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Original poster

To take DD to the Extinction Rebellion protest next weekend?

246 replies

Rainallnight · 14/04/2023 09:51

DD is 6, going on 7. Saturday is some sort of family oriented Earth day. I’d like to take her because I think it’s an important historical moment in the climate crisis.

BUT I have no idea if it’s safe, or even whether getting there and back will be a nightmare for small people.

Has anyone taken DC to one of these before? Is it manageable?

OP posts:
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10
Darker · 21/04/2023 07:19

Lots of XR events have been extremely peaceful. No reason to believe this weekend won’t be.

FOAD37 · 21/04/2023 07:23

@OoooohMatron That made me laugh far more than it should!
I am a bad person

OoooohMatron · 21/04/2023 07:25

Darker · 21/04/2023 06:58

They might give you a rosy glow or a feeling of righteousness

I have never felt this, or even hoped to feel this, while at any kind of demonstration, for any cause.

In honesty it feels fairly futile because the people who have the power appear not to be making the right decisions because they are more interested in short-term profit.

But it does raise public awareness of climate change and encourages people to care. It encourages people to think about what they are buying and how they are voting. It plays a part in holding our own government to account.

It doesn't. I just think they are virtue signalling twats

CampsieGlamper · 21/04/2023 07:26

It will be fun when the dear little overpriviledged Tarquins and Lucrecias try to disrupt Eid celebrations. Given Saudi Arabia's connections with Islam and oil I'm sure that ER are not racist in their attacks. Any why not try to wreck the English peoples St George's Day events?
Get pop corn and watch from a distance....

Darker · 21/04/2023 07:38

It doesn't. I just think they are virtue signalling twats

You are entitled to your opinion. In my experience people from all walks of life attend these events.

Darker · 21/04/2023 07:39

@CampsieGlamper

What are you talking about?

Kitanai · 21/04/2023 07:51

But it does raise public awareness of climate change and encourages people to care.

It really doesn’t.

All it does is anger people to the point that ANY mention of climate change is sneered at.

People who would have watched, been interested and therefore listened to a David Attenborough documentary, now watch for the cute animals and turn off/roll their eyes when it gets to a climate change bit.

The disruption, pain and harm caused to the less fortunate by these events doesn’t go unnoticed. The hypocritical self fart sniffers may be able to just wave it off, but everyone else remembers.

And, a bit like the current extremist trans movement, the activists seem incapable of seeing the irreparable damage they are inflicting on the actual cause. They are too busy enjoying feeling righteous rage to notice/care.

This post reads more like an activist advertising their event as ‘child friendly’ than it does a concerned parent actually wondering if it is.

Sirzy · 21/04/2023 07:54

Personally the approaches taken by such groups are more likely to make me stop caring than to care more. All they are doing is preaching at people, calling for completely unrealistic outcomes and causing massive damage and disruption.

for most people to make them change things it takes education and sensible, achievable, advice and expectations.

Darker · 21/04/2023 07:59

Personally the approaches taken by such groups are more likely to make me stop caring than to care more.

That’s not very logical… is the environment and climate change important to you or not? What do YOU think?

If it matters to you then it seems weird to mind if it matters to others and motivates them to do something about it.

Devoutspoken · 21/04/2023 08:03

Campsie, st George's day is not really a thing

Yeahreally · 21/04/2023 08:17

Peaceful? No, they make noise.
But their on-street protests are safe.
And I suspect I might have more direct experience of them than you.

I'm also interested that posters are challenging the OP to reduce her own environmental impact instead of attending...is it really an "either/or" thing? And it's a shame if we seem to be saying that no one can attend without hypocrisy unless they've somehow figured a way to exist in 21st century society without some consuming some oil-based products. That act goes to the nub of the issue: fossil fuels have become so entrenched in how we (or goods, food etc) move around (public or private transport), how we heat homes, how and where we produce things etc... so the change we need is a systemic one and this where we need governments to lead.
And does anyone on this board truly think that this government is leading on this issue? That their response is in any way proportionate to the scale of the problem?

BigGreen · 21/04/2023 08:20

My kids are making their artwork today for XR tomorrow. The first time we made a big banner but it was heavy. These days we often draw on fabric offcuts with pens and I put it on our coats with safety pins.

ThisIsNotAmerican · 21/04/2023 08:25

Darker · 21/04/2023 07:59

Personally the approaches taken by such groups are more likely to make me stop caring than to care more.

That’s not very logical… is the environment and climate change important to you or not? What do YOU think?

