant think about climate change!!)
Those who support XR are both putting the case for climate change and asking what else XR can do to gain attention?
Lots of understandable concern about the disruption, the risk for emergency services etc. XR says it has changed some methodologies in their protest methods to ensure emergencies are addressed. Not sure how to avoid a possible repeat of the Bristol incident though ...people stuck in traffic jams could have many reasons for their journey and if XR cause traffic jams how can they stop the resulting impact on those stuck, including getting to a dying relative?
For me personally ...I absolutely support action against climate change, I am absolutely trying to do my bit and spread the word, but at the same time I cannot quite get my head around the methodology the dressing up, the spraying red water , the pink boats etc etc! But I am acutely aware that 100 years ago I bet people couldn't get their head around the chaining to fences and submitting to force feeding!!
Sorry a long post and a lot of musings ....but if nothing else, this OP has got lots of us musing and discussing and that can only be a positive thing

Dinahmo of course our water won't help people in other countries, but isn't it at the very least still wrong to wantonly waste it? Sort of displays we have so much we can afford to waste as much as we like. I suppose I shouldn't have nagged my children not to leave the tap running while they brushed their teeth, after all it would just go back into the system.

If you don't begrudge her having a child, EV, why say she should hide her baby away? I don't think anyone's saying we should have no children at all, are they? How's that going to work?

I didn't realise it was food colouring they were spraying, Gonegirl. obviously not paying attention at the back It was still a wasteful and daft exercise though, imho.

The sooner they get the Citizens' Assemblies set up the better. That's something I could really get involved with.

I am absolutely not ignoring your point pinkquartz I live a stones throw away from the sea. I put food on a bird table for the garden birds and the bloomin' seagulls swoop down scaring any small birds off. They sit on my shed roof watching and waiting. Have you seen the size of some of these critters? I am not saying they are wholly responsible for the reduction in garden birds but they are definitely a major factor.

Water used in the UK goes into the acquifers and eventually back into our water supplies. Hardly going to help those people in countries without much water.

Reading these posts there seems to be a lot of jealousy here about celebrities. Rather than drive gas guzzlers they are quite likely to be driving electric cars. After all they are among the few who can afford them at the moment.

Tweedle24 you are being a bit naive - the government are certainly aware of the problem but they are doing very little about it. It's no wonder these young people are getting angry and demonstrating. Most of us won't be here for long and it is your grandchildren who are going to suffer as a result of our mistakes.

Like I have done for the last goodness knows how many years.

And we didn't have school pick ups in my day. I cycled or walked, a mile there and a mile back, every day to take three primary school children to school. All weathers. And that included a lunchtime go because one was a fussy eater.

Don't talk to me about carbon footprints.

I'm off shopping now. On me bike.

EV Whaaat?! You are complaining because a woman had her baby with her and was breastfeeding him?

That's just odd.

Gillybob

the seagulls are a topic often discussed where I live too as they are a protected species but also a public nuisance. I agree with you on that.
In fact most have left the village and gone to a nearby town with more tourists to steal from.

I am aware this is off topic

SO are more people changing because the XR demo is making them think?

Most of us seem to have already been environmentally conscious or lived a careful life anyway.
I am wondering if there are any on GN who are rethinking the way they live?

I hate seagulls. With a vengeance. Evil birds.

If I was to be pedantic I could say that one thing was laughing at another with this protest as a woman was sitting on the floor breast-feeding her baby in the crowd. Firstly, the woman was pontificating about the planet, yet amidst all the hype about saving the planet----she has added to it !

I don't by any means begrudge the woman for having a child but shouldn't she have stayed at home rather than feed her "statistic" adding to the population on the very subject that she's criticising ?

gillybob

I live next to the sea I know seagulls!
I watch tourists feed them and the gulls stealing their food in return.
But you are still ignoring my point...it is not gulls driving out birds in my part of England....there just are now a LACK of garden birds.

Our family too gillybob. Make do and mend.

They say they are bringing global warming etc. to the attention of the government. I am being naive if I suggest that the government is already aware?

I really cannot see how these protests help. As far as I can see, they just make people angry and frustrated with the disruption, probably people who are already, on the whole, already doing their best to help protect the planet.

But it wasn't just the criminal waste of water when people the world over are suffering from lack of it, it was driving a huge polluting fire engine into a ULEZ and keeping it running to deliver this water. Gonegirl is there anything XR could do that you wouldn't agree with?

The spraying of water coloured with food colouring did no harm. It wasn't paint. It's all publicity for the cause.

Maggiemaybe that's why XR want Citizens Assemblies set up. Those things would be covered. The government would have to take notice.

Many of us (who have to watch the pennies) have always been careful about buying new. I have always had to make things last a very long time but I am not saying I sometimes haven't fancied a change. I have always had things fixed or mended. Sofas and carpets cleaned not replaced and don't get me started on this bleedin' washing machine. I have been patching worn/ripped jeans well before wearing ripped jeans was ever fashionable .

I refuse to be lumped with these so called celebrities.

Too little too late. It should have started when consumer spending began and money flowed like water ( before austerity ) buying cars flying here there and everywhere, clothes, furnishings, shops buzzing and nobody gave a damn about climate change or anything else.

Only this last 10 years since austerity has bitten does it matter. Why now ? It mattered in the 70's but everyone was too pre-occupied with themselves because they had more to spend. We reap what we sow ! No use crying over spilt milk.

What do these protesters hope to achieve ? Because I'm blowed if I'm going to change what I've always done for the last 79 years-----lived within the law, minded my own business and never been a contributor to this blame of human destruction !

Celebs lecturing to people get right on my nerves. Most if these types will be driving gas-guzzlers and have four million pound huge houses in the Hollywood Hills, with all mod cons. They are clueless.

Whatever our personal views about XR, there’s surely no denying they’ve massively raised the profile of the issue of climate change, and got us all arguing talking about it, which can only be to the good.

It’s obvious now that the planet is in crisis, and we all need to do what we can (I’m sure most of us on here are). Whether that’s ditching flights and the car if possible, lobbying MPs, thinking seriously about how many children we have (if we’re of an age), pet ownership, what we eat, how much and what stuff we buy and use. It’s a minefield, no doubt about it, balancing the needs of industry, tourism, the individual against the urgent need to tackle climate change, and more informed guidance from the powers that be would be helpful.

The demos have been a huge success in promoting the cause, but I personally think that XR in the UK could do more good now by actively tackling urgent issues such as the lack/cost of public transport provision in their own areas. Things that would actually make a massive difference and that the general public could relate to. They need to keep a high profile but sadly they’re in danger of alienating the public by tying up very scarce police resources and stopping ordinary people from going about their day to day life. Spraying paint around’s just ruddy stupid.

And they should ditch the celebs (to be fair, they probably have no choice in the matter).

Callistemon

Keep up at the back there.

Someone suggested turning hoses on the demonstrators.

Callistemon I have already explained that I was wrong about that, and how I came to be mislead. (See posts by janipat)

The title of this thread has taken on a whole new meaning.....

The problem we have pinkquartz is that people feed the gulls despite signs telling them not to. They have been known to snatch food out of children’s hands.

We have a gorgeous traditional park with a boating lake etc. But the massive increase in seagull numbers has started to diminish the number of ducks and make it difficult for people to walk around at certain times .