[News] Just Stop Oil

[Mental Lental]

To the Winchester!

Pretty much my attitude to it, anyway.

The human race is absurd. We have willingly destroyed our own planet. That is simply farcical. We are not sustainable. We haven't been for thousands of years. In our bid to become richer, bigger, faster, stronger, we have taken ourselves out of the game. We took a planet that could sustain life, could nourish and nurture boundless species and environments and we drilled and drained and scorched and farmed it to the brink of total destruction. We blew it, folks. We blew the bloody lot.

It's absurd and darkly comical that the best thing humans can do to save earth is to die out. I only hope the earth recovers once we are gone and species can thrive, rivers can flow clean and oceans can sustain life again. And for the sake of earth, I am glad humans won't be there to see it. We f***ed it.

Planet will be fine. It was here long before we were and will be here long after we're gone. That's why I laugh when I hear "save the planet" from environmentalists. The planet will be fine. It's the human race that's f***ed. And even then. I think there's a small chance we might be able to innovate our way out of it. Or at least subsist in small groups of hunter gather communities in touch with nature a la the native Americans.

 

[BadFish]

I don’t think anyone deep down believes JSO will save the world.

I don't think anyone even shallowly believes this.

However they are also doing more than most of us.

 

[AstroSloth]

People buying tickets to these events, stopping real fans from going, then trying to spoil the event for thousands are far worse

If that powder had got as far as the pitch at Lords that could have been test match over and hundreds of thousands of innocent people’s fun ruined by some idiots breaking the law. Fact. Boycott called it right for sure. Protest peacefully somewhere without healing misery on those going about their everyday lives and WORKING for a living - so so simple.

They do protest peacefully.

They also protest targeting those big oil companies etc. Strangely that doesn't get any media attention, even though they're doing "the right thing".

 

[Goldstone Guy]

Disclaimer -- sorry, I've not read this thread so I'm probably saying nothing original here.

The danger is that their methods are so crass that they're actually alienating the people they need to win over. I'm as green as (I suspect) most people on here but I find these protests pretty exasperating on a strategic level. I tend not to raise my head above the parapet when having a pint in my backstreet local, but I've overheard this campaign being mentioned dozens of times in the past few months. The problem is that I've not heard a single person talk about the environmental issue at the heart of the campaign. The only thing people want to talk about is how appalling it is that 'these idiots' are stopping people getting to work, to hospital appointments, to funerals, to airports to catch a plane, blah blah blah. That's why I think it's a tragically flawed campaign that's encouraging politicians (Tories in particular) to disengage from the issue because of pressure from their constituents, and to actually reduce their commitment to taking meaningful measures..

A very reasonable question is: so what should campaigners do then? And it's a tough one to answer. But a campaign that actually reduces support for beneficial environmental change can't be right. All I can offer is that people should stick to fighting for a change of government as it appears that Labour are more committed to the cause than their mainstream opponents. Concentrating on winning the election is probably the best thing to do. Just pissing people off and increasing the chances of the 'culture war' becoming an election issue isn't helping to achieve that.

No problem, I think it's all been discussed before but in response: The protest methods might be crass but they're remarkably similar to what Brighton fans employed in 1996 - pitch invasions, but this time with more orange paint and less smashing up of goalposts. The aim is the same - publicity, and the driver is the same - desperation of people who have seen attempts at reasonable discussion with the powers-that-be resulting in not much happening. Yes I know people will post saying we have cut our CO2 emissions so something has happened but it's not nearly enough.

There's an interview which gets shown on TV sometimes of a Brighton fan in 96 during one of the protests about the loss of Goldstone who basically says they've got no choice but to do pitch invasions and more disruptive protest because they've tried the less disruptive campaigning and it hasn't worked. Weird that Brighton fans now can't get this.

 

[rogersix]

If someone tries this at Headingly then there's a decent chance they'll be in for a good kicking, especially if England are on top.

ard bastard

 

[rogersix]

To everyone in support of these fools how would you feel if an oily person distrupted an Amex match, with us about to score and goal dissallowed/stopped by these idiots?

you've weighed up all the pros and cons then

 

[rogersix]

Absolutely agree with that - and good to see we are making some positive steps carbon-wise although probably later than it should have been… Don’t think we’re as f***ed as you say and these people make out (usually worst case scenario guesswork) but it’s an issue we need to tackle and luckily are.

