Extinction rebellion protester, ask me anything

[Market1]

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

Do you think that Just Stop Oil are giving other more legit climate groups and movements a bad name?

If a protest has no aim other than to ‘create awareness’ at any cost and with no goals or policies on legislation they want changed or implemented is it anything more than slightly crap performance art. (Still talking about JSO)

I know someone from this group and the ins and outs of the arrests. Many of the people involved actually drive for a living.

My view is it’s perfectly possible to lead by example and create a change. But there is a danger of turning the general population off of taking more personal responsibility. Often the response in the media from some environmentalists to criticism of their stunts is to just cite the climate emergency and x amount of people dying in a very patronising way as if this trumps anyone else’s existence as an individual or as a community.

Yes it’s true that it’s an emergency and killing so many. People would be horrified if there was more understanding of how many heart attacks etc in the U.K. are caused by high air pollution but people like JSO are doing very little to create awareness in an understandable way on the aspects of climate change that effect different groups and communities.

The pandemic (putting aside how the gov behaved and various other aspects) shows how quickly people can be convinced to change their behaviour for a greater good of keeping loved ones and the vulnerable safe if given information to inform themselves and being treated like adults who are mostly able to make good choices out of free will.

I just really don’t think any environmental group (in the modern era) has come close to galvanising communities around actual tangible action to reverse or reduce climate change and pollution.

Probably the only movement that has made somewhat of a difference lately is all the small local groups campaigning to end raw sewage dumping in our rivers. They really captured the public.

Really the membership of these groups could be ‘on the ground’ building community projects to fight climate change and clean up the environment at home and abroad. That would very quickly attract many others to work on this as many already do. There could be a joined up national plan where people improve things. (Ideally our useless Gov would be doing this)

@Market1 how lovely for you and your fellow ER to be able to risk losing your jobs. You do realise that thousands of less privileged people can’t afford to take that risk?

I don't mind defending our cause, but I did start this thinking people would be more interested in what it is like to be arrested, how the police treat us, what happens in court, etc.

is it any different to anyone else getting arrested for a non violent crime?
I don't really know what to say to your post. You don't mind defending your cause but would rather talk about the aftermath

umm...well done you for being so involved in something that you don't seem to know that much about when questioned, that you got arrested?

Were all the police nice or nasty? What does it feel like to be arrested?! Did you go down chanting Imagine by John Lennon? What happened in court? Did you get a fine? Community service? I've asked genuine questions that haven't been answered, but I don't think you know the answers, and they're really simple questions, because I don't understand the actions you take to help your cause.

One probably as useless as yours.🤗

I don’t want any information, but you and the rest of your group make me sick to the stomach. Blocking ambulances and roads and causing real harm to real people. Away and rot in a cell.

I support you, op.

Why do you think you’re above the law?

The information about the fictional dedsec group that seems similar in some aspects to these protest groups.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=xoLnV8pKw4w&pp=ygUcd2F0Y2ggZG9ncyAyIGVuZGluZyBjdXRzY2VuZQ%3D%3D

Why should anyone particularly care how the police treat you, assuming they follow the same rules as they do with anyone else? Break laws and face the consequences, the same as anyone else. Do you think people who break laws for the 'right reasons' should be exempt from those consequences?

Do you imagine that the public is at all concerned over the troubles these protesters bring upon themselves? Or do you know, deep down, that you're only harming 'the cause' by inflicting lasting damage on others innocently going about their lives?

No question, just admiration and thanks.
I have two young kids and the government need to be doing more by way of policies at the national level and pushing for faster levels of change at the international level.
letters, petitions, scientific journals, scientists talking to the press, evidence at large for all to see and yet very little changing.
i appreciate your protests and have joined one or two in London with one of my children and husband and it was a lovely environment.

What's extinction rebellion?

Your claims that you have growing support and that your methods are effective is at odds with todays announcement of hundreds of new oil and gas licences. Clearly you aren’t having the desired effect.

also if you don’t know who people are, no names etc then you only have your fragmented groups word for it that you have people in high places as members. You seem to be unable to articulate any of your groups aims, you won’t answer any questions about your personal lifestyle, you won’t provide any links to research backing your claims up. How is anyone going to take you seriously?

Wow, this makes for such depressing reading. What do people think is going to happen if we don’t wake up and do anything? The world is totally fucked and yet (most of( MN goes about it’s business like everything is fine. Seriously, what do people think the world is going to look like for our children and even worse our grandchildren ?

Our government doesn’t give a fuck and this is why people are taking direct action, every time XR do something it’s all over the press. If they handed over a petition to No 10, we’d hear nothing about it.

Before anyone asks I do what I can - no car, don’t fly, vegan etc but I’m under no illusion that it’s not enough. But I haven’t got the guts to take direct action like OP

I live as close to carbon zero as I possible can.

I own a bike instead of a car, I only use renewable energy at home, holidays are taken in the UK, I mostly eat vegetarian, non diary, locally sourced, clothes are mostly second hand, I offset, and volunteer for and support many conservation and ecology charities such as RSPB,

etc, all the usual stuff

Thank you xx 💐

Thank you xx💐

I should add that I understand that there is some meat eating that is far more environmental friendly than other, it is just that I personally choose not to.

Local chicken and pork for example, is a far better environmental decision than beef or most fish.

We don't think we are above the law

We do think that protesting to protect the environment is more important than living a trouble free life

I admire what you do also.

I have answered most of these, I have never driven a car, I have never flown for leisure, I only use renewable energy at home, my parents worked for the NHS ( not sure of the relevance!) I own a flat. I have no savings ( not sure of the relevance - but don't mind answering)

It means they eat meats

Thank you xx

An international network of environmental protestors committed to using non violent civil disobedience to change policies in governments, banks and other influential organisations.

Many people in ER can't afford to take that risk either, and many don't. However, some do, and sacrifice themselves. You can protest without crossing the line into breaking the law, if you want to. ER give out plenty of advice in their training of how to do this, how far you can go without breaking the law, and at what point you are breaking the law, and what the consequences are for different levels of law breaking - for example which offences could potentially result in prison and which could not.