Forum Topic

XR Protesters Moved On By Police

The police have acted at last!XR demonstrations will be restricted to Trafalgar Square after police served a Section 14 Order on the protesters.  Police have been cutting them out of their tents, and then we had a downpour lol.https://news.sky.com/story/extinction-rebellion-activists-glue-themselves-to-govt-building-as-climate-change-protests-continue-11830634

Sue Hammond ● 2591d39 Comments

Good.

Barbara Stevens ● 2591d

Hate to break it to you but we're still in control of 4-5 sites as of 9pm this evening.

Matt Palmer ● 2591d

More footage of the Eco warriors enjoying themselves:https://twitter.com/GerardBattenUK/status/1181641602168770561?s=19Just listening to David Mellor on the radio. He's suggesting we bring in the Army to clear the roads if the Police need support. Great idea.He also said the majority of the arrested just return to the demonstration after they have been charged so we need to find a way to stop this from happening.How about we build a detention camp to temporarily house the law breakers for the 2 or 3 week duration of the protest to stop them going back to site, and then release them at the end of the protest period?

Paul Game ● 2590d

Might need special legislation for those temporary concentration camps, Paul. Apart from the fact parliament is prorogued at present until next week, I understand it's a bit busy with some nonsense called Brexit? So best let the street parties continue 🙂

Michael Ixer ● 2590d

Gerard Batten's Twitter? Gerard Batten - really?Anyway, so there is progress and regress. You have moved on (?) from regularly exciting yourself with the prospect of rioting in the streets if Brexit is halted, to now favouring bringing the Army onto the streets to deal with militant hippies! Even China has not yet used their army against the Hong Kong demonstrators, after several months.

David Ainsworth ● 2590d

I suspect the army command wouldn't be too keen on involvement. Some officers and tanks are trained in sciences and know  the demonstrators are right in their aims if not all agree  with their methods 

Michael Ixer ● 2590d

When we opened the Mall to let the horse guards parade through there were army vans behind and one of the guys shouted 'keep fighting the good fight'

Matt Palmer ● 2590d

Extinction Rebellion: Every force in England and Wales to help Met with climate demos:http://news.sky.com/story/extinction-rebellion-met-asks-other-police-forces-to-help-handle-climate-change-protests-11831279This will cost tax payers a small fortune but the brainwashed crusties won't give a damn! 😡Just heard one of the anarchists who was arrested yesterday speaking to LBC. He said he was detained and kept in a cell for 16 hours. Good, but not long enough imo. Presumably he will now have a criminal record that could impact his future job prospects, if he actually ever works that is.🙄 Some of these people may be claiming unemployment benefits but should be actively seeking work, which they are not doing whilst taking part in this extended jolly.  If they are arrested and found to be claiming Job Seekers Allowance or a disability benefit the DWP should be informed and their payments stopped.

Sue Hammond ● 2590d

"Presumably he will now have a criminal record that could impact his future job prospects"You seem to have forgotten that he has to go to court first Sue, we don't actually live in a police state.The vast majority of people arrested are given a 6 month conditional discharge and a couple of hundred quid fine as all they actually did was obstruct a public highway.Sorry to disappoint you! Well, actually i'm not!

Matt Palmer ● 2590d

All the Police have to do offer them free transport, and a free 2 weeks at the nearest marijuana farm. The streets would be clear in 2 hours.Simples......

Paul Game ● 2590d

Yawn, you're getting boring now Paul.

Matt Palmer ● 2590d

So vitriolic. Bet you're sad these protestors won't get a police record Sue. If you want army deployment I suggest you visit Cape Town where last week they were required to help quash a township riot over... Cab drivers!

Lucille Grant ● 2590d

Your spelling is remaining impressive Matt.If I were out on a jolly smoking weed all day my spelling would be atrocious!

Paul Game ● 2590d

It could be worse. At least the Thunberg brat hasn't been seen.Is she still in the US waiting for her boat home?

Hugh Walton ● 2590d

Brilliant Hugh🤣😂🤣Hope it's a sail boat!

Paul Game ● 2590d

Paul, Sue, seeing as you are firing the comments (and judgements) quick and fast please tell us how you think people should go about getting the governments around the world to do something. I am not a protestor, nor do i even 100% agree with it all, but something does need to be done. So what do you propose?BTW very interesting that Thatcher warned about Climate Change back in the late 70s early 80s!