Now back to the morons pissing everyone off who mainly don’t work etc - that’s what the thread was about - the way they’re ‘protesting’ and how stupid it is…

would you say that you're more knowledgeable about enviromental science than the protestors?

or are you just pissing in the wind?

 

[rogersix]

They may be "brave people" on one level in the sense that I wouldn't want to stand in front of angry commuters anf truck drivers on the M25, but that doesn't change the fact the they are strategic dimwits by eroding the credibility of the green cause. They are all so busy congratulating each other and posting stuff on social media to please the already converted that they remain blind to the bigger truth that, brave or not, they are weakening their own campaign.

so your strategy is starting to pay dividends, nothing more to see here then

 

[Kinky Gerbil]

The most shocking in all of this is that neither side of politics seems willing to entertain the idea of stopping new oil licences. I wonder why that is?

Because neither side is going to want to increase the cost of living even more and commit to it at the moment, putting down the full cost to the country will put off voters.

 

[amexer]

Yes But what needs doing to stop climate change ?

 

[rogersix]

Agree re Johnson etc but please be aware that just because we may agree that Boris and co are idiots doesn't mean that our own side are not largely idiots too.

JSO antics exist mostly to make the campaigners feel better about themselves. Get it into your head that their activites are NOT helping bring about meaningful change. The exact opposite in fact. They are alienating the people they need to convince. It's no good cheering up those who are already on message. Again, and for the last time: they mean well but are strategically boneheaded and weakening their own campaign.

the people aren't alienated, they're fearful of graft and inconvenience

 

[rogersix]

The tragic truth is that no one is talking about the environmental issues, they are grumbling about how irresponsible these people are and how the police should be given greater powers against protestors. So counterproductive that I want to bang my head against the wall in frustration. Get smarter! Meet the 'enemy' head on, don't just offer up a ton of fuel to destroy the campaign.

so what's your plan then?

 

[Mental Lental]

Yes But what needs doing to stop climate change ?

For starters, you'll need a Delorean fitted with a flux capacitor and enough road to get up to 88mph.

 

[rogersix]

I agree, I know I shouldn't but I find the pearl clutch and outrage on behalf of others rather amusing and entertaining. It's the main reason I read this thread. The inverted snobbery and massive assumptions alone are worth the entry fee.

By reading it I have also learned a little more about the subject. Perhaps their tactics aren't so pointless afterall?

Obviously I would prefer that the government do the right thing so these people didn't feel the need to disrupt our lives so heinously.

The most shocking in all of this is that neither side of politics seems willing to entertain the idea of stopping new oil licences. I wonder why that is?

is it because the electorate want the convenience of oil, and have no real understanding of enviromental science?

 

[Muzzman]

For starters, you'll need a Delorean fitted with a flux capacitor and enough road to get up to 88mph.

You need road?

 

[rogersix]

I dont agree with their cause, i dont agree that oil should remain in the ground.
There are too many products made from oil that at the moment have no alternative.
Im all for reducing our reliance on oil where possible but certainly dont agree it should remain in the ground. Oil will always be needed for something..........until it runs out of course

eh?

 

[jcdenton08]

You need road?

Your kids are gonna love it.

 

[beorhthelm]

Yes But what needs doing to stop climate change ?

dunno, just stop oil exploration in UK and we're done right?

 

[nicko31]

Mean while drill baby drill

I think he means dangerous for Shell shareholders long term prospects.

Think Shell are about 3% of their investments into renewables

Oil giant Shell warns cutting production 'dangerous'

The world's need for fossil fuels is "desperate", Shell's chief executive told the BBC.

www.bbc.co.uk

 

[willalbion]

Oil giant Shell warns cutting production 'dangerous'

The world's need for fossil fuels is "desperate", Shell's chief executive told the BBC.

www.bbc.co.uk

Of course they do

Having said that, he does raise some valid points. Until countries have the infrastructure for alternative power sources, oil and gas will always be needed.

I do see an answer to that issue though.

Investment in renewables - ffs were being rinsed, no new gas and oil licences. It’s not f***ing difficult. - the Saudis sit on climate change advisory boards, oil companies spend millions upon millions on law suits and lobbying govt’ - we’re drowning in plastic, it’s in our bloodstreams ffs. But yeah some interruption of Wimbledon is the real issue. That and the fatalist attitude we’re all f***ed anyway so let’s do nowt. And yeah anyone who has the balls and energy to actually protest deserves ridicule and attack. f*** me. What a f***ing world. Those fuckers are winning and being cheered on it seems. Anyway, rant over.