Forum Topic

XR Today

Just heard on LBC that XR protestors are holding a die-in at the science museum South  Kensington. The anarchists are lying all over the entrance ramp despite the police asking them to keep one half clear to allow wheelchair access. Asking???? Force the prats off the ramp with a good hosing from a couple of fire engines and the crusties will get a wash at the same time.  Result!

Sue Hammond ● 1386d46 Comments

Accusing these very concerned demonstraters of being both mentally ill (in a particularly perjorative way) and substance abusers is about as childish as it gets isn't it Colin? Who calls it "pot" any more anyway? You must be really ancient. That may explain why you are so out of touch and unconcerned by their protests. You will be dead long before the effects of the climate emergency take hold. Do you not have any grandchildren or great grandchildren to consider?

Michael Winstanley ● 1381d

Foul language? maiden? is that rude? Can you not muster a logical argument over a point rather than being reduced to criticising an individual?This is not the first time you've made a personal attack on me, telling me how to post - if you don't like what I post her, go somewhere else; there are more frequent posters with more malevolent content I could direct your attention to.Have you heard of Breitbart? It's probably up your street.

Michael Winstanley ● 1381d

https://interactives.stuff.co.nz/2017/10/kiribati-the-angry-sea-will-kill-us-all/

Philippa Bond ● 1383d

"China emits more greenhouse gases than the whole of the developed world combined"It's worth looking at the actual report which makes some good points around per capita emissions and cumulative emissions. (Although I couldn't get their data to match their chart - probably my Excel skills)China are investing heavily in renewables and electric vehicles but there is also the social impact on the environment. People living in low crime cities are able to make use of public transport and shares communal resources. Cycling is another example where countries that enforce rules have more cyclists.I guess it is the opposite view to XR :) https://rhg.com/research/chinas-emissions-surpass-developed-countries/#_ftn1

Ed Robinson ● 1384d

No Caroline, irritation doesn't even come close.

Sue Hammond ● 1384d

Can't you just see it? While we are busy arguing ourselves to a standstill and going backwards moaning about the Chinese and everyone else they are busy improving their technical skills and can be expected to sail past us towards net zero while we just look silly and will be unable to catch up.Meanwhile those who have the least are suffering the most.

Philippa Bond ● 1384d

Shame that they seem to think that everyone can only understand three words at a time.  Instead of spending so much time on PR and being in PR perhaps they should some of that newly found money and spend it on people with more technical expertise, and make sure that our young people have access to more technical training the way that other countries have.  Then perhaps we wouldn't have so many problems with our buildings. So many problems go back to the lack of decent housing in the UK.

Philippa Bond ● 1384d

How about we 'build back better' and follow the advise of the 'world economic forum'After all this group of rich billionaires have our best interests at heart.

Colin Redmond ● 1384d

I don't think XR's tactics result in any more awareness or action; just a nuisance. China emits more greenhouse gases than the whole of the developed world combined. Getting the message to land there and bring about change would make a much bigger difference. That doesn't mean to say we in the UK shouldn't do anything (before anyone comes for me), rather that action to bring about big improvements in global climate change are unlikely to come from XR's nuisance tactics such as the disruption at London Bridge.

Jo Amadi ● 1384d

You are obviously irritated by XR Sue. I find what they are doing to be a timely wake-up call. Each to his/her own!

Caroline Whitehead ● 1384d

Posted by: Andy PikeDate/Time: 31/08/21 18:01:00I suspect like many others it's all getting a little boring now. Only a few days to go their 2 weeks is over and who will remember it? Poor tactics,  good cause, lost point.Now more about red paint, scruffy buggers and pink tables, boats and buses.....somewhere they have lost the point.Spot on Andy.  They've gone from Instigators > Irritants.

Sue Hammond ● 1384d

Great news today to see the Police dealing with the XR activists with force at last.The Police have been far too friendly with these pot smoking loonies in letting them disrupt the lives of the general public.

Colin Redmond ● 1384d

I suspect like many others it's all getting a little boring now. Only a few days to go their 2 weeks is over and who will remember it? Poor tactics,  good cause, lost point.Now more about red paint, scruffy buggers and pink tables, boats and buses.....somewhere they have lost the point.