Emarisa Battoia ● 2590d

"This will cost tax payers a small fortune but the brainwashed crusties won't give a damn!"This Brexit will cost tax payers a large fortune but the brainwashed Leavers won't give a damn!Times 31/7/2019:-"Ministers are working on a £500 million plan to support farmers in the event of a no-deal Brexit, The Times has learnt.If no deal is reached the government will buy slaughtered livestock at set prices to prop up demand that will collapse in Europe because of high tariffs.Boris Johnson promised in Wales yesterday that British farmers would be better off if the UK left the EU at the end of October, even without a deal. He said the government was working on “interventions that are aimed to support their incomes” in the event of a no-deal Brexit, adding that “we’ll make sure they have the support they need”."

David Ainsworth ● 2590d

Fair question Emarisa.The UK government is committed to it's 2050  target so we are doing our bit.The UK is ahead of the game with eliminating fossil fuels and using renewable energy.We are all aware of our responsibilities more than ever before which is a good thing.I very rarely drive in London, I walk loads and cycle a fair bit.I recycle the maximum I can, including clothes.David Attenborough amongst others has done a wonderful job in bringing climate issues to our attention.Fair play to Matt, he is passionate about climate change, but I disagree with disrupting people going about their every day life.As Adam pointed out, protest outside the Foreign Embassies of the countries not doing their bit.Barbara talked about procreation on another thread. Why are we allowing unlimited procreation?This is the biggest danger to the climate so let's get Brexit done and put limits on immigration.I dont understand why Matt is in favour of open immigration and free movement of people. This is adding to the UK climate issues. Too many people in the UK. It smacks of double standards to me.For a start let's limit breeding and limit immigration.

Paul Game ● 2590d

@Emarisa 09.10 15.14Hi Emarisa, nice to see you back on the forum.I don't think anyone on here is dismissing the seriousness of climate change but the protesters' methods of causing severe disruption are losing them public support. At first they were applauded, but now they are largely seen as bloody nuisances. You only have to listen to the callers on LBC daily to hear this being said.What are my thoughts on tackling the problem?  Firstly, the main cause, as pointed out by Barbara and Paul on another thread, is over population. The worst countries by far are China and India. China has already taken steps to limit family size, but looking at the figure below it doesn't seem to be working that well. The U.K. is not on this list but we cannot be complacent.  Our country is very crowded and the infrastructures, housing, education, NHS etc are all being stretched to breaking point. Why the hell are we still paying people to breed!?To cancel child allowance completely would perhaps(?) be too drastic (not for me) so I would counter this by imposing a child tax on those who have more than two children. I realise this wouldn't necessarily affect the work shy, some of whom knock out kids on a yearly basis, but stopping child allowance might encourage them to use contraception.There are also certain cultures that practice polygamy and therefore have much larger families. Polygamy is illegal but a blind eye seems to be turned in their direction. There are even specific websites for Muslim men to find second, and even third wives. http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-tyne-41667070 According to figures from the ONS March 2018 there were almost 3.5 million Muslims in the U.K. 5.06% of the population. The highest percentage live in London.*************************************************World Population7,603,361,692TOP 10 MOST POPULOUS COUNTRIES (July 1, 2019) 1. China 1,389,618,778   6. Brazil 210,301,5912. India 1,311,559,204   7. Nigeria 208,679,1143. United States 331,883,986   8.    Bangladesh 161,062,9054. Indonesia 264,935,824   9. Russia 141,944,6415. Pakistan 210,797,836   10. Mexico 127,318,122

Sue Hammond ● 2589d

We don't and won't have enough young people paying tax to pay for the services that we want.  We don't and won't have enough young people to do all the low paid and tough jobs that we don't want to and can't do and haven't trained and kept a workforce to do. The NHS has thousands of jobs that aren't filled,  the care services are in the same boat.  We don't have a good enough and fair enough progressive tax system.  Too many at the higher end avoid or evade paying their fair share of taxes.  Trickle down is a myth - money is stashed here or taken off-shore and invested in accounts where the investors are not identified. (Impending EU regulation is the impetus for current agenda.)  Trickle down might have worked if people didn't travel and work and move to live all over the world which they do nowadays together with the availability of fast money transactions.  The wealthy have a much greater ability to afford both the time and the money to find the loopholes and ways to save money.

Philippa Bond ● 2589d

Story in the Telegraph today. People are dying faster than they are being born in the UK. Looks like there's no need for people to tie a not in it just yet. The Brits are doing their bit.

Freddie Francis ● 2589d

People on PAYE don't find it as easy to reduce the amount of taxes they pay.  HMRC instead of having their workforce cut should have it increased and so should the police so that the can easily follow up and chase for fraud.  Unnecessary and longstanding cuts have caused a lot of problems and damage.

Philippa Bond ● 2589d

Mrs Thatcher was a scientist and there are not enough MPs in Parliament with that sort of educational and working background.

