Page 15 | 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)

MichelleScarn · 01/08/2023 19:51

@crackofdoom you're just trying to wind people up aren't you? 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)
All those YouTube videos just staged then?

ReverseFerret · 01/08/2023 19:52

With all the current wild fires in southern Europe and America and highest recorded temperatures being beaten on almost a weekly basis... why is Extinction Rebellion not screaming I TOLD YOU SO to all those who need to hear it?

Hawkins009 · 01/08/2023 21:42

ReverseFerret · 01/08/2023 19:52

With all the current wild fires in southern Europe and America and highest recorded temperatures being beaten on almost a weekly basis... why is Extinction Rebellion not screaming I TOLD YOU SO to all those who need to hear it?

Because you need a direct link for the evidence

alwaysmovingforwards · 01/08/2023 21:49

@Market1

I've read this thread with interest.

Silly question... you say that your actions are being noticed and influencing policy makes, business leaders and economists. Which is great for your cause because are the ones who'll make a difference.

So if this is your core aim, why not directly target specific apex individuals / companies and massively disrupt their lives, instead of causing mass disruption, annoyance and loss of earnings to the general public who are in general are struggling to get by in a cost of living crisis?

It just seems you're taking the easy / cowardly route disrupting people who you know won't do anything to you. Whereas if you tried to block the prime minister or CEO of an oil company going about their business, you'd be arrested immediately or bundled out of the way by goons in sharp suits and sunglasses.

It feels like having an issue with someone specifically, not being able to land your message with them, so bullying their kids whilst their not around to get at them.

For the record I think your cause is just, but your actions counterproductive. As such I now care less about your cause than I did previously because your actions and members lack credibility. I was always taught if you play in the road, don't come crying when you get hit by a passing car.

Tatzelwyrm · 01/08/2023 22:32

NightShiftDrama · 01/08/2023 01:04

We arrange transport past blockages for anyone in need of reaching hospital, as long as they make themselves known to us

Ref this part

In case this hasn't been answered, is there like a bat symbol people can shine? Does it get brighter the closer to death you are????

Seriously? I'm 150 cars back in traffic, taking my sick 97 year old mother to hospital when she has been showing signs of a stroke, how do we let you on the front line glued to the road that we need to get past??

Original poster

Market1 · 01/08/2023 22:53

alwaysmovingforwards · 01/08/2023 21:49

@Market1

I've read this thread with interest.

Silly question... you say that your actions are being noticed and influencing policy makes, business leaders and economists. Which is great for your cause because are the ones who'll make a difference.

So if this is your core aim, why not directly target specific apex individuals / companies and massively disrupt their lives, instead of causing mass disruption, annoyance and loss of earnings to the general public who are in general are struggling to get by in a cost of living crisis?

It just seems you're taking the easy / cowardly route disrupting people who you know won't do anything to you. Whereas if you tried to block the prime minister or CEO of an oil company going about their business, you'd be arrested immediately or bundled out of the way by goons in sharp suits and sunglasses.

It feels like having an issue with someone specifically, not being able to land your message with them, so bullying their kids whilst their not around to get at them.

For the record I think your cause is just, but your actions counterproductive. As such I now care less about your cause than I did previously because your actions and members lack credibility. I was always taught if you play in the road, don't come crying when you get hit by a passing car.

ER targets institutions, never individuals, or an individuals property - You are right, there is an argument for going for specific people, but it is against the principles of ER

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Original poster

Market1 · 01/08/2023 23:03

Begsthequestion · 01/08/2023 14:13

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.

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I don't know where you get the impression most activists are white middle class males, it is an international movement, and has supporters drawn from every nationality. Certainly many many women - I couldn't say if there are more women than men involved, but my guess, from my own experience , would be yes, it is more than 50% women.

Middle class? Maybe, as a lot of the older activists are retired professionals, doctors, lawyers, etc. But as I said earlier, we have a lot of youngsters too, who are too young to have a career yet

But a lot of protesters are graduates, and from graduate professions, so I guess that makes them middle class, even if they came from a working class back ground originally.

