To think the judge was right to throw the book at Just Stop Oil?

There is specific provision for union action.

Part of it is proper balloting and advance notice of strike action.

Another part of it is immunity to legal claims if the rules are complied with.

It’s how we balance the interests of labour ‘combination’ with the rights of everyone else.

Trades union rules and interests have nothing to do with the criminal interruption of the road network.

Tandora, excellent point re trade unionists. Union members exercising their constitutional and democratic right to protest frequently cause disruption on a national scale.

@IllMetByMoonlight that's an excellent point, but the thing campaigners don't seem to realise is that those in positions to 'do something about it' also have other considerations. It's absolutely right that campaigners of course wouldn't have all the answers, but they also don't understand all the barriers either. It's not as simple as, 'nobody's doing anything because they aren't listening, so if I shout louder, all the difficulties will just vanish'.
Unfortunately, Governments do have to consider things like the economic consequences of just stopping oil.

You see the problems, yes. That's great. Absolutely needs to be brought to attention. But it isn't just somebody else's job to fix this problem. It's somebody else's job to fix this problem whilst minimising the amount of other problems that will be created.
One of the problems with climate change is still the number of people who don't think it's a problem. Some of those people are of economic importance. Much as we might hate this fact, we can't pretend the economic situation today doesn't matter and can just be ignored in the teeth of the far more serious issue of global climate change.
Here and now, today, it DOES matter. Yes, people are short-sighted, but if we are all really honest about it, most of us will prioritise our immediate personal situations over what will happen in an uncertain number of years when push comes to shove. Policy makers have to look at the immediate impact of changes made and what they can realistically impose on a beleaguered population.

Of course, it seems like a no-brainer to me that we prioritise the planet we live on. But if any government really and truly did what, at this stage, it would really take to make a difference, even if they could do it just like that, as protest groups seem to imagine, there would be economic collapse. And the biggest sufferers would be those
who are struggling to put food on the table today, in the here and now. Governments can't just wave that away as an irrelevancy.

What you are suggesting is that as long as people feel it is important enough they can force the change they want. This is just low level terrorism in the end

So what about - say - trade unionists? Are they low level terrorists too? At the end of the day the ability to protest - including against the actions and decisions of an elected government- is an important and healthy part of representative democracy.

I would have given longer…..

TempestTost: The fact is that while these protestors like to claim some kind of moral high ground, they don't have more realistic or achievable ideas about how to solve the problems of consumption any more than the rest of the world.
That's the real elephant in the room holding back action - there are serious roadblocks and no one knows how to deal with those without sending us of the rails in another way.

You're right, the climate activists who have protested with both XR and JSO aren't necessarily offering ready solutions -they are calling on the UK government to act in the best interest of its people, in the words of the early XR rebellions, to "Act as if the truth is real". They are saying: the climate science is conclusive, anthropogenic climate change looks set to cause untold damage in the decades ahead. What is our government, who are elected to act for the good of its citizens, doing to safeguard us and prevent harm?

The climate activists are asking the government to listen to the science and to act on it. In the case if JSO, a plea specifically to not issue any new licences as this would contravene sound climate science. People seem to think climate activists have, or should have, all the answers. That's not the point: it is for our government to take courageous action now to prevent future harm. If they were serious about this they would mobilise to fund research, commission new technology and draft policy which would reflect the urgency of the climate crisis.

To suggest that you can only campaign about a perceived wrong if you are simultaneously able to serve up a solution to said problem isn't helpful. As a SEND campaigner, I don't have all the answers, I just point to what is glaringly wrong and suggest someone whose job it is to be held responsible for Education take responsibility and attempt to fix it.

The point is that we are a society and so things like policies and rules have to be decided upon, and in a democracy that happens through the people. What you are suggesting is that as long as people feel it is important enough they can force the change they want. This is just low level terrorism in the end.

The fact is that while these protestors like to claim some kind of moral high ground, they don't have more realistic or achievable ideas about how to solve the problems of consumption any more than the rest of the world/

That's the real elephant in the room holding back action - there are serious roadblocks and no one knows how to deal with those without sending us of the rails in another way.