Philippa Bond ● 2589d

"Why the hell are we still paying people to breed!?To cancel child allowance completely would perhaps(?) be too drastic (not for me) so I would counter this by imposing a child tax on those who have more than two children. I realise this wouldn't necessarily affect the work shy, some of whom knock out kids on a yearly basis, but stopping child allowance might encourage them to use contraception."There are also certain cultures that practice polygamy and therefore have much larger families. Polygamy is illegal but a blind eye seems to be turned in their direction. There are even specific websites for Muslim men to find second, and even third wives.http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-tyne-41667070According to figures from the ONS March 2018 there were almost 3.5 million Muslims in the U.K. 5.06% of the population. The highest percentage live in London".With her usual perception, Ms Hammond seems to have got to the bottom of what might be causing climate change.Might I ask her if she thinks the situation serious enough for all Muslim men and all workshy men to be sterilised ?

John Hawkes ● 2588d

I popped up to Westminster to have a look for myself.The group of protesters were mainly a mix of scruffy hippy types, many smoking weed and not smelling too fresh. Also a fair few posh retired types who look well moneyed.You would expect the well to do posh retired ones probably have final salary pensions heavily invested in Oil, Gas and Petroleum companies.The handsome dividend will be paying for their day out no doubt.Lastly Waterloo bridge has been left in a mess. The demonstrators have certainly left their carbon footprint everywhere! See link below:https://twitter.com/thandojo/status/1118846549046390784

Paul Game ● 2588d

Why is your Twitter image of Waterloo Bridge today dated "April 18th 2019?"?"Lastly Waterloo bridge has been left in a mess. The demonstrators have certainly left their carbon footprint everywhere! See link below:https://twitter.com/thandojo/status/1118846549046390784 "

David Ainsworth ● 2588d

The graffiti used circa April 19th 2019 was cleared up in a couple of days of the protest finishing - I believe it was water soluble. I walked over the bridge several days running on my way to Covent Garden so can confirm that. Not relevant to XR but just to note final salary pensions are getting rare these days other than food government and public service jobs and if people do have them the investment decisions are out of their hands. I hope this isn't fake news on social media ...

Michael Ixer ● 2588d

Yes you are correct David. I just re-checked Twitter and that was the mess they left in April so I guess that makes it ok.

Paul Game ● 2588d

Paul. I was told XR cleaned it off.

Michael Ixer ● 2588d

It's in the Metro, not the Guardian, so it most be true. In April the cannabis was being smoked by a different group, not XR, apparently.https://metro.co.uk/2019/04/26/extinction-rebellion-clean-climate-protests-finish-9321704/

Michael Ixer ● 2588d

Mr Game"Also a fair few posh retired types who look well moneyed".Wow !You actually met Stanley Johnson !!

John Hawkes ● 2588d

"I just re-checked Twitter and that was the mess they left in April so I guess that makes it ok".No Mr Game it makes you look silly and gullible and useless as a source of genuine information.

John Hawkes ● 2588d

Im more than happy to point out my error, and that that the link was from the mess they left at the April demo and not this demo.Ok, well at least Swampy and his Hillbillies have generally behaved themselves this time.The left wing group Antifa could learn a thing or two from these Hippies.

Paul Game ● 2588d

as of 8pm last night arrests were at 1,112 or so. Doesn't sound like they are behaving too well to me!Trafalgar sq is still held despite the police working day and night to remove lock-ons. One of my team spent the night locked on to a bath, glued to her friends, finally arrested at 8:30am this morning. :)As I write this the Strand is blocked outside Charing X station, along with major roads outside Liverpool street. Vauxhall bridge should be next.

Matt Palmer ● 2588d

Matt, what is your view on the protestors glueing themselves to objects?You seem to be one of the sensible few protestors out there.

Nick Gulliford ● 2588d

I'm not sure i'm one of the sensible ones really Nick.I wouldnt fancy being glued to a bath all night in the pouring rain myself but I can understand why people do it.If you think of it objectively for a moment, if you wanted to hamper the police ability to arrest you and cause maximum disruption it's a really good tactic.Fully appreciate you totally disagree with it but you must see why its used as a tactic?

Matt Palmer ● 2588d

@John, By all means have your usual rant at Sue and myself. No problem. After all it is an open forum.Yes I agree, Sue and myself have an alternate view to many on this forum including yourself. I would like to say your that I find your posts on this forum really stimulating but unfortunately your posts usually just send me to sleep.Nite nite💤💤💤

Paul Game ● 2588d

They have the opposite effect on me Paul - I'm afraid that I find yours only too predictable.Keep posting John!

Caroline Whitehead ● 2588d

@PaulOh gawd has he been ranting again?🙄 I wasn't aware of it because I don't bother to read his posts, he's irrelevant.

Sue Hammond ● 2588d