A lot are also ex military

The demographic treated most leniently by the police are definitely the over 80s; I have never known a single one held or charged, no matter what they do. Arrested, certainly, but almost always dearrested and driven home shortly after...whatever their sex, ethnic origin or income level!

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user9630721458 · 01/08/2023 23:17

Market1 · 01/08/2023 12:23

There was a question I glimpsed somewhere about scientists, which I| can't find now to quote.

Yes, we have a lot of scientists contributing to our campaigns, some in the planning and policies, others just lending their bodyweight on the ground.

They don't work for ER full time, but volunteer, as do a lot of solicitors and legal people.

Meteorologists come up quite a lot! I have met quite a few on the ground, many have criminal records already, but the Met office, and similar employers don't seem to penalise people getting criminal records for this sort of action. Some of the wildest, most committed protestors I have met were meteorologists!

Thank you, that was my question. I think scientists and meteorologists are the people most likely to understand the threats from climate change. I met a scientist a few years back at a local XR event, which I stumbled upon in my town. Their commitment to XR persuades me of its importance. That said, it would be good if the protests did not cause the problems raised here to the public. I don't know what the options are, but maybe the movement can try to avoid situations that cause real distress to ordinary people.

I think it's useful to remember that Rosa Parks was arrested for civil disobedience when she sat in the 'whites' section on the bus. Similarly, the Suffragettes. Change doesn't come from petitions and writing to your MP, it generally seems to call for standing up against the status quo, and it will often meet with great resistance and attempts to shut it down.

Begsthequestion · 02/08/2023 04:15

Market1 · 01/08/2023 23:03

I don't know where you get the impression most activists are white middle class males, it is an international movement, and has supporters drawn from every nationality. Certainly many many women - I couldn't say if there are more women than men involved, but my guess, from my own experience , would be yes, it is more than 50% women.

Middle class? Maybe, as a lot of the older activists are retired professionals, doctors, lawyers, etc. But as I said earlier, we have a lot of youngsters too, who are too young to have a career yet

But a lot of protesters are graduates, and from graduate professions, so I guess that makes them middle class, even if they came from a working class back ground originally.

A lot are also ex military

The demographic treated most leniently by the police are definitely the over 80s; I have never known a single one held or charged, no matter what they do. Arrested, certainly, but almost always dearrested and driven home shortly after...whatever their sex, ethnic origin or income level!

Show quote history

Here, in Britain, it's mainly white middle class men on actions, and behind the scenes. I've seen it for myself. Your leader is a white, middle class male who invented XR for his PhD thesis. Let's be honest here.

Darker · 02/08/2023 08:25

We should all be protesting. Letters and fine words haven’t worked, counting on people to use their vote at the ballot box doesn’t work.

We are destroying our planet so that we can’t sustain ourselves as a species. That means natural disasters, famine and war. It’s happening now.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-66229065

Graphic showing a person facing a hot sun and a line chart trending upwards

Climate records tumble, leaving Earth in uncharted territory - scientists

A series of records on temperature, ocean heat, and Antarctic sea ice are "unprecedented", some scientists say.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-66229065

bendmeoverbackwards · 02/08/2023 11:34

middleager · 01/08/2023 11:53

'Most people are supportive though'
Nonsense! We can see from this thread alone this is not the case, and you have no evidence-based research to support your theories. You are choosing to ignore most people's views and contorting reality to fit your agenda. This is true ignorance and arrogance.

@Market1 you still have not provided evidence that ‘most’ people support your cause.

Also still waiting for precise details how a parent with a sick child in the car can get through?

ohtobeme · 02/08/2023 12:50

If the cause is preventing climate change then the ONS says 3 in 4 people would be behind that

tattygrl · 02/08/2023 12:56

I'd love to know what form of protest people have come up with that both grabs attention, impresses upon everyone the seriousness and urgency of the issue, is un-ignorable, AND don't cause any disruption and inconvenience to the general population. Really, I would love to know. Presumably every other major protest in the history of social justice movements is fine and justified, because it's over and doesn't affect us nowadays, i.e. the suffragettes. It was ok for them to disrupt traffic and major sporting events because we can look back, be grateful for the work they did and enjoy the benefits nowadays. But anyone doing similar today? Unacceptable. Make it make sense.

