Page 14 | Extinction rebellion protester, ask me anything

Market1 · 2023-07-31T22:57:03+00:00

I support extinction rebellion protests, ask me anything you like - ( I have a very thick skin, nothing you say will upset me)

Begsthequestion · 01/08/2023 14:13

Market1 · 01/08/2023 12:14

It is achieving some aims. We know many companies, banks, organisations, etc who have changed their policies to avoid becoming ER targets, so that is good.

Obviously, there is a long way to go, but yes, every step in the right direction is great.

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Thanks. In terms of using mass arrests as an XR tactic to force the government to change its policies - do you think this can be effective, given how easily the government expanded the courts to process the thousands of arrestees following the 2011 riots, and the 5 new super prisons being built?

Do you see any problems with making mass arrests a crucial tactic in stopping climate change, while also trying to create a mass movement? I noticed that the leadership and most of the participants of XR actions belong to the slim section of society (white, middle class, male) that has the best access to legal representation, least traumatising experiences with the police, and the best job prospects before, during and definitely after any drawn out legal battle with the state and potential years spent in prison. So, unlikely to be affected by arrest and prosecution in the same ways as the majority of other people.

DontBeBitterGlitter2023 · 01/08/2023 14:14

tonystarksrighthand · 01/08/2023 14:11

Bellends. All of you. Don't need to ask you anything.

Anyone who cares about mankind doesn't block a road for emergencies.

Pathetic.

Applause

lapisamethyst · 01/08/2023 14:17

tonystarksrighthand · 01/08/2023 14:11

Bellends. All of you. Don't need to ask you anything.

Anyone who cares about mankind doesn't block a road for emergencies.

Pathetic.

This

Xenia · 01/08/2023 15:09

Market1 · 01/08/2023 11:24

We are not going alone though, are we, we are taking much of life on Earth with us. But I also think humanity is worth saving, yes,

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We will have to agree to disagree. If humans, monkeys, snakes etc die off other life will occur in its plae just like after dinosaurs went. Also if humans die off then other animals wll develope and thrive so the planet will be better off. In other words the more pollution to do us in the better for the planet in a sense. Encourage oil and save the planet from humans even....

Cincinnatus · 01/08/2023 16:00

tonystarksrighthand · 01/08/2023 14:11

Bellends. All of you. Don't need to ask you anything.

Anyone who cares about mankind doesn't block a road for emergencies.

Pathetic.

❤️

lostinfusion · 01/08/2023 16:09

OP - is it not far more likely we will be wiped out by AI before the planet gives up?

How do justify the disruption here by protesting & inconveniencing the hard working whilst Putin & the Ukraine are causing such environmental damage?

crackofdoom · 01/08/2023 16:14

Hello OP,

Well done for starting this thread. I have been on some big XR protests in the past and would like to address a couple of specific points.

Re ambulances: I was on Waterloo Bridge in April 2019, which we blocked for several days. Prior to this happening, XR had liaised with the London Ambulance Service to ensure safe routes and workarounds. Before every big action there would have been days and weeks of liaison with the emergency services. Unfortunately, the police decided- legally or illegally- to crack down on these big actions, so I think that kind of Co operation is a thing of the past.

Re the Canning Town debacle: I was around during that too. I was very personally concerned that that was going to backfire, and while I was still asking around about the best way to feed that back up the chain, XR circulated a poll on Telegram asking whether it should go ahead. The answer was overwhelmingly no, and I gather that a lot of people involved in organising were pleading with those particular protestors not to do that, but they went ahead anyway.

