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Stepping in to say that political commentators sagely advising #ExtinctionRebellion to protest less annoyingly really need to tell us *what sort of protest would make you start taking climate change seriously*
Because, believe me, people have tried every possible avenue in the last two decades. Randomly stopping traffic has come at the bottom of a long list of more considerate attempts to *get you to take climate change seriously*
I sympathise with the view that civil disobedience needs to win hearts & minds but unless you're dedicating your money, time, emotion to sincerely fighting climate change, your sensorious "protest more politely please" is bad faith and not worth a damn
Street stalls, marches, direct action, petitions, lobbying, court cases, submissions, treaties, legislation, theatre, film, murals, hot air balloons, silence, screaming, singing, pleading... Stop me when I get to the one that will trigger you to *take climate change seriously*
Nonetheless, insisting on a "right to protest" is the wrong end of the stick. Protest is not like voting or FOI. It's not an orderly "have your say." It's an expression of social and political breakdown. It's not part of the democractic machinery, but a sign of a burst valve
