Just Stop Oil !

The biggest issue, in my mind is that it is all very well harping on about pollution and global warming, but if they want to “just stop oil”, with immediate effect, where are the alternatives that can be immediately implemented? We are having problems generating enough electricity to power everything already, without creating more demand. Then, where would we get all the materials, from copper to rare earth minerals, to produce all the batteries etc that electric cars and the like require? Plus, if you see photos of the horrendous destruction done to landscapes to extract those minerals from the ground, it feels a bit NIMBYist really. That’s not to say that we should not all be doing our bit by recycling, not using the car unless we have to etc. We have a south facing roof, so had solar panels installed, which definitely saves us money, as well as feeding electricity into the grid a lot of the time, so we are doing our bit, but not all houses are suitable. If Just Stop Oil want to be really taken seriously, then I suggest they buy up some land and build themselves an environmentally neutral community and demonstrate how living that way is fully practical. I’m not sure how they would manage travelling long distances and it would probably not be translatable to the old housing stock that the majority of people in this country live in, but it would be a start.

I'm surprised there's no mention of the destruction caused by the collection/mining of valuable resources for the production of solar panels and electric car batteties.

I think the phrase going to hell in a handcart applies. Quite pleased I'm a Granny. Wonder how many four year olds will be. I just keep on recycling and not ironing.

Momac55

Yawn

It’s people like you who don’t care who are going to drive the world into oblivion. As you are on Gransnet I assume older ? If you are 55 you will no doubt see the result of yawning through this, if born in ‘55 then you probably don’t care as you ( and I at 80) will likely die before anything major occurs. However if you have Grandchildren why not consider their lives and maybe research into this issue before it’s too late. As for coming on here to yawn ….why bother?

MaizieD

Good post, Granatlast 👏

Agree 🤞🤞

China has also invested far more in renewable energy, they're number one for wind power I think.

Unfortunately the way we're going we won't reach any targets. I get what you're saying but people have been told about the issue for over 30 years, it's only now when the situation is dire that people are actually paying attention. Even then many aren't, I fully believe that it's needs to be pushed how urgent it is, celebrating the little wins won't stop the huge losses.

Yawn

The UK's contribution from oil and gas to global warming emissions is trivial compared with China, India and the US, not to mention Putin's Russia. Those countries are where Just Stop Oil should direct their efforts but it's obviously safer to posture in the UK. And arguing that the UK occupies moral high ground from which to lecture other countries is laughable: they don't take any notice of a declining 2nd or 3rd rate nation.

There are some very interesting and thought-provoking posts on this thread.

China is in the top three polluters, but I do wonder whether China pollutes on our behalf, since so many items are manufactured there for distribution around the globe.

Granatlast007

I am part of no extremist group, I used to work for the Green Party back in the 90s when 'global warming' was already well known about but most people would laugh and talk about the future delight of growing grapes in the Thames Valley.

There are so many completely valid statements now by serious scientists, world organisations, top level scientific journals, governments around the world, including ours. Here's one such but you won't read it of course because you'd rather fling labels around and look at one of the major causes of climate change and fence it off as necessary. Well, how would we all fly off to Spain for Easter, to hell with the future, it's just weather.

Key Findings | United Nations share.google/3CrUz6IdYze7s8LUM

The oceans are currently warming to previously unknown levels, this is spiralling out of control, it's the reason we have heat bombs, massive heat waves, sudden changes of weather, before long, this is going to affect food crops with results surely anyone can see.

Some reputable scientists are predicting that we may have a couple of decades before real climate breakdown. I daresay the Telegraph or the Mail or the Express have prompted a question about the long ago, now supressed Just Stop Oil, anything to distract the masses with what's really going on. Burn baby burn as the conservatives like to say, shame it's the Earth that's burning.
You do know, don't you, that the stock markets are rallying every time Trump makes yet one more ridiculous statement, only the rallying is happening BEFORE the statement, it's leaked so the insiders can make money on the stock market, buying and selling in advance. The corruption in the world now is scandalous, that's much more important than someone missing their flight because of some pesky protest. Enjoy your grandchildren because they don't have much of a future.

