London Protests

[Arzosah]

It's great that everyone here understands how real the threat is of climate change. As for *these* protests - loving the bit about the elite travelling on the light railway though seriously, the point is to radicalise enough people to do something - its not really about getting the elite to take things seriously. I don't think so, anyway. The only time thats happened was with the poll tax riots (which were much more violent, and much bigger). These have been disruptive for longer, though.

The Greenham Common protests radicalised thousands of women (and gave them criminal records too) but nothing changed about cruise missile deployment till American foreign policy changed.

No idea what's going to come of this, if anything, but in terms of the "slow collapse" we talk of, it's inevitable.

I'm in London again at the moment for the week, but no effect on me, I did a journey yesterday from Wandsworth to Chelsea, and that doesn't cut across any of the action sites.

[Arzosah]

If the Noble Protest groups feel so strongly,they should start by shuffling off this mortal coil.Yes I said that! Top 'emselves!A bit less methane in the atmosphere,the ultimate noble sacrifice for fellow man and Gaia herself!

Er, I don't *quite* agree with you on this one, jansman

I have said it before: Anyone preaching to others about Climate Change,and dishing out Eco- Guilt needs to prove their Eco- Credentials by living without fossil fuels of ANY kind,grow their food,( ALL of it) with zero input from outside. That includes their water supply too.Never gonna happen.

I believe it's possible for humans to live on this planet with a technological civilisation, with some use of fossil fuels amongst others, and for the normal planetary processes to recycle whatever we produce that *we* can't recycle. That happened until about 1850, and with our greater efficiency, we could get back to that, if we tried. Even now, we're "only" using the equivalent of two Earths - even with the population growth of the last 50 years. I honestly don't think we need to go back to the life of medieval peasants to sort this. It will be hard, and extremely complex, and elites everywhere will fight it every step of the way, but it could be done. I'm not sure it will be done, but it could.

[jansman]

It appears that all police rest days are cancelled, and the overtime bill will off the scale. They have yoofs sticking knives in each other down there and not enough coppers to boot! Do they not have work? Or are the tax paying polluters who have to get to work supporting them? Cos none of us live without money. Got no time for them.

I live in a ( now semi rural) village, grow a surprisingly large amount of food in my large garden. I hunt and fish, harvest rainwater, compost, convert some of our packaging into solid fuel and have some small scale solar power. I don’t have to superglue myself to a train or bang on about how bad humans are to the planet ( refer to my previous comment about self sacrifice for the good of Mother Earth), I am doing what I can. But I have to live, and I live well. I don’t want extremists- and that’s what they are- telling me that I am bad for breathing.

[diamond lil]

Going wildly off topic (cos I'm good at it) - what's the point anyway when you look at how much pollution comes from China, Russia, and America? We're kidding ourselves that we can still lead the world and be a big power for change. We're a tiny has-been banana republic!

[jansman]

^^^ LIKE^^^^

[Deeps]

Going wildly off topic (cos I'm good at it) - what's the point anyway when you look at how much pollution comes from China, Russia, and America? We're kidding ourselves that we can still lead the world and be a big power for change. We're a tiny has-been banana republic!

We do have very civilised policing though, why go to Tianammen Square, Red Square or Pensylvania Avenue for a damned good hiding when you can get all jump up and downy and shouty with police who won't tazer/shoot/beat you.

[Arzosah]

It appears that all police rest days are cancelled, and the overtime bill will off the scale. They have yoofs sticking knives in each other down there and not enough coppers to boot! Do they not have work? Or are the tax paying polluters who have to get to work supporting them? Cos none of us live without money. Got no time for them.

Well, students are on Easter holidays, as are schools, of course. Quite a few are retired. It would be unrealistic of me to maintain that there are no "professional" protestors, who work the system so that they can do it full time, there are.

I live in a ( now semi rural) village, grow a surprisingly large amount of food in my large garden. I hunt and fish, harvest rainwater, compost, convert some of our packaging into solid fuel and have some small scale solar power. I don’t have to superglue myself to a train or bang on about how bad humans are to the planet ( refer to my previous comment about self sacrifice for the good of Mother Earth), I am doing what I can. But I have to live, and I live well. I don’t want extremists- and that’s what they are- telling me that I am bad for breathing.

Jansman, I don't think any of the protestors would tell you that at all, honestly. I think most of them would hold you up as an example of what they want to encourage (apart from the vegans: they won't like you!).

[Arzosah]

Going wildly off topic (cos I'm good at it) - what's the point anyway when you look at how much pollution comes from China, Russia, and America? We're kidding ourselves that we can still lead the world and be a big power for change. We're a tiny has-been banana republic!

We started it (with the Industrial Revolution!) we can show the way forward with the next phase too. Our scientists are still wildly influential on a global scale.

As for China: it produces the most solar power in the world https://www.finder.com/uk/nation-most-solar-power



ETA - I'm hoping to go to the British Museum tomorrow,to see a temporary exhibit on food production throughout history, and if I can manage it, I'll be going right by Waterloo Bridge, which is apparently one of the occupied sites. I'll keep an eye out for what's actually happening, as opposed to the fluff that's being generated by all concerned.

[Arwen Thebard]

"Jansman, I don't think any of the protestors would tell you that at all, honestly. I think most of them would hold you up as an example of what they want to encourage (apart from the vegans: they won't like you!)."

Well put.

[jansman]

It appears that all police rest days are cancelled, and the overtime bill will off the scale. They have yoofs sticking knives in each other down there and not enough coppers to boot! Do they not have work? Or are the tax paying polluters who have to get to work supporting them? Cos none of us live without money. Got no time for them.

Well, students are on Easter holidays, as are schools, of course. Quite a few are retired. It would be unrealistic of me to maintain that there are no "professional" protestors, who work the system so that they can do it full time, there are.

I live in a ( now semi rural) village, grow a surprisingly large amount of food in my large garden. I hunt and fish, harvest rainwater, compost, convert some of our packaging into solid fuel and have some small scale solar power. I don’t have to superglue myself to a train or bang on about how bad humans are to the planet ( refer to my previous comment about self sacrifice for the good of Mother Earth), I am doing what I can. But I have to live, and I live well. I don’t want extremists- and that’s what they are- telling me that I am bad for breathing.

Jansman, I don't think any of the protestors would tell you that at all, honestly. I think most of them would hold you up as an example of what they want to encourage (apart from the vegans: they won't like you!).

That last line probably sums up where I am coming from to be fair. Not too much detail, as an incident at work in January colours my view, and it is the subject of legal action.

The ‘Veganuary’ campaign brought protesters to our workplace, and there were cars vandalised in our car park. They watched who the Butchers were, and targeted us. Over two days there was intimidation too, which really upset the female staff. Police were constantly in attendance. The final straw was as I locked the gates and one jumped into my car and refused to get out. Picked on the wrong bloke! Fortunately we have good cctv... I will leave it there.

So I watch the news and see vandalism and gluing of appendages to windows, and I really feel for the staff who are trying to work with those numpties around. ‘Nuff said.