Extinction rebellion protester, ask me anything

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

Like to what happens if they do that at an Old Firm derby

Quite;there would be a riot.

Yes, it's called actually studying the political parties that they then vote for.

Or another protest method, take out advertisements and fundraise and take out TV and other media adverts etc engage on talk shows.

Mostrecentupdate · 03/08/2023 05:23
May I ask what people do think should happen in terms of what we should be doing to raise awareness and protest against the effects of global warming?
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for every single person who has been inconvenienced in a big or small way because of XR or SO the effects of global warming on our children and grandchildren is going to be catastrophic if we do nothing, and maybe it is too late already? As a collective group mumsnet are mostly parents and many are grandparents and we love our children but seem happy to do nothing about something that will be life changing for them because of our generation’s actions.
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The vitriol towards 1 woman one here towards who is actually doing something, and you may not agree with how she’s doing it, but at least she’s doing something, should be directed at the government who are doing fuck all.

Couldn’t agree more.

So many decades of global scientific research, carefully and thoughtfully shared with world leaders and decision makers, peaceful protest, constant campaigning and even the start of what’s to come already happening: massive wildfires and unbearable heatwaves, wild storms and flooding, increased morbidity and mortality, food and water shortages, mass migration. We are getting a homeopathic dose of the awfulness to come already.

Yet, still UK Government gives the go ahead to new oil, allows subsidies for oil companies to continue, allows those firms to make billions in profit (doing something that will kill millions) while we all struggle, removes incentives for renewables and insulation etc etc. Our PM uses private jets and helicopters for easily drivable or trainable distances FFS. He doesn’t care what happens to us - he’s ok with his millions. He won’t struggle to keep his house cool and food on the table. Our Government in the UK clearly do not care about what happens to us (or our fellow human beings elsewhere in the world) now or in the future.

So I will also ask those who don’t approve of XR inspired direct action;

WTF else are we meant to do when everything else has been tried for DECADES?!

I donate to XR as I am not able to join protests at the moment (but have been on some of the larger marches and took my DC to the school strikes).

OP, from a mother, health professional and fellow human being, thank you from the bottom of my heart for putting yourself in harms way to do what is right. ❤️Thank you for being brave enough to face the wrath of a small, but vociferous, group that don’t agree. 💪 Keep fighting the good fight.

Superfood

Comparing the impact on an handful of individuals from protests and the impact on millions from climate breakdown isn’t ‘tit for tat’. It’s a risk assessment and the risk of us continuing as we are is by FAR worse.

The worlds leaders know the threat, know the consequences but continue to put profit before people and planet. Decades of science, campaign and peaceful protest have only led to minimal changes. Climate chaos is already causing higher morbidity and mortality in the more temperate UK. We have already seen climate related food and water shortages.

It’s only going to get worse and government are not acting in our interests. We are slowly simmering frogs. The only sane action, now all else has only resulted in surface level change, is to take direct action.

It’s not ‘tit for tat’ it’s about what the biggest risk is. To do nothing, or do inconsequential things that don’t get noticed isn’t a sane option for human beings right now. How many children have died in floods and wildfires/heatwaves this year compared with how many have died due to protests? How many people have lost parents due to climate breakdown this year, compared with those not able to be with dying relatives due to protests.

Every personal loss is, of course, devastating for those individuals regardless of whether it’s climate breakdown or a protest causing it. It’s not a case of one is more important than the other, it’s that far worse will happen if we don’t act and direct action gets people thinking about it and talking about it and EVERYTHING HAS ALREADY BEEN TRIED OVER DECADES! Decades!!!

So you say that to @loislovesstewie, who’s explained exactly why she needs a car, but when asked about Gail Bradbrook, the senior XR member who drives a diesel car as reported on in
www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-11997471/amp/Cost-Extinction-Rebellion-leaders-shopping-exposed.html you said:

As I said, people make their own decisions. I don't really have any opinion about individuals,- no idea what else she is doing in her life that helps the environment, or why she made those decisions on that day.

Why?

