Extinction Rebellion founder jailed for five years!

They were planning an unacceptable event and were sentenced according to UK law.

The judge didn’t give them a custodial sentence on a whim

Good for the judge and good to hear they had sense and weren’t prey to ‘political correctness’ like they often are here.

Urmstongran

“ Packham: Sentences are ‘disproportionately high’
Speaking after the protesters, TV naturalist Chris Packham said: “At this point I feel physically sick, and I don’t think I’ve ever felt that in this way ever before.

“I’ve just watched what can only be described as judicial thuggery, a total disregard for any mitigation circumstances when it came to sentencing. Disproportionately high sentences given to peaceful climate protesters in a world which is on fire.

“In a world which is burning and flooding. In a world in the midst of a biodiversity crisis.”

How many people died because ambulances can't get through, how many people die on their own because family can't get through. Packham is a hypocrite, wonder how the BBC transport him to his work sites, does he cook on gas. These people won't be happy until the world goes back to horse and cart, and cooking over a fire, oh wait a minute, coal is banned. So well all freezer to death. These morons deserve what they get. Protest yes, help destroy other peoples lives , no.

I have read the judge's comments and I understand why custodial sentences are appropriate in this case. They were all on bail when this offence took place. Fanaticism is just that regardless of the cause. The defendants crossed the line from peaceful protest to conspiracy to cause extreme and disproportionate disruption. We are fortunate here in the UK to be entitled to protest about anything but we are not entitled to repeatedly break the law.

What mitigating circumstances would he like to see?
Maybe claim that not many people were deprived of earnings, not many people missed vital treatments . . .

Maybe the media should do a fly on the wall series to see how green he actually is.

These Tarquins and Persephone's won't be signing on for Universal Credit when they emerge from jail - they are priveliged and trust fund minted. Unlike 'normal' convicts they won't find employers prejudiced against them because they're fortunate enough to not need a 9 to 5 regular income.
The justifiable sentences will doubtless make them regret that the lack of liberty will deprive them of being able to do The Season, keeping up with one's jolly friends, swigging Bollinger and stuffing themselves with Eton Mess. Just too frightful, innit?

Got what they deserved

Well we aren’t allowed to protest are we - this was not a violent offence. Yes, people were affected which was wrong but is it 10times worse than drunk driving which kills someone or domestic violence? I and many others have been inconvenienced by taxi drivers protesting, and the M25 is snarled up daily by stupid drivers causing accidents - should they be banged up ? Prison is not effective punishment which has been demonstrated time and time again.

It’s effective in protecting society from offenders who make clear they’ll repeat the offences for which they’re on trial

Iam64 👏👏👏

vegansrock

Well we aren’t allowed to protest are we - this was not a violent offence. Yes, people were affected which was wrong but is it 10times worse than drunk driving which kills someone or domestic violence? I and many others have been inconvenienced by taxi drivers protesting, and the M25 is snarled up daily by stupid drivers causing accidents - should they be banged up ? Prison is not effective punishment which has been demonstrated time and time again.

Some motorists are banged up (your words)

All roads have accidents on them at some time or another, which causes disruption for an hour or so.

These protesters caused a major motorway to be closed for days!!

Well we aren’t allowed to protest are we

Peaceful protest is allowed in the U.K., as evidenced by the regular pro-Palestinian marches, the climate march two weeks ago, I could go on with other examples, but I honestly cannot be bothered.

We aren’t allowed to protest is such a similar nonsense to the we aren’t allowed to say anything

Iam64

It’s effective in protecting society from offenders who make clear they’ll repeat the offences for which they’re on trial

🎯

vegansrock you post

prison is not effective punishment

Prison keeps undesirables off of U.K. streets.

I am rather pleased that rapists, murderers, violent criminals, drug dealers, terrorists (even if they have only been sentenced for plotting) are banged up

In this instance along with the protests they were found to be plotting an event which in all probability would have caused deaths, so in my opinion and that of the judge the correct place for them is in prison.

Iam64

It’s effective in protecting society from offenders who make clear they’ll repeat the offences for which they’re on trial

This.

They are allowed to protest.
just not in a manner where they have planned to endanger human life on more than one occasion.
That does. I admit presume, that they are intelligent people, and would know the impact e.g. on hospitals.

I do wish a news program would set up a program examining the protesters contribution to global warming whilst not protesting.

The suffragettes were imprisoned for being disruptive and causing damage, people thought they were silly women who should have been at home.

Absolutely vegansrock👏👏👏

Clearly, in the 21st century, stopping traffic is a heinous crime!

I wonder how the history books of the future will view the imprisonment of these JSO protesters? Perhaps future generations i.e. our grandchildren/great grandchildren will view them very differently from many of today’s GN posters.

It's not a great idea to base actions on what future generations might think. We tend to be quite poor on our predictions of how future generations will view the past.

Future generations - our grandchildren; great grandchildren; great great grandchildren - will be the ones most affected by climate change. I don’t think we have the right to ignore this; young people’s views are the ones that really count today. It’s their future!

amp.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2022/nov/18/outraged-xr-just-stop-oil-disruptive-climate-crisis

I’m glad they’ve been jailed, but they won’t serve anything near 5 years. It’ll be a while in an open prison, then out on a tag.

I think it unlikely the Labour government will intervene even if it has the power to do so (which I doubt).

No one has said we should ignore it. The amount of concern shown and efforts being made to be greener shows that.

That’s different from allowing people to plan actions that can result in people dying or being unable to get treatment for injuries, unless you feel that people alive now are less important and don’t need saving.

Future generations - our grandchildren; great grandchildren; great great grandchildren - will be the ones most affected by climate change.

Here's an interesting fact: Deaths from climate disasters have declined by 98% over the last 100 years.

ourworldindata.org/century-disaster-deaths

Baggs I think your facts will fall on deaf ears.