To think this is awful? (Just Stop Oil protesters throwing soup over Van Gogh painting)

[TheCatsPyjamas1]

Just read that some Just Stop Oil protesters have thrown soup over a Van Gogh painting in the National Gallery in London. AIBU to think this is unacceptable?

I fully support the message of the group (investing in environmentally responsible energy rather than fossil fuels, and helping to make society more equal for everyone), but I find their protest methods are awful and risk alienating people who would otherwise support them.

They keep on doing crazy things, and seem to be escalating their action each time they protest. I don’t really know when or how it’ll end.

What utter nonsense.

Exactly the point of the protest and sadly predictable.

Interesting that a vocal minority on this thread see the protection of a piece of art depicting nature as more important than protecting nature that supports life on earth.

i think it’s due to how it’s reported, constantly negative rather than impartial

We can have opinions on many subjects and are not obliged to list all of them on any given thread.

I am no climate denier. I have made efforts live a lifestyle which is substantially cleaner than the average Brit, and am looking to invest in technology to improve this further - PV panels, rainwater harvesting etc. I also spend time lobbying my MP and MS on subjects including decarbonising our transport and energy generation.

Throwing milk around a shop floor won't change a thing. It's a needless waste.

twitter.com/ProfColinDavis/status/1581195809294385152?t=e8FCFKkBuLWRrIdBU8OQig&s=19

Throwing milk around a shop floor won't change a thing. It's a needless waste.

its already got people talking about it, and change starts that way

Never underestimate Optimism Bias. Vast majority of humans cannot really take on board hugely negative information about the future.

But why do people in Pakistan need protection from flooding in the first place? Man made climate change primarily driven by fossil fuel use

Pakistan has been prone to flash floods in the past, usually due to monsoons. You are not very well informed if you think this is anything new.

In fact, only fossil fuel-based infrastructural development can save lives in the future.

Thanks for this

I know people protest to conserve but it’s a bit of an issue because to get the returns from electric rail and nuclear it needs to be built

For anyone interested in the mentality of the activists behind these crass stunts, Roger Pielke Jr (someone I also have disagreement with, but can’t fault his logic with this one either)

twitter.com/RogerPielkeJr/status/1581617225735163905?s=20&t=j3cQ2vHk5ZQaP5U2xBONrg

Pakistan has been prone to flash floods in the past, usually due to monsoons. You are not very well informed if you think this is anything new.

Man made climate change caused by fossil fuel use has made the monsoons much less predictable, and sometimes it causes the amount of water to be orders of magnitude more than was typical in the past. The latest flooding happened because it did not stop raining for 2 MONTHS!

I don’t expect you care about evidence based on your posting history, and I suspect you might be a (not very successful) industry shill trying to drum up public support for fossil fuel investment, but anyway, here is some reading for others that might be interested:

https://www.forbes.com/sites/unicefusa/2022/09/21/deadly-floods-in-pakistan-linked-to-climate-change/

Also reported in that loony lefty rag the Economist

And if you have a conscience at all you might want to make a donation to The Red Cross to help care for people impacted by the floods, around 33 million people. Equivalent to around half the population of the UK.

Anyone criticising the methods of climate protestors cannot genuinely understand what the climate scientists are trying to tell us

Indeed. It baffles me when people talk about their "methods" having the opposite affect that they want. I disagree, I actually don't know what they will achieve but peacefully protesting and spreading awareness definitely doesn't work so they may as well give it a try. Ultimately at least they can sleep at night knowing they tried. I think at this point it's the most we can hope for.

Climate change is to horrific for us to get out head around. People saying that science isn't predicting scenarios as apocalyptic as some are implying are missing the very important fact that science is only predicting the environmental impact and not the human reaction. What do you think happens when resources run low? When land becomes unlivable? How do you think nuclear powers will react to an increasingly desperate battle for resources? All that keeps the fingers off the nuclear buttons is that life is better without it, what happens when that is not true for everybody?

More aggression from lefties.

Flooding due to monsoons that are or were predictable and loss of life and property is down to the governments of those countries failing to legislate and act to work around the environment. Housing huge numbers of poor people on a flood plain was always going to be a bad idea (in humanitarian terms). Buildings in Switzerland have, by law, to be able to withstand avalanches and maybe even earthquakes in some regions plus bomb shelters against possible nuclear attack as a 'village/town' joint responsibility. Thus building regulations and costs are massive. HS2 is largely a 'white elephant' unless there is a clearly defined plan to make things that need transporting from 'the north' to London. Has anyone seen detailed plans (or even vague ideas) for development of industry that COULD use a high speed train? NO, it is an attempt to pull workers from the North to work in London (for activities that due to Brexit are declining). There is no strategic planning in the UK, and there hasn't been for a long time, possibly since WW2 as the UK needs to reinvent itself but the Thatcher years concentrated everything into 'money markets' banking and insurance. This has been detrimental to so many parts of the UK where pandering to 'city types' who can't be inconvenienced by having to catch a slower train or bus.

I guess being called a hypocrite is nothing compared to what your heroes, such as Anifa, call people. That's before they physically assault them. You remain a hypocrite.

*Antifa

But this just pisses people off and not in a good way. I support the fact that something needs to be done on climate change but I don't support these complete fools. Vandalism is just pointless.

Interesting that a vocal minority on this thread, excuse criminal damage. I wonder if said vocal minority would be so understanding if their own property was trashed. I'm sure some bollocks would be spouted as to why they didn't care. Man made destruction v environmental destruction. Fortunately, the law sees the difference.

The bitching about the protestors on this thread reminds me of the replies to posters trying to warn that covid was coming to the UK. No logic or evidence made it's way through.

Again, optimism bias.

People aren't talking about the climate, they are talking about the vile brats who did it. It's not the same thing.

Having been on both sides of politics, I know the pollies roll their eyes at antics like this and it confirms their biases that these people are worthless brats and they take less of a notice of them than if they presented a petition. From a political standpoint, it is completely counterproductive. If anything, it entrenches the government's policies and determination (not to do anything) even more.

If anything, it entrenches the government's policies and determination (not to do anything) even more.

We know that Tory policies are built on the shallow foundations of their neoliberal and far right masters rather than scientific evidence, but it would be a new low for this kind of stunt to directly influence government policy! If their policy making is so weak, roll on the general election when we can vote them out.

There’s a good letter in the Guardian this morning

This guy for example, can fuck right off

These protesters don't believe in the cause, they just want to cause a bit of trouble. Most lead incredibly climate damaging lives and these protests are rather white middle class art school type of protests.

So how much oil has the two 'activists' that climbed up the bridge over the Thames in Esex/Kent wasted.. As I am already 'suicidally inclined' I would reasonably expect to be shot down by a decent marksman. I don't expect others to do what I wouldn't do myself.