No more Protest

The consequence of their actions were very serious. I think the sentences are wholly justified. They also took up loads of court time with rambling statements that were not relevant to their defence.

I think they are actively harming their cause, as no one is going to persuaded by their actions to decide climate change is an urgent issue.

In Australia years ago when the rail staff went on strike they still worked, just left the gates open so everyone travelled for free - everyone was behind them!
If they could engineer a stunt like that it might get people on board

Why don't they do something to get their message across without disruption?

Next time there is a flood why don't they turn up to rescue people, or help out in shelter when people have been evacuated to?

It is violent and threatening. People take their families to exhibitions to see the world's wonders, they don't expect to expose them to the threat and violence these idiots present. It's time the government started listening to its voters, otherwise we will have a Trump situation in future. Also, it's the hypocrisy that stings, mainly entitled public school sixth formers who don't really know about the world. Champagne socialism at its best. I don't give a hoot about them or the 'burning world'

They aren’t peaceful.

Their actions don’t help the cause of climate activism. They actively hinder it.

The options aren’t just do
nothing or that kind of activism.

There are also deaths caused by leaving roads open!

That part I agree with you on. Not acceptable.

Non-violent protesting is not terrorism. That's ridiculous. The right to protest is a fundamental human right, as long as there is no violence or threats of violence. If they are attacking or harassing people then it's legitimate to lock them up.

OP, I mistakenly voted YABU. I agree with you. Punishing non-violent protesters criminally is what fascists do. It's fundamentally anti-democratic. If they are violent or threaten violence, that's another thing altogether.

If this were inconveniencing elites rather than ordinary people, they would have found a way to put them in prison for ten years rather than five.

Yes to all your points but especially that inaction causes more disruption.

Extreme unseasonable floods cause road, rail, business and housing disruption.

The insanely hot summer of 22 melted roads and warped train tracks. Much disruption

Looking at hotter countries this happens tenfold and is an indication of what happens next here.

I think that the sentences are too long whilst also thinking there should be limits on the disruption that protesters are permitted to cause without personal consequences.

It’s not “no more protests”; it’s “don’t try and close the M25”. But 12 months would be deterrent without being vindictive.

Yanbu. Without protest, we wouldn't have votes for women and the working class. Or weekends off. Or holiday and sick pay. Whatever your views on Just Stop Oil, you need to understand that British law is built on precedents. And now the precedent has been set to stop protest for any reason. No matter what s future government proposed,

There will be holy hell when the next women's march all get sent to jail

Be the change you want to see, Literally. How about looking up The Climate Majority Project, who exist very much for people who are concerned about the impact of the climate emergency and want to get behind change but not necessarily in the tradition of the kind of civil disobedience and peaceful protest advocated by Gandhi, Mandela and XR. It might be a good starting point for connecting with something more appealing, perhaps locally? Horses for courses. Or in this case, causes.

To respond to the OP, I too am very concerned about what this kind of sentencing means for democracy. I have listened to RH speak at public meetings on several occasions, participated in zooms (evidence submitted included recordings of a zoom attended by a Sun journalist) and subsequent actions, although not anywhere near the scale of the protest in question; when the reality of what climate science clearly points to becomes apparent, it is a natural consequence to want to take action to protect what we love: ours and other mothers' children, wildlife and the natural world; species and habitats; livelihoods, food and energy security; entire weather systems, often at considerable personal cost, risk of harm and reputational damage. Many of us have decades behind us of active memberships in organisations such as Greenpeace, Friends of the Earth, RSPB, WWF, the Woodland Trust among others, as well as writing to MPs and corporations with our concerns, only to feel frustrated with the pace of change and impact. And looking historically, when people find the courage to engage in civil disobedience, the change so desperately needed is more likely to happen. The climate science is compelling and clear, the men and women who act, informed by this, are motivated by care and overwhelming concern. Sure, actions may cause disruption, but not moving to impact change is going to be more damaging over time.

True.

I'd like to see it.

I'd like an energetic anti- climate change campaign I could really get behind.

Well if they'd been protesting peacefully on a pavement somewhere, they wouldn't have been charged.

They organised for a lot of people to occupy the M25 gantries, which isn't really peaceful protest. Hence "conspiracy to disturb the public peace" or however the charge was worded.

Ditto defacing works of art etc.

If they stuck to non-crimes they'd enjoy more public support as well as fewer criminal prosecutions.

I wonder if it would be more effective to target large, wealthy corporate offenders, rather than ordinary people trying to go to work or hospital appointments?

I try to ask myself would I be advocating the same prison term or freedom to protest for individuals protesting a cause i have no sympathy for. What about groups that may have views that are abhorrent to me but legal?

There are also strict sentencing guidelines so will be interesting to see whether the judge followed these.

Amazing how many people appear to think that's the only alternative to this kind of foolery.
Get off your high horses.

Perhaps so: personally I'm cross they are hogging court time in the guise of being martyrs - very self regarding.

They need to find a way to protest that doesn't harm or inconvenience ordinary members of the public or destroy art etc.

I'm sure they can think of something.

So, so foolish.

A bit like the antics of the former JSO

Blocking ambulances is not a peaceful form of protest.

So, so foolish.