Totally

@Lopine oh i completely agree They shouldnt be in prison
They should be helping to provide care and or monetary recompense to this lady instead!!!

https://www.joe.co.uk/news/mum-paralysed-by-stroke-after-m25-protest-delayed-trip-to-hospital-by-six-hours-289722

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/article/2024/jul/19/just-stop-oil-tactics-prison-chris-packham

In the Guardian this morning

you’re missing the point of my post and it’s tiresome trying to debate with people who don’t / can’t engage in critical thinking

Maybe the UK is different to where I live, but when there are strikes by doctors emergencies are still dealt with - there are contingency plans in place beforehand. While it is inconvenient for others they are advised beforehand what is going to happen. Rail strikes are also known about in advance, meaning people have the opportunity to plan. It's completely different.

A Royal wedding or other event which caused a disruption to roading is known in advance and people know to take a different route. Have I got that right?

Completely disproportionate in the same week that the killer of an 11 year old girl gets a suspended sentence after being convicted of manslaughter. But then economic crimes always seem to attract more serious sentences than crimes of violence against women and girls.

"Dear Cressida Trust-Afarian. So you think it is acceptable to bully working people and stop them going about their lawful business?"...
Come on, Greek. Do better. Why do you presume a woman is no more than the sum of her background? Odd to extrapolate that a daughter of musicians somehow isn't also of "working people" stock?
Even if she was the epitome of privilege, she is still right: we are in grave danger as a result of an ever worsening climate emergency. Fact.

WTF Where have you lot been or have you just got short memories.

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/in_the_news/738408-114-campaigners-arrested-for-planning-protests

Valerie, I thought the judge's use of the word 'conspiracy' sat awkwardly in the context; it is technically correct usage of course, but he could have phrased it using a verb form as opposed to the noun: "you have conspired to x, y and z..." instead. Conflating, through selection of vocabulary, the climate emergency with 'conspiracy', when an increasingly concerning fact is that science-deniers tend to consider anthropogenic climate change a hoax, or a 'conspiracy'.

M25 has been notorious for traffic jams for years

I think everyone who has ever driven on the M25 has been stuck in a traffic jam.

It is the CONSPIRACY. It is a very serious offence.
I am also assuming that you have never been stuck in traffic on the M25.

Perfect28
"if a tree falls down and blocks a road... It's just tough. You aren't guaranteed to be somewhere on time just because you drive, there are always risks of delays."
I think a tree falling down is considered to be an 'Act of God' (insurance terminology). Presumably efforts would be made to clear the tree to get the traffic moving, etc
In this case, they were deliberately attempting to cause as much disruption to ordinary people's lives as possible.
But 'disruption' comes in many forms. The news item stated that one person missed his cancer appointment at the hospital. if you are having a course of cancer treatment this could make a difference to one's long term prognosis.

How is preventing people from getting to work helping your cause?
Labour is planning to concrete over the greenbelt with Barrett boxes and non recyclable solar panels and yet all the XR anti-nature loons have no problem with the desecration of wildlife and nature this will involve.

Dear Cressida Trust-Afarian. So you think it is acceptable to bully working people and stop them going about their lawful business? Why don’t you target rich polluters and private jets instead of preventing minimum waged workers getting to their jobs.
I suppose you support the blocking of ambulances too.

If they were let go with a slap on the wrist, their next action would be even more spectacular. And all those laughing at those idiots daring to put their livelihood or hospital visits over the Cause, might change tack if it's their mother denied a lifesaving operation or their child unable to get a heart transplant or just take their exams, or their house gets robbed in a continuing blackout because of a "peaceful protest" disrupting a power plant operation, government networks, or some other lifeline services deemed a worthy target by JSO

As a pp pointed out, doctors' strikes cause a few of those things too. And I wonder how many people have road accidents when there are rail strikes or how many miss or are late for exams and appointments.

I agree with this as well.

The climate crisis denial has to stop.

I am by no means perfect when it comes to the climate but at least I don't fly in a private jet or run marathons in the Antarctic. People have to accept that they have to make changes to their lifestyles (and companies need to do a LOT more to protect the environment).

I am sure this will be appealed and I do think the sentence will be reduced.