Thinking of going to XR Big One in London on Sat...but will it be very full-on?

[Noteverythingisasitseems]

Want to go, and take DC. I'm not amazing with big crowds, but can handle it if it doesn't get too pushy/shove-like and full on. Never been to an XR gathering before - if you have, what should I expect, please?

At a climate protest billed explicitly as being family friendly I would expect the crowds to be if anything more polite and friendly and probably less densely crowded (so less push and shove) than at for example Jubilee / Coronation events. All this 'it will kick off' / 'don't take your kids' / 'don't go as a single woman' is complete scaremongering.

This four day event has been planned in advance with the police, and although XR's organised it, loads of other groups are supporting and several mainstream NGOs like conservation organisations and Christian development charities will be taking part. I almost think this style of protest may be too polite to convey the actual crisis of general planetary destruction!

Literally anything anyone does to try and raise awareness that we're crashing into irreversible climate breakdown will attract negative comments on here ('hypocrisy!', 'middle class self-indulgence!', 'won't make any difference!', 'selfishly inconveniencing others!', 'virtue-signalling!'). I think maybe sorting recycling is the upper limit of what's considered acceptable. Go for it if you fancy it. Check out the programme linked above, and as someone else said, look up XR Families.

The families I know that go to this all have 3+ children, drive massive cars to drive their kids 5 mins to school, go on multiple holidays abroad per year but then post photos of their kids holding banners. Seems very much like a fashion statement more than anything.

It really isn't necessary to travel to London and ponce about to "raise awareness that we're crashing into irreversible climate breakdown". Having a party in London isn't going to help anyone.

I imagine most will travel by public transport?
And they have already changed their lifestyles?

Spot on.

XR demos are made up of many groups, and I'm never quite sure that they will all behave in family-friendly ways. The anarchists are wild camping on Clapham Common already, so I suspect the awkward squad will be there, but no-one has a crystal ball to know what their impact will be (I hope none!)

Suggestions:

• avoid Sunday, unless you have very particular reasons for that day, and that day only, because it's the London Marathon, and there's considerable disruption just from that
• take food/snacks/drink - not many shops round Parliament Square
• allow plenty of time for loo breaks (esp Sunday) as businesses that normally let non-customers use the loo often don't when there are big events on (so big queues at those that are open)
• take a print out of the area you'll be going to (in case phone battery dies, or signal is weak) so that if you do spot trouble, you can work out a good route away from it
• if you think an area is becoming unpleasant for any reason, trust your instincts and move away immediately
• before you go, look up family friends groups and where they say they'll be, and plan accordingly

I have been yes but more local

Thanks - I agree with all of this.

I would have thought public transport or bicycle is how most protesters would get there. What kind of fool drives into London these days?

You seem aggressive. Just take the kids amd let us know if it goes tits up

As long as you don't mind spending the day with a lot of double barrelled white poshoes with dredlocs, then go for it and have fun

🙄Pot. Kettle. This weird reply isn't aggressive?

Why don't you and your dc do something practical and local instead. Like organizing a trash collection in a local area.
I can't see the point of traveling to walk around buying things and listening to music.

That's a really good idea

My parents did that with us as dc and I have done it with my dc. You used to be able to get some support from the local council but I don't know if cuts will have impacted that.

'hypocrisy!', 'middle class self-indulgence!', 'won't make any difference!', 'selfishly inconveniencing others!', 'virtue-signalling!'

Yep, this pretty much covers my opinions about XR.

Exactly - what is poncing about in London dressed up in silly costumes with puppets going to do?

Why...maybe to 1) get in the papers and remind people climate crisis is a big issue?
2) Encourage people to keep going/ feel like they are part of a exciting movement for change when the rest of the time they are doing boring things like writing letters to MPs and asking people to sign petitions on the local high street?

I don't support many of XRs methods but I think protesting can be a useful tool to make change happen.

Lots of other posts on mn about 'why do British people sit there and take living standards getting worse when other countries get out on the streets'. Maybe part of the reason is the constant judgement for considering going on a protest ?

Didn't you post about this the other day? Or are XR now trying to advertise on mumsnet?

XR are made up of entitled twats who inconvenience everyone

I saw that loonie on GMB today as uts clear she doesn't actually know or care much about it, she's just an overgrown sixth former from a very privileged background. She is so offensive I can't imagine why anyone would follow such a stupid idiot.

Why...maybe to 1) get in the papers and remind people climate crisis is a big issue?

Shit, I'd forgotten about it being an issue. Next thing you know they'll be saying smoking is bad for you.

Does public transport not impact climate change, is it just privately owned cars?

😂Is there some kind of issue about the climate now?

No, not everything is as it seems.....

A lot of uninformed posters here. XR are specifically billing this as family friendly and are moving away from resistant tactics that inconvenience people. We are going with a group from our church, and they wouldn't be going if there was even a hint of unrest. It will be fine.