We’ve been getting told since the 60’s that we only have around 20 years left so you’ll have to excuse me for thinking it’s all a bit hyped up.

China, India, Russia and the USA blithely pump out the majority of world pollution day in and day out and I'm sure if Just Stop Oil were to lie down in the road in Beijing, Mumbai, Moscow and Washington they would be 'accidentally-on-purpose' run right over.

(In the case of Washington, Mister Trump would order the ICE thugs to "deal" with them........)

M0nica I agree 👍

The UK has already reduced its emissions by over 50% since 1990 and is continuing to do so www.carbonbrief.org/analysis-uk-emissions-in-2023-fell-to-lowest-level-since-1879 and of curse imissions have fallen further since 2023.

I think we should make more of all the changes happening that are successfully reducing emissions , rather than cinstantly harping on about tthe bad things.

It is basic psychology. If you keep telling people that doom is inevitable that everything sis getting worse, they just look around, think 'I am trying, but nothing is getting better' and give up, 'Wahts the point,nothing I do works'

What we should be dong is trumpetting how successful we have been so far in cutting emissions, how every little effort can be seen to be working, and if we all keep going we will reach our target. That way people will think and know that there every effort helps.

And sack that boring misery guts Milliband , and replace him with someone who can energise and inspire people to look creatively at moving to nil emissions

Good post, Granatlast 👏

Trouble is, the message is right. We need to concentrate on sustainable alternatives to fossil fuels.

I am part of no extremist group, I used to work for the Green Party back in the 90s when 'global warming' was already well known about but most people would laugh and talk about the future delight of growing grapes in the Thames Valley.

There are so many completely valid statements now by serious scientists, world organisations, top level scientific journals, governments around the world, including ours. Here's one such but you won't read it of course because you'd rather fling labels around and look at one of the major causes of climate change and fence it off as necessary. Well, how would we all fly off to Spain for Easter, to hell with the future, it's just weather.

Key Findings | United Nations share.google/3CrUz6IdYze7s8LUM

The oceans are currently warming to previously unknown levels, this is spiralling out of control, it's the reason we have heat bombs, massive heat waves, sudden changes of weather, before long, this is going to affect food crops with results surely anyone can see.

Some reputable scientists are predicting that we may have a couple of decades before real climate breakdown. I daresay the Telegraph or the Mail or the Express have prompted a question about the long ago, now supressed Just Stop Oil, anything to distract the masses with what's really going on. Burn baby burn as the conservatives like to say, shame it's the Earth that's burning.
You do know, don't you, that the stock markets are rallying every time Trump makes yet one more ridiculous statement, only the rallying is happening BEFORE the statement, it's leaked so the insiders can make money on the stock market, buying and selling in advance. The corruption in the world now is scandalous, that's much more important than someone missing their flight because of some pesky protest. Enjoy your grandchildren because they don't have much of a future.

Oreo

I would be interested to know too.
My feeling on the Just Stop Oil lot is that they’re extremists and like all extremists don’t care about anything or anyone other than their cause.

I sadly agree with you.

Nor me, Maisie.

The thing about 'extreme' groups is that, if their message has some truth in it, it often gets taken up by more moderate activists. Which can lead to a useful result.

I can't think that what they are saying is altogether wrong.

Oreo

I would be interested to know too.
My feeling on the Just Stop Oil lot is that they’re extremists and like all extremists don’t care about anything or anyone other than their cause.

I am in complete agreement Oreo. I have always felt that Just Stop Oil and its spin offs has more in common with a religious cult like Scientology than a rational protest movement, whether I agree with it or not.

I would be interested to know too.
My feeling on the Just Stop Oil lot is that they’re extremists and like all extremists don’t care about anything or anyone other than their cause.