Insulate Britain, I may join in the protests

[Emma2021]

Hubby is against it as he fears fines/prison/unlimited fines and
the real risk of getting hurt.

Initially even I thought they were wrong, makes no difference. But if we were all able to with or without grants/etc to improve the insulation of our homes, we would be making it a better place for all of us.

I am worried about stopping, holding up in traffic log jams 999 vehicles and those going for hospital appointments and those working for the NHS,, crers etc.

I am also worried about being pushed around and possibly worse by angry drivers.

IMO, people have a right to protest and other people must not be allowed to take the law into their own hands, EG, videos in the press showing demonstrators being dragged out of the way and almost run over ie shoved by a car/etc.

I am really worried that if this kind of thing is allowed to continue IE some of the public dragging demonstrators off the road, etc, etc, what will happen if you demo for another cause and you have some that strongly disagree with you.

I may just turn up at a demo and voice my support, clap etc those taking action

I am also worried about breaking the law as we are lawful people the family and I. Therefore will only support what is legitmate demon where they have not been banned etc, so I may have to stand on the pavement with a banner showing my support.

TBH, I'm confused and worried and my husband is not happy with me. He is saying he can see their reasons but they must not break the law and in his view they are now .

As I type, I think I've come to a decision, I won't join but will write to MP's demanding they acted on our concerns. Am I being a coward or just sensible?

I'm not mocking the cause; I'm disgusted by the protesters methods - speaking as a former activist who lost patience with superglue and direct action stunts decades ago. The road blocking is unforgivable.

If you weren’t seeking attention, you wouldn’t have pressed “post” once you got to this part-

As I type, I think I've come to a decision, I won't join

Your decision was made.
Your original reason for posting was moot.

I'm surprised that you are married

You seem to have given it an awful lot of thought, dare I say it sounds like you’ve spent more time thinking about my marital status that your own environmental cause. Strange.

@SpittinKitten

I'm not mocking the cause; I'm disgusted by the protesters methods - speaking as a former activist who lost patience with superglue and direct action stunts decades ago. The road blocking is unforgivable.

Re their methods, I agree, hence my DH telling me about not wanting to break the law.

Firmly decided not to go public with my views as in dangers of being mocked and more and not referring to you.

Thank you and the others that tried to help.

I have to say that we can all contribute to by insualting even older houses, even it its just handing thickiker or two lots of curtains.

I have to say that we can all contribute to by insualting even older houses, even it its just handing thickiker or two lots of curtains.

Typical IB supporter. So focused on this issue that you fail to see the reasons why people can't do this, like not being able to afford decent curtains or 2 pairs of curtains.

As long as you feel morally superior then that's all that matters.

Why don't you start by getting IB members to Insulate their homes properly first instead of inconveniencing and dictating to others.

I fully support the right to protest, but they way this group are going about it is abhorrent. If you do choose to try and super glue yourself to the carriageway please don't get upset if I a) run you over (while I'd never do this internationally, if you jump out in front of me while I'm doing 70 mph chances are it's gonna happen), or b) drag you out of my way by whatever appendage is closest, so that I can go about whatever it was I was doing unhindered by you.

You say you feel passionately about this cause (home insulation). That's great.

Imagine instead a cause you feel ambivalent, or on the fence about.
Now try to imagine that you are in a very stressful situation and you need to be somewhere. Perhaps a job interview. Or you are 1 hour late to pick a child up from childcare, (and your child is likely upset because all the other kids got picked up ages ago and the staff are annoyed because they have their own homes to get to). Or you are in an ambulance with your dh, he is in a great deal of pain and you are absolitely terrified, wondering whether you are about to watch him die.
Now imagine you have been stuck in traffic for over an hour. The delay is caused by protestors glueing themselves to the road. They declare that they "don't care" about the delays, or any of the problems caused by the delays.

Honestly, how will this affect your opinion of that cause? You were on the fence before, would the actions of those protestors win you round? Or the opposite?

In my opinion the actions of IB are deeply counter productive. They are building public resistance to their cause, not winning people round.

@Emma2021 both, anyone who clears these idiots of the roads.

[quote Samcro]@Emma2021 both, anyone who clears these idiots of the roads.[/quote]
Then you are clearly advocating law breaking.

What happens when you or someone you like/love et goes on a demo today, tomorrow, next weet, next month, next year or in 50 years time goes on a protest demo and blocks access to the swimming bath for example. Thy then get manhandled and get injured, who do you blame then?

Then you are clearly advocating law breaking

The hypocrisy 😂

@SquishySquirmy

I hear you and agree to an extent and now of frim view that they must stop blocking roads. I suggest if they protest outside number 10 and houses of parliament as it is them that make/pass laws.

We all need to turn our heating down to save the planet and money and where possible insualte our homes or get the coucil etc to do it.

Sooner or later one of these people are gonna get hurt. Somebody is going to lose their temper because they are late for an important meeting or to see a sick or dying relative, or somebody is just going to keep driving. That or they'll end up in prison for 2 years. It's not just stupid, it's illegal and dangerous.

I really want to see the police moving these people out of the way quickly. Because I don't want to see anyone hurt, no matter how annoying they are!
Tempers are rising and I am so worried that someone is going to get hurt soon - either by a member if the public being too rough, or an accident caused by a protestor jumping in front of someone who doesn't stop in time.
Far better for the police to "manhandle" them out of the way and keep them off the roads than allow vigilantes to step in.

You are so patronising! Do you not think people in terrace homes don’t already do most of these things to keep their houses heated and free of damp?! this is where the problem lies, all of this cost money, even harder in older homes. Most of us already have thick carpets, curtains new boilers etc so we’re doing our part. I’m all for acting against climate change but insulate Britain is a farce. The government aren’t going to pay the total cost of a new wall, roof or windows in my home, it would come out of my pocket and the average person can’t absorb that cost. Hence why these protests are stupid, especially the way they go about it. How does blocking roads, with engines running, help climate change and help our environment? Absolute stupidity. Carry on blocking people educations, health care and work but you won’t get people backing.

Op if someone gets hurt, well they made the choice to sit in the road.
Love your idea that its law breaking for someone to move them, but its ok for these dickheads to block a road.
Also wonder why this thread is in the news topic.
Is the op so important that them considering causing disruption is news?

It’s an absolute moronic protest. Free insulation, draft proofing etc has been available through free grants for years. My first job was helping people get free insulation in 2010, did literally thousands of applications. Free energy efficient boilers and insulation are available to low income households.

Is the op so important that them considering causing disruption is news?

@Samcro I can safely assume that you’ve never held the relationship paw of a werewolf while he’s howled at a streetlight because he’s pissed at 3am.

Anyone in my way I will be dragging to the side of the road. Utter nonsense

IMO, people have a right to protest and other people must not be allowed to take the law into their own hands

FWIW I don't think anyone should take the law into their own hands, but if you support the group then lawbreaking's exactly what you're condoning

Are you okay with that, or does it only matter when it's the "other people" offending?

Don't block the roads, wave your placard where you're not going to prevent someone accessing medical care or appointments, write to your MP, donate money - y'know, the usual thing. Anything else is likely to turn people away from the cause.

Or if you're really serious, go and protest in China and Russia. Let's see how committed to the cause you really are when you're liable to be treated in a less than kindly way for your convictions.