Andy Pike ● 1384d

Sue these companies have for years been polluting the environment with our government allowing to get away with it. Their actions have resulted in the deaths of countless people/animals and ecosystems already and it's only going to get worse.And yet you're concerned with a bit of red paint? Do you ever wonder if your priorities are a bit messed up?

Matt Palmer ● 1384d

@MattSo why leave it for others to clean up the mess?  Another example of XR  selfish arrogance.

Sue Hammond ● 1384d

Better get the Fire Engines out to hose it down, I knew they would need the hoses in the end. If any of you need a wash you better find out when there coming.

Barbara Stevens ● 1384d

It's water based paint Freddie, that's why it washes off so easily.

Matt Palmer ● 1384d

Cop out.

Sue Hammond ● 1384d

Yeah we'll clean it up when those companies clean up their mess.

Matt Palmer ● 1384d

Furthermore does the XR mob clean it off themselves? If not, why not?  Matt?

Sue Hammond ● 1384d

1. What is it?2. Is it going to require chemicals to remove?

Freddie Francis ● 1384d

Thanks, Ed. One can disagree with XR's methods or the SciMus dealing with oil companies but I thought this was a sensible, grown up, non confrontational approach to the demonstration - a great advert for science! After all, surely we're all on the same side: to stop or, at least, slow down climate change? Time for another visit to the SciMus to judge the exhibition for myself!

Michael Ixer ● 1384d

TBH the post that Michael Winstanley is referring to here is very similar to another post on another thread which seemed to be designed to cause a stir.

Philippa Bond ● 1384d

Mr Winstanley, your posts are often very childlike.Can you not disagree with someone without making accusations or using foul language as we have seen before?

Colin Redmond ● 1384d

Must have been very scary for the staff - not knowing when or if these protesters would break out into song and dance! Do XR reject all applicants with any ability in these areas I wonder?The Science Museum seemed to have handled it well - perhaps better than they handled the actual sponsorship issue."Following discussions with the police, and after receiving assurances from the protesters that they would leave peacefully at 7am, a decision was made to take no further action during the night. I would like to publicly thank the museum’s team for handling this disruptive situation with great professionalism."https://www.sciencemuseumgroup.org.uk/blog/engaging-the-public-while-dealing-calmly-with-xr-protesters/

Ed Robinson ● 1385d

"These middle class activists have nothing better to do than to stop the working class earning a wage and trying to go about their daily lives"At the science museum? This is where the working class go about their daily lives?"it really reminds you of what you could become if you took drugs and didn't have a wash or a shower each day"Lol - how do you know what this would be like?James Dill -maiden post.The more interesting question is which of the earlier contributers to this subject you actually are.

Michael Winstanley ● 1385d

Yawn. Covered many times in previous posts Sue, not my fault if you can't remember.

Matt Palmer ● 1385d

Sorry that should be £400 a week. In 2019.  Probably more now.  Matt could tell us?

Sue Hammond ● 1385d

Being paid £400 quid a day there is plenty of dosh for drugs ...

Sue Hammond ● 1385d

Absolutely fantastic to see the Police doing their job and finally treating the XR protesters like the law breakers they are. This softly softly approach the last few years has been absolutely appalling in terms of dealing with law and order.These middle class activists have nothing better to do than to stop the working class earning a wage and trying to go about their daily lives.I am sick to death of all the XR graffiti all over the walls as you walk through London.As a previous poster said, instead of thinking about the environment it really reminds you of what you could become if you took drugs and didn't have a wash or a shower each day.

James Dill ● 1385d

I agree the situation was probably a changing one.I couldn't agree more about the funding.  The lack of public funding of so many of our important institutions has meant they've accepted money from less than the best sources.

