This did not do that one little bit. The people in power can totally ignore this, and did. What a stupid ass idea, that inconveniencing commuters will effect those in power instead of the commuters and yourself.
Headlines for what? Who do you think at this point has NOT heard about climate change and now has an opinion on it? The idea that people need to become aware of a topic we’ve been beating into the floor for DECADES now is ludicrous. You have to CHANGE PEOPLE’S MINDS ON THE TOPIC.
This will not change people’s minds. It only makes people hate environmentalists and shows them to be completely out of touch. Their protest CAUSED more pollution. It’s a stupid ass protest. Go chain themselves to the headquarters of Exxon and Shell and other fossil fuel companies. But this? This is the equivalent of Green Peace dumping a load of fish in the middle of the Jersey Turnpike to protest whaling.
Um, I’d say that’s more a case of centre politics deciding that actually doing the things necessary is going to be unpopular and expensive so it’d be really nice if we all just did a bit but nothing that actually causes us any real inconvenience or expense.
Well, I’m speaking from the German political perspective, where there is broad political consensus on climate change. The seriousness of the problem has never been disputed by the main center-right party, the CDU.
But either way, it’s totally specious to suggest that the only two options are to blockade commuter traffic or to take no action. What I actually said is that I’d like strategic action that targets concrete, achievable goals - do you disagree with that?
I agree that the CDU may be heading in a problematic direction, and I’m still trying to figure out who thinks that Merz represents the direction the party should move in.
But in this context, “strategically targeting concrete, achievable goals” is the important part of what I’m saying. If you know Germany, you must be aware that Fridays for Future has ben receiving far less attention in the last year, and people climbing on dinosaur skeletons in museums or trashing hotels in the Ostsee is receiving far more. The opinion polls that I’ve been seeing do suggest it’s hurting the movement.
I’d argue that the goal is not to “hurt” them, but rather to get them to pay attention too, and take action. It’s gonna take government action, and the people who can put pressure on the government to do that is all of us who are eligible to vote. If we the people make up the government, then we the people must to be the ones to make the government take action.
I already answered that, we blocked the trains with a similar sized group. It’s something.
And, I know activist groups are doing all the different things. I also know it’s okay for me to not love this particular iteration.
I already answered this, too, pretty clearly, I think. Like I said, it’s just my opinion. I do have some experience in activism, in both successful and unsuccessful campaigns. So in my somewhat informed opinion, I would not be part of an action like this.
I’m glad people are demonstrating. We are in a critical situation and according to some it might already be too late to turn the tides. But we shouldn’t give up.
Yet, in my region, more than half the political seats are going uncontested in the next election. Sure, stop traffic, I’m not stopping anyone by stating my disagreement, but also, step up and be willing to take part in the mundane political processes that can change your little corner of the world.
If these are the people they want to target, it would be more effective to hold the sit-ins on public property at the entrances to their workplaces and (even better) parking garages and lots. Choose a different one every day. It’ll still get as much if not more media attention, complete with irate people trying to get through.
If there’s something special about the choice of venue in this protest, I’m not seeing it as a non-DC resident. Effective protesters make it clear why they’ve chosen a spot for their sit-in (e.g. “we’re protesting this lunch counter’s compliance with Jim Crow” or “we’re protesting the policies of the university administration”) and they don’t make it easy for the corporate media to twist or obscure the message.
I don’t know whether to feel better or worse (than that) about a bottle of Spanish wine. At least the growing & packing didn’t involve a transoceanic shipment.
There’s a fish company in Scotland that ships their fish to China for processing, before having it shipped back to Scotland again for sale in local markets. Because it is cheaper than processing it locally.
I’m sorry, but I disagree strongly with all this talk of “only protest politely” or “only protest to certain people in certain ways”.
What do you think people have been doing for twenty years? Being nice and working within the system hasn’t worked. THE WORLD IS BURNING DOWN AND WE ARE OUT OF TIME.
