Commuters Fight Back

Whilst watching much of the demos around the world on the news, I have to wonder how these people got to the demos in the first place ?
I'd hope that they are practising what they preach and at the very least using public transport, but I somehow doubt it!
Apparently some have come from literally all around the world. Reckon they walked or cycled all the way ?
As well as the patronising comment from Clare Farrell, I would guess that the general public are fully aware of the situation - but they have to go to work by whatever means that they can, to pay their living costs etc, to be able to purchase food that fits with their personal budget and to have some kind of life . What would she want them to do as an alternative???

Just "a tad misguided"? Let's call a spade by its correct name, for goodness sake. XR appear to believe that they have a carte blanche to do as they wish and to define what is generally acceptable as protest, which they and others are entitled to do. But they have NO right to prevent people from living their lives, travelling to work and going about their lawful business. Most people in the UK share passionately in protecting the environment and taking firm action to counter climate change but I have yet to hear from anyone how destroying or undermining our fragile economy would reduce the prospects of climate change. Indeed, my fairly limited intellectual powers tell me that only with a strong and sustainable economy will we be able to take firmer action to counter climate change. To XR and the negative course they have embarked upon, I say: Not In My name!

Found it, posh boy is Robin Boardman-Pattison.

CarlyD7 this is from one of the founders, so as near official as possible, and I notice posh boy of the multiple skiing holidays ( can't remember his name) was there too, so obviously endorsed the action.

Extinction Rebellion co-founder Clare Farrell defended the Tube action, saying "the public, I don't think, realise quite how serious this situation is". What an arrogant, insulting person she is.

They are preaching to the converted. We have got the message in the UK and are doing something about it. It won't be a quick fix. XR need to be demonstrating in China etc

I think it's interesting how people criticise XR for not having a carefully thought through plan of how we're going to cope without all this technology (like cars) but no-one criticised the Leavers (during the Referendum) for not having such a plan?? They were able to get away with "oh, we will survive". But XR aren't allowed that "luxury" ? (PS the guy on the tube was probably one of those people that join any group no matter what it's doing - it's certainly not part of their official policy to disrupt public transport !)

I couldn't believe what I was seeing when I turned on the TV this morning. At first I thought I was looking a different country.

Not good the way those people turned into near animals though.

I can't understand why they did this. Sheer stupidity. In one breath they apologise for inconvenience to general public on the roads, then they do this.

I understand they want to get their message over to everyone, but this was just ill thought out.

There’s a lot of anger on twitter from XR’s own activists and supporters about today’s action.

mobile.twitter.com/XRLondon/status/1184733178436739073

If Extinction rebellion want everyone to go back to living off the land then the world population needs to be reduced by billions! I wonder how many new tech products and new clothes and plastic tat is on their Christmas shopping lists for themselves and their children; the whole lot of them are hypocrites.

Unfortunately a good message is being lost by 'rent a mob' mentality.

Well, it would seem that Extinction Rebellion have achieved something in uniting all the regular posters on the Gransnet News & politics forum against their action.

First time I have witnessed that in regard to any topic in the eighteen months I have been here. ?

I read one commentator pointed out, that given these latest high jinx, took place at Canning Town, a working class area, where most people were just trying to get to work trying to earn their daily crust. More often than not these demonstrators are from a different background altogether.

I do agree with one poster, can't remember who it was, who said the c'leb supporters, did the cause no good at all, many of whom said they were "very concerned" hence throwing their names behind XR, but didn't think they would rein in their air miles........yeah we know "plant a tree". Just naff right off with that, they still haven't got the message, people don't want to be lectured by those whose own carbon footprint is far greater than the average individual. As for this latest debacle, I know they'd like everyone to go back to living off the land, but needs must, and whilst there be many of the working population that support their ethos, I think they may find that most people need to be out in the cut and thrust of the working world.

Grandad1943 The stations targeted this morning Shadwell and Canning Town "service" Canary Wharf which is where a lot of Banks and Financial Institutions are now based.

It doesn't take much to turn a crowd into a mob, does it.

What it probably takes is the desperation of the man heard shouting I have to get to work - I have to feed my kids, as reported by BBC News.

I sympathise with the aims of XR. The first week of the campaign raised the profile of climate change significantly, but they now need to take a long, hard look at what they’re doing.

Specifically targeting ordinary people trying to get to work on public transport is unjustifiable and, as far as their cause is concerned, counter productive.

yggdrasil There are varying reports about the male on the floor on twitter, some saying he kicked a commuter in the head and others retaliated.

Will take the police a long time to view CCTV footage to establish the facts.

XR had stated earlier in the week that they intended to target London Underground/Overground stations.

They are rapidly becoming a pain in the neck. There was some fanatic from this group ranting on TV the other morning. Apparently, we shouldnt be complaining. I guess she didnt have to get to work, appointments or anything else. Perhaps she's getting a lift from Mr Cumberbatch to wherever she needs to be. Cannot be bothered when folk trying to put food on their table are having their lives disrupted in this manner. We dont all have private finances or privileged backgrounds to fund us for 'causes' .

By targeting public transport it does seem that these "activists" are more interested in causing disruption and chaos than they are in environmental issues.

Certainly a big own goal for the "genuine" people who wish to push this most major of all issues to the fore.

However, when working people are saying they are losing wages from not being able to get to work due to this action, those so-called activists lose all support from me, and I am sure very many others.

I understand that the commuters themselves removed them from the trains before police could stop them.

I understand that ER have published a book on how to demonstrate. \Does anyone know whether they have published anything on how they would reach zero emissions by 2025 without causing massive unemployment, details of the technology they would use, its robustness, how necessary goods like food would be transported around the country? I doubt battery technology will have reached a level where it can power lorries loaded with goods any distance by 2025. Anyway manufacturing batteries uses up vast quantities of energy and currently batteries have a limited life and contain both rare earths and highly poisonous metals like cadmium, which makes them difficult to recycle.

I will start to believe that ER is more than just a collection of professional agitators when they come up with a serious, technically detailed, peer reviewed policy for attaining their objectives.

It doesn't take much to turn a crowd into a mob, does it.
I couldn't see what happened to the protester they had on the ground. At least one guy was trying to keep them off him.

I think so too GG, I remember the daily grind of getting the tube when I was working up in town, not a pleasant experience, worse now overly hot and heaving. Bad enough without these capers and it's public transport, I thought these goons thought that was preferable than individual car journeys

Yes an own goal. I’m a supporter of XR but wouldn’t approve of targeting public transport. But it’s not a united organisation with strict rules, fairly loose smaller groups under a general banner, so don’t tar every part group with the same brush. Most XR supporters are not in favour. I guess the aim is to get headlines, not the best way of doing it. Stand outside the station with placards and leaflets ok, stopping trains not ok.

Yes, XR's actions this morning did seem off target IMO.
But tube stations are easy to access.
I get the sense that the general public has very little support for these demonstration left.
Perhaps violence will increase in London now that anarchists have taken over from school children.

WWMK2 I have been watching the footage on the news, and all I could think of was how frightened I would feel if I was caught up in it. (It is a line we use fairly often)

Apparently an 83 year old Grandmother superglued her hands to the train.

The DLR is one of the newest train lines and as I understand it also energy efficient.