Philippa Bond ● 1385d

More likely inaccurate or sensational reporting, Philipa. Of course there may have been a period when the entrance was temporarily blocked. If that was the case then I think both XR's claims and the LBC report were an exaggeration. The police may have been limited in the actions they could take. I can't remember the SciMus entrance exactly but I think the ramp may be other the SciMus's property rather than the public highway so the police would need the museum's authority to act and I suspect they'd be reluctant for the police to take action that would affect their visitors if, as seems to be the case, access to the museum wasn't being blocked most of the time. Of course, the other issue - apart from the climate one - is why the government underfunds museums and other education providers creating the need for them to accept money from dubious sources.

Michael Ixer ● 1385d

So it was fake news?

Philippa Bond ● 1385d

Sue. I'd believe my friend who was there as an eye witness, so you've been misinformed.  Surely you wouldn't want innocent visitors to the Science Museum, including children, to be housed by the police? Of course the police could have shut the Museum to move XR but that would have been rather counter productive!As a matter of interest, when did you last visit the Science Museum?

Michael Ixer ● 1385d

But we didnt refuse to move, that's my point.If you look in the photo that Ed posted you can even see a woman with a pushchair going up the ramp!

Matt Palmer ● 1385d

@MWBut they refused to move, that's the point.  Get the hoses out. Job done. When the crusties glue themselves to buildings, ignore the idiots and leave them there, they will soon move when they need the loo, alternatively they can pi$$ themselves. Get the hoses out and give them a free shower. Discomfort and humiliation is a small price to pay when saving the planet, surely?

Sue Hammond ● 1385d

As I understand it XR scientists are still locked on inside but obviously its a fluid situation...

Matt Palmer ● 1386d

XR seem to claim that they shut it down:https://twitter.com/XRebellionUK/status/1432031313737957378Perhaps a overstatement on their part???

Ed Robinson ● 1386d

Thanks  Matt. Yes, Michael W. Not only that I guess the high pressure hose would have affected a lot of innocent people visiting the Science Museum - a bit cold to get wet today (although, surprisingly for a bank holiday,  it didn't rain) - or impeded their progress.Sounds like both protesters and police got it right today?

Michael Ixer ● 1386d

Interesting - so given a choice between attacking people with high pressure hoses and asking them to move out of the way, the latter seems to work well enough. A lesson there then for everyone. Of course, the former activity has the advantages of inflicting unnecessary pain, discomfort and humiliation, together with possible physical harm. There are those who, for their own reasons, would prefer such an approach.

Michael Winstanley ● 1386d

I was there this afternoon and I can confirm that's exactly what happened Michael.

Matt Palmer ● 1386d

Just to clarify - our friend visited another museum in Exhibition Road, not the Science Euseum, but was mixed up with the protest so I world regard her as a very reliable witness. In her opinion "Apparently XR stopped blocking the wheelchair ramp when asked. There was a huge police presence but not many XR people when we were there. An XR vehicle was blocking [the] road outside the Nat[ural] History Museum.

Michael Ixer ● 1386d

Thank you Michael,If they were preventing visitors gaining access then that would be very bad publicity.The museums are a free educational resource and one of the advantages of living in London.I hope XR are applying the same stringent conditions on their funding???

Ed Robinson ● 1386d

@Michael Of course Matt will say disabled visitors would have been let through he is hardly likely to say sod them is he? The crusties refused to leave half the ramp clear when asked and it's time the police got tougher with this mob who think they can do whatever they like wherever they want. Sick of their self-righteous arrogance and selfish attitude towards others.🤬No wonder  XR are increasingly losing public support.

Sue Hammond ● 1386d

Looking at pictures posted on Facebook by a friend who visited the Science Museum today it looks like museum visitors and XR protesters were intermingled so I'm not sure hosing just XR contingent would have worked. I believe the protest was related to Shell Oil sponsoring the Science Museum and looked as though it was just intended to educate rather than block visitors. Seems sort of appropriate to educate museum visitors? If someone in a wheelchair was visiting perhaps XR would have assisted them? Perhaps Matt can comment? Our friend didn't seem to have problems getting in or out, but I'll admit she isn't a wheelchair user.

Michael Ixer ● 1386d

Sue, I agree, couldn't understand why they don't hose them down. Because they don't have a life they don't want anybody else to.

Barbara Stevens ● 1386d