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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

The big anti-Covid pass protest tomorrow in London

222 replies

User135644 · 17/12/2021 22:06

AIBU or is this really not helpful to have them all gathering in the middle of London? It's the new epicentre of Covid while the virus peaks to previously unseen levels case wise. They're protesting against any new restrictions yet their actions tomorrow will make restrictions more likely.

I accept their right to protest but think it's unhelpful at this juncture, especially a week before Christmas. No doubt people bused in from around the country who'll then spread it back to their own home town.

Not to mention a lot of these people will be unvaccinated which puts the hospitals under more strain if it turns into a superspreader event. These Saturday protest jollies in London are always filled with anti-vax speakers, posters and paraphernalia.

OP posts:
Tealightsandd · 18/12/2021 21:46

@UsernameInTheTown

Good for them. Riots next. We've had enough of the hypocrisy.
Now, inciting violence. That definitely isn't a 'peaceful protest'.
kirinm · 18/12/2021 21:46

@Merrymerry2

DH is going. It isn't a jolly to use your words, op. I support his right to protest and glad some of you can understand why he is going. Obviously not you op!!

Considering there's big football matches and lots of people being compressed into small spaces on trains etc. I am not at all bothered about him being in an open space where he is free to move around.

You should be embarrassed about the people he aligns himself with.
OhWhyNot · 18/12/2021 21:47

I disagree with their opinions

But support the right to protest

The measures are taken for the better for the whole of society not to curb our freedoms we want all our lives to be improved

Tealightsandd · 18/12/2021 21:53

crashes the economy

Yep failure to deal with Covid has indeed damaged the economy.

We all know that the countries who took proactive presentative infection control measures have healthier economies. It seems it's not so economically bright letting the bodies pile up afterall.

Natty13 · 18/12/2021 21:59

@Tealightsandd

crashes the economy

Yep failure to deal with Covid has indeed damaged the economy.

We all know that the countries who took proactive presentative infection control measures have healthier economies. It seems it's not so economically bright letting the bodies pile up afterall.

Exactly this. I was just abroad a few weeks ago visiting family and vaccine passes were mandatory everywhere, even swimming pools and outdoor markets Not even allowed to enter woth an negative test result if unvaccinated. And guess what - they were still busy, my immunocompromised relative felt a lot safer and finally relaxed a bit while socialising (what about her freedoms and right not to die throughout all this?) And the economy hasnt tanked because people are still able to do things. This has been poorly managed from the beginning but the solution isn't less restrictions that's for sure.
SheikhMaraca · 18/12/2021 22:00

@Tealightsandd

crashes the economy

Yep failure to deal with Covid has indeed damaged the economy.

We all know that the countries who took proactive presentative infection control measures have healthier economies. It seems it's not so economically bright letting the bodies pile up afterall.

We’re nowhere near through this crisis yet.

Pronouncements like this are very premature, to say the least.

Tealightsandd · 18/12/2021 22:03

We’re nowhere near through this crisis yet.

And the reason why we're nowhere near through is exactly my point. Failure to deal with it, via basic infection control mitigation measures.

Tealightsandd · 18/12/2021 22:05

@Natty13
If only we took a leaf out of their book!
Nowhere has been able to completely avoid all risks but mitigations can make so much difference.

ilovesooty · 18/12/2021 22:22

[quote Tealightsandd]@Natty13
If only we took a leaf out of their book!
Nowhere has been able to completely avoid all risks but mitigations can make so much difference.[/quote]
I agree.

Zotter · 18/12/2021 22:25

@Echobelly, agree with all you wrote

Draggondragon · 18/12/2021 22:29

@natty13 I have just got home from the Arab Cup final. 60,000 people there, all PCR tested and scanned apps on arrival. Only boosted or exempt from reactive case there. Out app is connected to our ID number so we get contact traced if near a positive case and it changes to grey until we get tested and cleared. That's freedom. If that is the new world order, I'm fine with it.

RuggerHug · 18/12/2021 22:29

@Tealightsandd

It's absolutely the worst kind of western privilege.

Definitely. We are so lucky to have good access to these life and health saving vaccines (logistics and infrastructure to deliver, as much as supply). Some countries don't have that privilege.