Darker · 02/08/2023 13:35

tattygrl · 02/08/2023 12:56

I'd love to know what form of protest people have come up with that both grabs attention, impresses upon everyone the seriousness and urgency of the issue, is un-ignorable, AND don't cause any disruption and inconvenience to the general population. Really, I would love to know. Presumably every other major protest in the history of social justice movements is fine and justified, because it's over and doesn't affect us nowadays, i.e. the suffragettes. It was ok for them to disrupt traffic and major sporting events because we can look back, be grateful for the work they did and enjoy the benefits nowadays. But anyone doing similar today? Unacceptable. Make it make sense.

Agree.

People have scorned and derided environmentalists for decades, trusting that it will be alright without having to bother too much.

Now we are on the precipice.

tattygrl · 02/08/2023 13:59

Darker · 02/08/2023 13:35

Agree.

People have scorned and derided environmentalists for decades, trusting that it will be alright without having to bother too much.

Now we are on the precipice.

Show quote history

Absolutely. It's always "someone else" must surely be doing something about it, I'm sure it'll be fine, doesn't really matter what I do as long as some other people somewhere are worrying about it.

And I do not dismiss the very real problem that people have so much on their plates with their own lives, cost of living, political problems, etc., that it is very difficult to find the time to care and put effort into environmentalism. But the time has come that we don't have any other choice. And the people putting themselves on the line to try and get shit done in time to save our planet are told off for causing traffic jams. It makes me despair.

Xenia · 02/08/2023 14:09

They are damaging ordinary people who are moving more and more against their cause. As I said above I don;'t reall mind if humans die off. The planet probably needs 5 in 6 of us to die to be sustainable anyway so I certainly don't want to be held up on roads etc. We should change the law yet again to stop the protests on roads. They can go to speaker's corner and speak there if they have points they want to make. The public are absolutely fed up with all this and it has set back their cause for decades which does not really bother me.

It is the we are right kind of view of them that is particularly annoying. Many of u have different views eg that unless Russia, China, india change then we are impoverishing the UK in complete pointlessness. Or my view - so what if we die out, might as well go out with a bang. Or a vast number of other views, all perfectly valid but not in accord with the stop oil and ER people. Yet it is they who have decided to damage the lives of hardworking people who now msotl detest them with visceral hatred for stopping people getting to work, for all the money people lose because they are late for work etc etc. The fact they are rich enough or lazy enough to have all that time available to them to block roads is the icing on the cake entrenching our intense dislike of the lot of them.

Original poster

Market1 · 02/08/2023 14:14

Xenia · 02/08/2023 14:09

They are damaging ordinary people who are moving more and more against their cause. As I said above I don;'t reall mind if humans die off. The planet probably needs 5 in 6 of us to die to be sustainable anyway so I certainly don't want to be held up on roads etc. We should change the law yet again to stop the protests on roads. They can go to speaker's corner and speak there if they have points they want to make. The public are absolutely fed up with all this and it has set back their cause for decades which does not really bother me.

It is the we are right kind of view of them that is particularly annoying. Many of u have different views eg that unless Russia, China, india change then we are impoverishing the UK in complete pointlessness. Or my view - so what if we die out, might as well go out with a bang. Or a vast number of other views, all perfectly valid but not in accord with the stop oil and ER people. Yet it is they who have decided to damage the lives of hardworking people who now msotl detest them with visceral hatred for stopping people getting to work, for all the money people lose because they are late for work etc etc. The fact they are rich enough or lazy enough to have all that time available to them to block roads is the icing on the cake entrenching our intense dislike of the lot of them.

I love this post!

It's fine to kill 85% of the world's population but don't inconvenience me while I drive my car!