So....could I ask those who are outraged that allegedly emergency vehicles are hindered by environmental protestors (and I say allegedly, because I'm not sure there's any concrete evidence of it actually happening)- what about when ambulances get stuck in traffic jams due to sheer volume of traffic? I mean, if you're so worried about it, surely you'd consider every private car journey you took just in case you contributed to the problem and stopped a child getting to hospital..............wouldn't you? 🤔

DappledOliveGroves · 01/08/2023 16:18

I have a question. Is XR and the other various protest factions (Just Stop Oil etc), saying that human beings and animals have an innate right to survive on earth, as species, and that we must therefore stop climate change to ensure this survival? Given all the damage humans do to the earth, to animals, and to each other, why do we think we must ensure the survival of the species? Wouldn't the earth be better off without us on it?

loislovesstewie · 01/08/2023 16:23

It's not just ambulances, I have an adult child who has to be at hospital very quickly if they fall ill. It's quicker for me to put them in my car and take them to A&E, a few minutes makes the difference between being ill and being very ill, one time he had sepsis as well as other 'usual' issues so that was a lifesaver.
Now, you tell me , what do I do ? I get in the car, the road is blocked by activists. I know just how urgent it is, how do I deal with that? Why should you block the road so I can't take a sick person to hospital? Oh ,I know, I'm going to get out of my car and try to find a sympathetic activist who is magically going to make the traffic disappear.What bollocks!
Stop blocking roads, stop people doing what they need to do and which is perfectly lawful.

ProperChocolate · 01/08/2023 16:54

I have an adult child who has to be at hospital very quickly if they fall ill. It's quicker for me to put them in my car and take them to A&E, a few minutes makes the difference between being ill and being very ill

Same. I have an adult child with SEN, part of the syndrome is severe epilepsy.
If she goes into status I can give rectal valium and get her in the car - the sooner I can get her to A&E the sooner her seizure can be treated and the less chance of permanent damage (or worse). I would be out of my mind if someone was purposely and pointlessly blocking the road.

Twilight7777 · 01/08/2023 16:57

FlamingoQueen · 01/08/2023 08:25

I would like to congratulate you! Everything you have done so far has turned people totally against you and any support I may have had for your cause has gone completely out of the window.
You are all seen as a bunch of spoilt brats, whose parents own gas guzzling SUV’s and are multi millionaires, hence the fact they can support you all in your protests, instead of actually getting a paid job.
It would be far better to use the English language to put across eloquent, factual statements rather than stop people getting to hospitals and to their jobs.
You have actually done more harm to the environment because you’re actively turning people against you and your cause. If you were that brave, you would picket the embassies of those countries whose policies do cause most of the problems (assuming you wouldn’t have the guts to actually go to those countries)!

This ☝️

Eve · 01/08/2023 17:02

clarepetal · 01/08/2023 12:04

Agreed.

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Agreement from me as well - an ordinary hard working person!

thank you for being braver than me to protest.

WhateverMate · 01/08/2023 17:06

crackofdoom · 01/08/2023 16:14

Hello OP,

Well done for starting this thread. I have been on some big XR protests in the past and would like to address a couple of specific points.

Re ambulances: I was on Waterloo Bridge in April 2019, which we blocked for several days. Prior to this happening, XR had liaised with the London Ambulance Service to ensure safe routes and workarounds. Before every big action there would have been days and weeks of liaison with the emergency services. Unfortunately, the police decided- legally or illegally- to crack down on these big actions, so I think that kind of Co operation is a thing of the past.

Re the Canning Town debacle: I was around during that too. I was very personally concerned that that was going to backfire, and while I was still asking around about the best way to feed that back up the chain, XR circulated a poll on Telegram asking whether it should go ahead. The answer was overwhelmingly no, and I gather that a lot of people involved in organising were pleading with those particular protestors not to do that, but they went ahead anyway.

So....could I ask those who are outraged that allegedly emergency vehicles are hindered by environmental protestors (and I say allegedly, because I'm not sure there's any concrete evidence of it actually happening)- what about when ambulances get stuck in traffic jams due to sheer volume of traffic? I mean, if you're so worried about it, surely you'd consider every private car journey you took just in case you contributed to the problem and stopped a child getting to hospital..............wouldn't you? 🤔

No-one's talking about ambulances except you?