Yes I do have views. I do want a law that makes protests that disrupt the lives of others made illegal.
I look out my window all the time and am content with what I see.
If people want to protest fine.
Do it through the ballot box. Lobby your MP. But you have no righ5 to disrupt my life while protesting.

OK, but do you have the right to insist everyone else shut up and die?

Yes, it's called actually studying the political parties that they then vote for.

I don't know that this would actually work right now @Hawkins009.

Any party with decent policies on climate change falls down massively in other areas.

Who said 'shut up and die'?

Hawkins009

Adverts have been taken out over the years. In papers, on TV, at the cinema. Great idea but been done already. Many times. Voting only works if any of the parties actually are brave enough to act in the interests of planet and people rather than profit and power maintenance. Oil lobbyists are powerful. Lots of government members will have pensions and shares dependent on oil companies doing well. We can no longer trust the Government to do right by us, civil disobedience and direct action is our only course of action left.

yellowspanner · Today 17:22
Yes I do have views. I do want a law that makes protests that disrupt the lives of others made illegal.
I look out my window all the time and am content with what I see.
If people want to protest fine.
Do it through the ballot box. Lobby your MP. But you have no righ5 to disrupt my life while protesting.

Years of peaceful campaigning and lobbying hasn’t worked. You may like what you see outside but how informed are you about climate breakdown and what this will bring? You like what you see because it’s likely you see stability, food security, temperate climate, safety etc. Will you still like what you see when people are fighting over the dwindling resources as more and more of the planet becomes uninhabitable?

When decades of peaceful protest, campaigning etc haven’t resulted in enough action, and the Government continues to put profit ahead of people and planet, and millions if lives are at risk, the only next step is civil disobedience and direct action. In a democracy, protest has to be allowed or are you after a totalitarian state?

That's why I stand on the side of our security services.

Who's to say your correct, what if the future you invision does not happen, just because we presume mad max style, does not make it to be true.

After all remember the story of Galileo and his beliefs that the earth was not the centre of the universe.

Well from how eco friendly the leaders and management of these protest groups are then I don't hold much hope that they are any better than the government or big business etc

I have never said anyone should "shut up". Say whatever you like as long as it is legal. Nor have I suggested that anyone should die.
I have said that you do not have the right to disrupt my life because you hold particular views.
Your rights do not trump mine.

Bang on @yellowspanner! Absolutely right!

Everyone on the planet has a stake in its future, everyone, because we all live here and have no alternative place to live. So we all have the right to protest at inaction by governments and big polluters.

Pointing fingers at individuals who have a heavy footprint (most of us do in the West - and who is to say what is ‘acceptable’?) feels like a gotcha but it’s just a distraction from the real issues.

Basically they are just as bad as each other, yet it's the joe public that are meant to do the business of caring for the planet ?

Only governments and industry can make the necessary difference, because it won’t work if we leave it to individuals. However individuals have the right to protest if governments don’t act. That’s pretty much all we have at this point.

Hawkins009

I feel that either you might be a bit naive and ill informed or you are deliberately misunderstanding. Either way your two replies to me don’t make much sense.

I am not saying this is what will happen in the future. I’m saying what experts in their field are saying is going to happen. It already is happening. Decades of research, global research - using various ways of modelling all point to the sane things. It’s already happening - just faster than predicted.

I think you miss the point of the protests too. It’s not so that they can govern or make the decisions - it’s to ask those in power to follow the science and listen to the experts - who are being proven right already. It’s to highlight the urgent need for change. Not to take over and do a better job. I couldn’t be PM but it’s my right to demand he makes decisions that protect my future and that if my DC. That doesn’t mean I think I’d do any better (although I suspect I could do better in some ways!).

Darker · Today 22:12
Only governments and industry can make the necessary difference, because it won’t work if we leave it to individuals. However individuals have the right to protest if governments don’t act. That’s pretty much all we have at this point.

Yes. And so far no one who disagrees has come up with a viable alternative. Apart from ‘shut up and out up’ I guess?

Has anyone considered by the time humans run the planet into a mad max style utopia, humans won't need earth especially if we are conquering the galaxies and building new earth's.

Are you Elon Musk?