to support extinction rebellion - more London action tomorrow

[54321nought]

I am not sure what, but I have seen their previous demonstrations, and support their cause.

We were given badges at one event, and travelled home on public transport wearing them, and received absolutely nothing but 100% support from other travellers, which was nice, as I expected some hostility, publicly wearing their badges while roads in London were closed by them

People were opposed to Greenpeace too, people are always opposed to protest, they prefer things quiet maybe.

Again xr achievements are....
I'll wait.
Best get them in before the end of the thread as otherwise their listed achievements will be caused more pollution by holding up traffic and disadvantaging the poor.

When I first heard that xr were being classified as a terrorist group I thought it was poppycock. The more I hear people saying it's ok to sacrifice poor people, costing them their jobs etc. For the greater good, the more I think maybe that's right.

'The greater good" is used as a justification for lots of horrible things. Other groups usually not as open about using people's lives as collateral damage though.

@lannistunut

No one on this thread has suggested anything that could make a real difference, and there is no mechanism to effect any change.

and there is no mechanism to effect any change. Of course there is - elections.

Elections won’t work. People don’t vote Green. Politicians will promise and then fail to deliver because there are other pressures on them.

This government is giving us the Third Runway and HS2 plus more oil fields being exploited.

and there is no mechanism to effect any change.
Of course there is - elections.

hahahahahahaha

More people would vote green if they didn't take sides of divisive arguments that actively harm women.

They've lost a lot of their traditional voters because they're put other issues above the environment.

If greens want my vote they can stop harming vulnerable women.
If xr want my support they can stop harming others.

It's really that simple.

If greens want my vote they can stop harming vulnerable women.
If xr want my support they can stop harming others.

Exactly, this.

Yes. I won't vote Green now that I know they think I'm a bigot who needs my prejudices challenged if I ask for a female person to see me after I've been raped.

The electoral route is futile in most of England.

Have you seen how much the Conservatives spend on a single target constituency outside of the official election period? And have you compared that to the Greens entire English campaign budget?

That money the Conservatives are spending comes from vested interests who want nothing to change.

Going wild in central London is probably the only thing to do to stop oneself thinking about the utter impossibility and insurmountability of it all.

@Darker

Elections won’t work. People don’t vote Green. Politicians will promise and then fail to deliver because there are other pressures on them.

This government is giving us the Third Runway and HS2 plus more oil fields being exploited.

I think what you meant to say is "people keep voting for things I don't like". I sympathise - I have never voted Tory but lived under a lot of Tory governments. I certainly think we need PR. XR aren't going to be delivering anything concrete though - they are useful idiots for the Tories.

I think what you meant to say is "people keep voting for things I don't like" It is more than that now in England IMO. The brexit vote, the environment, the generational gap in housing/wealth, inequality generally. There is something completely impossible about politics in England right now.

Darker I wasn’t clear the question being do you believe this is happening now or will very soon

That is XR message along with billions of people dying (not quite the same message as Sir DA is giving)

No one is denying on here that changes need to be made but their actions are not winning over supporters as they don’t care about disrupting people’s lives

Yes, I believe the danger is imminent. Scientists have declared the situation Code Red. We can’t wait.

www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-58130705.amp

I do believe the danger is imminent and far more serious than governments are admitting.

The effects may not be felt imminently but the tipping point is IMO imminent.

I think XR's first aim - for governments to tell the truth - is the most important.

I do the things we are permitted/able to do e.g. recycling, I don't own a car or fly, but I do these things primarily to prevent people calling me a hypocrite. The action that is really needed is not in my power and is on a whole other scale.

We are at 990 messages, should we have a 2nd thread?

I started another thread

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/am_i_being_unreasonable/4331737-to-continue-to-support-Extinction-Rebellion?watched=1

This thread is funny. I mean laugh out loud funny. Thanks.

If you don't think getting arrested is a sacrifice, then why don't you do it to protest?

its a huge sacrifice in terms of comfort, personal freedom, earning potential, finances, everything

Yes even if you are retired.

Do you think sitting in a police van or police cell for hours is not a sacrifice? Hours or days in police custody? Legal fees? Possible prison sentence?

I don't really see how the sacrifice could possibly be much bigger

yawn

Perhaps Gail Bradbrook could sacrifice her (diesel) car. That might actually be a sacrifice. One worth making too, it would immediately slash her footprint. But apparently she can't afford an electric car. Neither can I. In fact, because I recognise that cars are damaging full stop, whatever powers them, I don't own a car at all.

I manage to live my life without a car. I can even attest that you really can carry a 25kg sack of spuds on the pannier rack of a bike. It's hard work but a lot less impact on the environment. A lot cheaper too. I'd estimate my annual running costs to be well short of £100 (occasional replacement of tyres and inner tubes mostly).

I've only actually made one flight independently. Otherwise any flights I made were on family holidays when I was young. Certainly no jetting around the world three times a year. I'll stick to using the train in future.

If you don't think getting arrested is a sacrifice, then why don't you do it to protest

I think for those on these protests it is more a badge of honour than a sacrifice

@BelleOfTheProvince

More people would vote green if they didn't take sides of divisive arguments that actively harm women.

They've lost a lot of their traditional voters because they're put other issues above the environment.

If greens want my vote they can stop harming vulnerable women.
If xr want my support they can stop harming others.

It's really that simple.

I’ve joined the Green Party in order to vote for Shahrar Ali, who is specifically talking to politically homeless women. I think if he becomes leader the Greens could have a huge flood of support.

I’m very green; just stopped eating fish after reading about Seaspiracy (too upsetting to watch); have a wormery; resist single use plastic; fly once every 3 years; live in London so rarely need to drive; mend my clothes, etc, etc, but I see ER as very destructive as they seem to be about destroying things.
Why bash down glass doors which will only have to be replaced at great environmental cost?
Why dig up a beautiful lawn?
The whole movement is seen as disempowering to people who really care about this stuff.