There's more than one way to get someone to hospital, like in a car that's stuck in a massive traffic jam due to knob heads blocking the roads.

Do you think those who missed essential cancer operations were going to turn up in an ambulance?

Maddy70 · 01/08/2023 17:08

I really admire you. The whole country should be behind you keep the good work god knows with this government what will work

Begsthequestion · 01/08/2023 17:12

Xenia · 01/08/2023 15:09

We will have to agree to disagree. If humans, monkeys, snakes etc die off other life will occur in its plae just like after dinosaurs went. Also if humans die off then other animals wll develope and thrive so the planet will be better off. In other words the more pollution to do us in the better for the planet in a sense. Encourage oil and save the planet from humans even....

Show quote history

Humans should proceed with the sixth mass extinction because it will save animals?

Strange take so yes let's agree to disagree on that one!

MaggieBsBoat · 01/08/2023 17:20

I want to say thank you for speaking for those of us who can’t and those of us who know too little to care. As eventually we all will.
Thank you.

How do I most effectively get involved?

HolidayHappy123 · 01/08/2023 17:42

Market1 · 01/08/2023 12:18

For example, if we circulate a list of the worst 10 banks in London, as far as environmental damage goes, then we launch a protest at the very worst one, we know there are hasty discussions and reshufflings in the other 9, to try and get off our "worst 10" list, and avoid being the next target. We have enough people on boards to monitor this.

They might not do much, and they might not do it for the right reasons, but if some bankers board takes some action that protects the environment, to be the 11th worst rather than the 4th worst, that is a win, to some extent.

Like fuck do you have tons of people on boards. The odd ESG rep here and there but that’s it.

When you have to lie about it you’ve lost the debate.

Superfood · 01/08/2023 17:49

crackofdoom · 01/08/2023 16:14

Hello OP,

Well done for starting this thread. I have been on some big XR protests in the past and would like to address a couple of specific points.

Re ambulances: I was on Waterloo Bridge in April 2019, which we blocked for several days. Prior to this happening, XR had liaised with the London Ambulance Service to ensure safe routes and workarounds. Before every big action there would have been days and weeks of liaison with the emergency services. Unfortunately, the police decided- legally or illegally- to crack down on these big actions, so I think that kind of Co operation is a thing of the past.

Re the Canning Town debacle: I was around during that too. I was very personally concerned that that was going to backfire, and while I was still asking around about the best way to feed that back up the chain, XR circulated a poll on Telegram asking whether it should go ahead. The answer was overwhelmingly no, and I gather that a lot of people involved in organising were pleading with those particular protestors not to do that, but they went ahead anyway.

So....could I ask those who are outraged that allegedly emergency vehicles are hindered by environmental protestors (and I say allegedly, because I'm not sure there's any concrete evidence of it actually happening)- what about when ambulances get stuck in traffic jams due to sheer volume of traffic? I mean, if you're so worried about it, surely you'd consider every private car journey you took just in case you contributed to the problem and stopped a child getting to hospital..............wouldn't you? 🤔

Like I said.

I don't have a car. I don't drive. My family (by choice - my husband has a full clean driving licence) doesn't travel by car. We use public transport or walk.

When my 8 week old daughter had bronchiolitis and was struggling to breathe, the doctor at the walk in centre advised that we should call a taxi rather than she call an ambulance, because it would get my baby to hospital more quickly.

We understand that you are smugly certain, in the face of all common sense and video evidence and first-hand stories, that you are not harming vulnerable people with your shitty, selfish, idiotic actions.

In fact, you are. Your actions cause you to feel pleased with yourself, but they do only harm to others.

Superfood · 01/08/2023 17:51

WhateverMate · 01/08/2023 17:06

No-one's talking about ambulances except you?

There's more than one way to get someone to hospital, like in a car that's stuck in a massive traffic jam due to knob heads blocking the roads.

Do you think those who missed essential cancer operations were going to turn up in an ambulance?

