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.

I can see that they are following the trouble. They are only lucky they aren't protesting/stamping their feet in less liberal countries than the UK. Then again, they dont have the true grit for that. As for the recent rabble, causing a bridge to be shut down. I'd happily leave them up there and let (lawful) business carry on as usual.

Wrap it up any way you want, criminal activity is not the way to address environmental issues.

what is the way to address it?

30 years of peaceful protests haven’t worked

You need to look at maslows 'Heiratchy of needs' and work your way up it. This is for everyone. STOP buying stuff because you want it Research angd get the best and lowest global impact items for what you NEED. People who buy/obtain stuff they want rather than need are the problem. That means everybody.

So you condone these crimes?

It has worked! Companies are embracing new technologies but it takes awhile for all the technology to come together to replace fossil fuels. I think people are being unrealistic wanting everything to change right away. It can only be done as fast as it's been done. Peaceful protests have worked. The evidence is there already.

I'm happy to say that I condone some of them, yes.

The UK has a proud history of civil disobedience, and I see some of these activities in the same spirit as that. To be clear, this doesn't extend to blocking ambulances or fire engines.

Are you kidding? We're on course to miss the modest targets set by the Paris Agreement by a country mile.

It can only be done as fast as it's been done

Total bollocks.

So how do you think those protestors' actions are going to DIRECTLY make a difference..that is, aside from getting people to talk? You took me to task about saying you were picking and choosing which illegal activity you condoned.

Wrap it up any way you want, criminal activity is not the way to address environmental issues.

what is the way to address it?

30 years of peaceful protests haven’t worked

So you condone these crimes?

im asking what the way to address it is, what is your solution?

but instead of answering the question, you ask whether I condone crime? When you answer the question, I’ll answer yours

I'm not the one advocating proactive action. What you are representing is like juggling jelly.

So what are you advocating?

They're obviously not going to make a DIRECT difference. What a pointless question.

It's about awareness raising, challenging presumptions, placing issues on the agenda, and, to a large degree, expressing horror, outrage and exasperation at the indifference of people like you.

As someone with family caught up in the Pakistan floods, I commend @thedancingbear for caring.

And thanks to everyone who donated.

There is a simple fact that petrol/diesel contains so much usable energy in a relatively portable format that it cannot be replaced as a mans of powering practical vehicles. Electrical vehicles are basically a way of hiding the emissions that are needed to produce electricity so are placing the 'pollution out of obvious sight. This is basic physics and guess what, physics is well understood and is impossible to escape. Yes you can have 'breakthroughs' but for various reasons such as cost and inconvenience all alternatives will fail.While battery technology will improve, it will never be able to replace petrol/diesel as a universal practical solution without radical changes for everybody. Meaning redesigning of towns and cities to facilitate 'battery powered transportation. How much do you think it would cost to rip up all the streets of the UK (world) to lay new electric cables to allow battery vehicles to be recharged in a time that would be 'convenient' for average travellers? This is the practical requirement that would have to be met to fulfill the fantasies of those with electric vehicles. The electricity generating capability of the UK would have to be tripled (or more) to supply enough power to charge electric vehicles Bear in mind that on average the UK already has to 'import' around 10% of it's electricity from Europe.

Adherence to the law.

I don't have a problem necessarily with people making a huge noise to highlight something. But have people read the Trolley problem - ( & I know a poster said upthread if you don't let this ambulance through some one may die today - some many may one day over time - Oh the irony as over time many more will - I paraphrase the poster. Sorry )

Personally I would let ambulances through but this has been a well discussed ethical problem since about 1967.

I do think that some people will support these people , others will think they are causing problems which may turn people off supporting them. They now have a platform so I would say save the glue , write sensibly about your aims and more peaceful protects. But just me

Half of Pakistan is underwater with millions in dire straits and very few people seem to give much of a fuck. Soup on a painting in London is drawing no attention or extra awareness - it’s to satisfy the personal needs of the individuals involved who need to feel like they’re doing something - without actually putting themselves out too much. A tin of Heinz Cream of Tomato, a bus across town and maybe a night in the cells. The lengths. The Australian TV clip of the much derided Peterson on this topic refers.

I'm not the one advocating proactive action. What you are representing is like juggling jelly.

you've stated that.... Wrap it up any way you want, criminal activity is not the way to address environmental issues

so what is the way?
it doesn't matter if its not proactive action

just asking what is the right legal action in your opinion for environmental issues?

With due respect the government of Pakistan have had almost 50 years to sort out potential flooding problems as indeed have many other countries that have areas that are prone to monsoon/flooding. Their politicians are supposedly intelligent people so what is the excuse?

You’re asking the wrong question. She doesn’t give a fuck.

There’s lots of it around, you know

So if thousands of Pakistani kids drown, it’s their own lookout for being born in Pakistan.

you really are taking the piss. No decent human being thinks like this.

This. It doesn’t fit the privileged brat defence narrative though.

I’m amazed some people are siding with the protesters. What exactly can normal working families do who are just trying to survive let alone pay their bills.
Its the public ie us that suffer.
Id love an electric car for example but I can’t afford one.
I hope the businesses who lost out can take out private prosecutions on these two individuals and bankrupt them.

My god, @ILeclercreturn, you’re a nasty bit of work. Reported.