😂

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tattygrl · 02/08/2023 14:16

Xenia · 02/08/2023 14:09

They are damaging ordinary people who are moving more and more against their cause. As I said above I don;'t reall mind if humans die off. The planet probably needs 5 in 6 of us to die to be sustainable anyway so I certainly don't want to be held up on roads etc. We should change the law yet again to stop the protests on roads. They can go to speaker's corner and speak there if they have points they want to make. The public are absolutely fed up with all this and it has set back their cause for decades which does not really bother me.

It is the we are right kind of view of them that is particularly annoying. Many of u have different views eg that unless Russia, China, india change then we are impoverishing the UK in complete pointlessness. Or my view - so what if we die out, might as well go out with a bang. Or a vast number of other views, all perfectly valid but not in accord with the stop oil and ER people. Yet it is they who have decided to damage the lives of hardworking people who now msotl detest them with visceral hatred for stopping people getting to work, for all the money people lose because they are late for work etc etc. The fact they are rich enough or lazy enough to have all that time available to them to block roads is the icing on the cake entrenching our intense dislike of the lot of them.

This is such obnoxious, misanthropic nonsense. You don't mind if theoretically humans were to die off as a species, yet somehow you also have enough emotion invested into your human life that you don't want to be delayed in your car??

Mainly, though, I wish you'd take your privileged, edgy opinion to the global south, where people are already dying off in droves due to overheating of the planet and all the things that come with that - extreme weather, drought, crop die-off, etc. They're not "going out with a bang", they're dying slowly, painfully and in great anguish because they want to live their lives, and see their children live their lives. Your flippancy here is really disgusting. You act as if it's all a theoretical debate, but it isn't.

N4ish · 02/08/2023 14:37

Really surprised that you haven’t heard about the Canning Town tube protests which are widely seen as a key moment for XR in the UK.

Isn’t it very risky to affiliate yourself with a group whose members could effectively carry out any ill judged or misguided action without any central discussion or disagreement?

For what it’s worth I agree with all of your aims but the way XR acts involves punching down at less powerful members of the public rather than targeting those with real power to make changes. I just can’t support that.

Justonemorecoffeeplease · 02/08/2023 15:12

“Inconvenience?” Did you read my first post?

Wow.

Darker · 02/08/2023 15:15

Canning Town has been mentioned. XR didn’t support it and have learned from it. Those sort of actions would not be supported now, I believe.

I’m not a member but I am glad XR are around to speak up in the face of the unspeakable. They are a young organisation, learning from their mistakes and evolving.

I go to the odd thing to show my support and am pleased to do so here.

Original poster

Market1 · 02/08/2023 15:18

Darker · 02/08/2023 15:15

Canning Town has been mentioned. XR didn’t support it and have learned from it. Those sort of actions would not be supported now, I believe.

I’m not a member but I am glad XR are around to speak up in the face of the unspeakable. They are a young organisation, learning from their mistakes and evolving.

I go to the odd thing to show my support and am pleased to do so here.

Thank you x

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loislovesstewie · 02/08/2023 15:36

Any answer yet about how i'm supposed to get my adult child to hospital in an emergency when the roads are blocked by idiots walking slowly or glueing themselves to the roads etc?

Original poster

Market1 · 02/08/2023 15:49

loislovesstewie · 02/08/2023 15:36

Any answer yet about how i'm supposed to get my adult child to hospital in an emergency when the roads are blocked by idiots walking slowly or glueing themselves to the roads etc?

as I have already answered, make yourself known, and we will try to help, but if you own and drive a car, you are not demonstrating much concern for the health or lives of anyone else's children, so I don't really think you are in a position criticise anyone else.

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loislovesstewie · 02/08/2023 15:53

So basically my adult child could die then ? I OWN AND DRIVE A CAR BECAUSE MY CHILD IS DISABLED AND BLIND AND CAN'T GET AROUND BY HIMSELF! yes I'm shouting because you don't seem to have grasped that. When he is ill it's a matter of life and death, it's quicker for me to drive to A&E rather than await an ambulance.
I really give up with you! And you are supposed to be a teacher. You clearly can't comprehend that.