Show quote history

My cousin, who is 48 and has two young children, and has liver and bowel cancer, missed a crucial oncology appointment due to one of these protests. But hey - XR got some good shots for their Instagram, so who cares, eh.

WhateverMate · 01/08/2023 17:55

Superfood · 01/08/2023 17:51

My cousin, who is 48 and has two young children, and has liver and bowel cancer, missed a crucial oncology appointment due to one of these protests. But hey - XR got some good shots for their Instagram, so who cares, eh.

Show quote history

I'm so sorry to hear that

But that's just collateral damage to the protesters.

Superfood · 01/08/2023 17:58

WhateverMate · 01/08/2023 17:55

I'm so sorry to hear that

But that's just collateral damage to the protesters.

Show quote history

Thank you xx we are hoping she will pull through but it has been touch and go for a while now.

Weird to pretend to be so humanitarian and concerned about people's futures when they clearly don't give a fuck about the real lives of real people right now.

Justonemorecoffeeplease · 01/08/2023 18:57

crackofdoom · 01/08/2023 16:14

Hello OP,

Well done for starting this thread. I have been on some big XR protests in the past and would like to address a couple of specific points.

Re ambulances: I was on Waterloo Bridge in April 2019, which we blocked for several days. Prior to this happening, XR had liaised with the London Ambulance Service to ensure safe routes and workarounds. Before every big action there would have been days and weeks of liaison with the emergency services. Unfortunately, the police decided- legally or illegally- to crack down on these big actions, so I think that kind of Co operation is a thing of the past.

Re the Canning Town debacle: I was around during that too. I was very personally concerned that that was going to backfire, and while I was still asking around about the best way to feed that back up the chain, XR circulated a poll on Telegram asking whether it should go ahead. The answer was overwhelmingly no, and I gather that a lot of people involved in organising were pleading with those particular protestors not to do that, but they went ahead anyway.

So....could I ask those who are outraged that allegedly emergency vehicles are hindered by environmental protestors (and I say allegedly, because I'm not sure there's any concrete evidence of it actually happening)- what about when ambulances get stuck in traffic jams due to sheer volume of traffic? I mean, if you're so worried about it, surely you'd consider every private car journey you took just in case you contributed to the problem and stopped a child getting to hospital..............wouldn't you? 🤔

It wasn’t ‘outrage’ in my case but rather gut wrenching grief that I couldn’t be there for my Mum. I guess my experience will be considered simply irrelevant compared with the so called greater good but to me at the time and now ,two years later, it caused tremendous emotional pain. I will say it again. You need to bring people with you not alienate them. Work for a solution. Lobby for more work to be done rather than wilfully disrupting ‘everyday’ people going about their lives.

yellowspanner · 01/08/2023 19:26

I think the Government should pass a law making your protests illegal. The police should arrest you all and the courts give you prison sentences. You have no right to disrupt my life.
I don't care what your beliefs are. Believing something does not confer entitlement to cause chaos.

Darker · 01/08/2023 19:33

With protest we would have very few rights… be careful what you wish for….

howdoyoulikethemweeds · 01/08/2023 19:34

ArseMenagerie · 01/08/2023 10:14

Any chat about climate always descends into a pathetic ‘gotcha’ about emissions. We all live in this imperfect world where it’s impossible to live a meaningful life without creating emissions. How much we are comfortable with is individual and it isn’t helpful to say you can only care about the planet if you’re squeaky clean. It’s the GLOBAL polluters i campaign against: governments, big oil, construction and polluters such as mc d and coke. They have made money from trashing the planet and continue to do so. It isn’t about some flights that individuals take it’s about GLOBAL PRESSURE from the citizens of earth. Squabbling about individual co2 impact demeans and distracts us. We are in an imperfect system: I would take a solar flight but I can’t, I would use renewables only but I can’t, I want to erase single use plastic but I can’t WHY ? Because of big oils grip on media and government.

Hear hear