If it matters to you then it seems weird to mind if it matters to others and motivates them to do something about it.

You conveniently (for you) picked on @Sirzy first paragraph, but made no comment on their important last paragraph which is the only way climate change is going to be halted (if it’s not already too late). This what all the sensible posters on this thread are telling you. Yet you seem to want to ignore these principles to suit your own agenda.

Darker · 21/04/2023 08:35

I don't have an 'agenda' except that I'm concerned about climate change. I've attended a couple of XR events and one XR meeting, as part of my personal response. And very glad I have, too.

TheFrenchLady · 21/04/2023 08:39

How do all these protesters get to the protest? Do they use oil?

Maybe like the founder of ER, who has been outed today as driving a large diesel vehicle (on her way to Waitrose to buy food covered in non recyclable coverings that has been flown thousands of miles)

Tis all a load of bollocks and would have more impact if every single one of them walked from where ever they live. Of course they won't do that because it would be too hard and because it's easier to use oil to get there.

Yeahreally · 21/04/2023 08:47

TheFrenchLady -

1) see my post from 8.17.

2) As the saying goes: Perfect is the enemy of the good.

LibrariansGiveUsPower · 21/04/2023 08:49

Personally no, whilst the cause is good there are some crazies who’ve attached themselves to it and I wouldn’t be confident it would stay a peaceful protest. 6 is very young to get caught up in that.

Yeahreally · 21/04/2023 08:51

Ps. To answer "how are most protesters getting there" - from my northern city, we have 2 full coaches although me and some others are going by train. And yes! Both use oil so I'm sure that gives you a lovely rosy glow 😋

LibrariansGiveUsPower · 21/04/2023 08:52

CampsieGlamper · 21/04/2023 07:26

It will be fun when the dear little overpriviledged Tarquins and Lucrecias try to disrupt Eid celebrations. Given Saudi Arabia's connections with Islam and oil I'm sure that ER are not racist in their attacks. Any why not try to wreck the English peoples St George's Day events?
Get pop corn and watch from a distance....

What St George’s day events?

otherwayup · 21/04/2023 08:53

user1471518104 · 14/04/2023 10:13

You do realise the potential impact of being seen to be a member of a protest group? This could affect her career prospects for her entire life

People are getting sick of the whole protest nonsense. They do nothing to save the planet. Spend time educating your daughter on sustainable living and educating herself so she can actually make a difference in the world outside of crying on a screen and throwing soup on works of art

Oh lord, that's bloody hilarious 😂
6 years old and you think it will compromise her future career prospects!!!

Bamboux · 21/04/2023 08:55

Yeahreally · 21/04/2023 08:51

Ps. To answer "how are most protesters getting there" - from my northern city, we have 2 full coaches although me and some others are going by train. And yes! Both use oil so I'm sure that gives you a lovely rosy glow 😋

You're really here grinning and crowing about your hypocrisy? I'd be ashamed, not proud.

Do you own a car? Do you drive?

The whole thing is just a massive jolly for self-righteous, almost entirely White, Christian, middle class people seeking praise for doing nothing of any real value

And hugely disruptive for those of us who live here and can't get through/ across town all weekend.

Bamboux · 21/04/2023 08:57

LibrariansGiveUsPower · 21/04/2023 08:52

What St George’s day events?

Show quote history

There's a wreath laying ceremony. There's also the Sikh festival in trafalgar Square and the Marathon on Sunday.

All important to different people for different reasons. 'XR' have boasted about their intentions to disrupt them all.

Darker · 21/04/2023 09:05

And hugely disruptive for those of us who live here and can't get through/ across town all weekend

Just wait until climate change really starts to kick in. Floods, violent storms, heat, food shortages….

XR welcomes everyone who cares. Everyone. Because it’s global-scale action that’s required. It’s governments and Multi-National companies that will make a difference.

Dirty industries get away with it when the blame falls on individuals who don’t recycle or choose to travel.

Darker · 21/04/2023 09:07

Bamboux · 21/04/2023 08:57

There's a wreath laying ceremony. There's also the Sikh festival in trafalgar Square and the Marathon on Sunday.

All important to different people for different reasons. 'XR' have boasted about their intentions to disrupt them all.

Show quote history

They have said they don’t want to disrupt the London Marathon and are collaborating with LM.

Please show me where they say dif.

Theluggage15 · 21/04/2023 09:10

If you want to spend time with a bunch of privileged, zero diverse, virtue signalling twats, go ahead. I’d rather stick pins in my eyes

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