Exactly tealightsandd . I haven't mentioned it on the covid stuff threads here before but one of my best friends works for MSF. They're exhausted in every capacity trying to get vaccines and treatments as many places as possible. People whinging about 'I don't want the best medical preventative measure even though it's free and I don't like thinking about reality, I'm bored and sooooooo done' really need a good look outside themselves and a bit of thanks for the luck of their location and birth.
Imdreamingofapeacefulxmas · 18/12/2021 22:40

I feel so sorry for the police and emergency services

SheikhMaraca · 18/12/2021 23:03

@Tealightsandd

We’re nowhere near through this crisis yet.

And the reason why we're nowhere near through is exactly my point. Failure to deal with it, via basic infection control mitigation measures.

Had we allowed the virus to circulate freely from the start, we’d almost certainly be through the other side of it by now.

Instead, we have the worst of all worlds with a trashed economy and many excess deaths.

Very sadly, I think the deaths were inevitable, but we could at least have salvaged the economy to give the next generation something of a future.

Emilyontmoor · 18/12/2021 23:24

Sheikh No response to my highlighting your trying to use George Monbiot as propaganda out of all context or any atrempt to defend yourself for being so rude and having illusions of superiority with a previous poster who raised a legitimate argument reinforced by George himself?

Science says had we allowed the virus to run through the population there would have been many more cases and dead and the virus would have had many more chances to mutate into even more transmissible and deadly variants but hey, you knows so much better ie it’s more about you than science or data 🙄

SD1978 · 18/12/2021 23:42

Despite multiple protests here in Victoria, numbers have stayed steady- there wasn't a huge leap with the start of them.

Tealightsandd · 18/12/2021 23:56

Had we allowed the virus to circulate freely from the start, we’d almost certainly be through the other side of it by now.

You know that (about a potentially lab modified, and even if natural, new, virus), how?

And my goodness at what cost. You think it would just be mass piles of bodies (of The Others)? You wouldn't want to imagine the breakdown of essential services you'd have experienced.

Very sadly, I think the deaths were inevitable, but we could at least have salvaged the economy to give the next generation something of a future.

You're wrong. As has been demonstrated by the countries (look East) that took mitigating action. They have both low death counts and healthier economies.

Oh - and many of the 'next generation' are also the Clinically Vulnerable. Generally healthy fully participating members of society. With well managed underlying conditions.

Being part of a society, most non CV people have CV friends, family, or colleagues that they care about. Even if they don't personally know anyone CV, teaching the next generation to have respect and value for all human life is an important lesson to learn growing up in a civilised society.

Emilyontmoor · 19/12/2021 00:08

SD You have a fraction of our cases and 38 in ICU. No comparison, for which you should be thankful. Certainly my family members are, who are HCPs in Victoria, exiles from an NHS which was already made more stressful by cuts before the pandemic.

SD1978 · 19/12/2021 00:19

I'm well aware numbers are lower here. My comment is in regards to percentage increase after massive protests involving thousands of unmasked and unvaccinated people. The numbers didn't jump exponentially, despite the fear being they would. It's still a fair comparison, regardless of number differences as I'm talking about a percentage increase, not trying to compare the two countries.

Tealightsandd · 19/12/2021 00:22

Cases won't necessarily jump so much when cases are at a much lower level in the first place (so less about to spread).
Also it's summer in Australia.

RuggerHug · 19/12/2021 00:30

Ah SheikhMaraca. If the people who keep your access to clean water, bin collection, pharmacy, bus drivers, food delivery, electricity connection, food growth, how many threads are you willing to cut? Ooooh so tough to put on a wee mask crying face . Cop on, ask an adult what reality is and look outside yourself pet.

milkyaqua · 19/12/2021 02:16

It is odd, that no matter which country is protesting, it could all be the same men in the photos from the marches.

TooBigForMyBoots · 19/12/2021 02:42

Shocking scenes today.Xmas Shock

AnotherOneWithNoGoodName · 19/12/2021 04:30

I absolutely defend their right to protest whatever they want, even if I disagree with them.
But those who were throwing things at police and otherwise being arseholes today can fuck off.

MyrtlethePurpleTurtle · 19/12/2021 05:19

@Twillow

Excuse my ignorance *@PestoSugarPlumFairy* but I don't really understand how vaccine passports are an assault on our liberties? What is the thinking there? Doesn't it give people more freedom to go out?
Oh, I think it’s two things:

  1. it pressures people to get vaccinated or treats them like 2nd class citizens or restricts access to areas with the pass, and

  2. apparently we don’t have ID cards because that too is an infringement of civil liberties blah blah blah

FWIW, I am triple vaccinated