Extinction Rebellion UK - May 2020

[whole diary]

[broadgage]

Frankly, there are more pressing actions needed that will cut emmissions far sooner & quicker than insulation. I wonder why they chose this action?

Are there ? Insulation of existing structures is often said to be one of quickest and  easiest options to reduce carbon emissions.
And opposed by almost no one.

Other options are in general more expensive, slower to implement, and subject to the NIMBY factor.

[TonyK]

Speaking of action, meet consequence. From the Standard:

Climate protesters warned of ‘serious consequences’ as ex-Paralympian jailed
James Brown superglued himself to the top of a plane on behalf of the Extinction Rebellion group.


Paralympian James Brown lying top of a British Airways plane at City Airport, London (Extinction Rebellion/PA^▸ (Public Address)) / PA Media
By Henry Vaughan


A judge has warned protesters who disrupt people’s lives they “will face serious consequences” as he jailed a former Paralympic athlete who superglued himself to the roof of a British Airways plane.

Judge Gregory Perrins said Extinction Rebellion activist James Brown 56, who has been registered blind since birth, “cynically used” his disability and put his “own life at risk” to carry out the stunt at London City Airport on October 10 2019.

The double gold medallist, from Exeter, climbed on to the plane, which was destined for Amsterdam, before gluing his right hand to the aircraft and wedging his mobile phone in the door to prevent it from closing.

Northern Ireland-born Brown, who represented Great Britain in cycling and athletics before going on to represent Ireland in cross-country skiing, livestreamed the protest until he was removed after an hour.

Southwark Crown Court heard a total of 337 passengers had their flights cancelled, missing birthday celebrations, important business meetings and family events, with the disruption costing the airline around £40,000.

(Continues at source)

Whilst I am sure that Mr Brown acted out of a deeply held personal conviction, I find it sad that he has fallen for the hype and acted in this way. It is most unlikely to have achieved anything, except possibly a strengthening of police powers, and I wonder if he had considered the damage it will do to his career. I work with disabled people, and have a certificate of my past prison sentences (or lack of) from the Disclosure and Barring Service of the Home Office. He is going to find it hard to pay BA^» (British Airways - about)'s costs without a job.

Frankly, there are more pressing actions needed that will cut emmissions far sooner & quicker than insulation. I wonder why they chose this action?

Are there ? Insulation of existing structures is often said to be one of quickest and  easiest options to reduce carbon emissions.
And opposed by almost no one.

Other options are in general more expensive, slower to implement, and subject to the NIMBY factor.

A very accurate point. I personally have lots of insulation in my house. I wouldn't be without it. I urge anybody who doesn't have enough to nip down to a DIY store, buy some, and throw it in the attic. A shame you didn't do it when it was being subsidised, but you'll still get your money back soon enough. A shame too that you didn't do it before the Green Homes Grant scheme closed in March - I don't recall XR^▸ (Crossrail) or anybody shouting about it during protests prior to then.

[TaplowGreen]

Careful Tony, knowing Broadgage's attitude to aviation, you might be giving him ideas! 

[TonyK]

Careful Tony, knowing Broadgage's attitude to aviation, you might be giving him ideas! 

That worries me, but only slightly. He's a sensible sort. Just don't let him know that I flew to Jersey and back recently. On an A320, not an Embraer ERJ-190 like the one Mr Brown stuck himself to. Apparently, Airbuses have a less adhesive finish. You would expect the Brazilians to be smoother.

[Lee]

Speaking of action, meet consequence. From the Standard:

Climate protesters warned of ‘serious consequences’ as ex-Paralympian jailed
James Brown superglued himself to the top of a plane on behalf of the Extinction Rebellion group.


Paralympian James Brown lying top of a British Airways plane at City Airport, London (Extinction Rebellion/PA^▸ (Public Address)) / PA Media
By Henry Vaughan


A judge has warned protesters who disrupt people’s lives they “will face serious consequences” as he jailed a former Paralympic athlete who superglued himself to the roof of a British Airways plane.

Judge Gregory Perrins said Extinction Rebellion activist James Brown 56, who has been registered blind since birth, “cynically used” his disability and put his “own life at risk” to carry out the stunt at London City Airport on October 10 2019.

The double gold medallist, from Exeter, climbed on to the plane, which was destined for Amsterdam, before gluing his right hand to the aircraft and wedging his mobile phone in the door to prevent it from closing.

Northern Ireland-born Brown, who represented Great Britain in cycling and athletics before going on to represent Ireland in cross-country skiing, livestreamed the protest until he was removed after an hour.

So are you saying that James Brown managed to get up (get on up) but had to stay on the scene?

[broadgage]

Careful Tony, knowing Broadgage's attitude to aviation, you might be giving him ideas! 

I have no intention of climbing atop an aircraft.
I have SOME sympathy with those who do, but have no intention of joining in. Too old, too fat, too stiff, and also reasonably law abiding.

[TonyK]

I have no intention of climbing atop an aircraft.
I have SOME sympathy with those who do, but have no intention of joining in. Too old, too fat, too stiff, and also reasonably law abiding.

And besides, there aren't many A380s around just now.

(Sorry!)

[eightonedee]

My scepticism about these groups doing anything to promote the measures needed to mitigate climate change grows.

Lots of headlines and news time about disruption and stunts that do nothing to reduce carbon emissions.

In the meantime no-one can find newsroom time to hold Grant Shapps to account for not announcing an accelerated campaign to electrify the too large proportion of the UK^▸ (United Kingdom) rail system that remains unelectrified to follow up BoJo's sermons on climate change.

[TonyK]

In the meantime no-one can find newsroom time to hold Grant Shapps to account for not announcing an accelerated campaign to electrify the too large proportion of the UK^▸ (United Kingdom) rail system that remains unelectrified to follow up BoJo's sermons on climate change.

I suppose one could say that doing so with our current generating (no pun intended) equipment would mean that we would be swapping diesel for gas. It would still be a lot better overall, though, and a step in the right direction.

[broadgage]

UK^▸ (United Kingdom) electricity whether for railway or other purposes already contains significant renewably generated power. Not just wind but also solar and hydroelectric power.
The year round average is variously reported as being from 40% to 50%.
This percentage is liable to increase for two reasons, firstly growing concerns about climate change, and secondly the current high price of natural gas is shifting the economic argument away from gas and towards renewables.

Diesel fuel by contrast is about 95% fossil fuel, and doubts exist as to the environmental merits of the other 5%.

So railway electrification is a good thing now, and will get still better.

[TonyK]

UK^▸ (United Kingdom) electricity whether for railway or other purposes already contains significant renewably generated power. Not just wind but also solar and hydroelectric power.
The year round average is variously reported as being from 40% to 50%.
This percentage is liable to increase for two reasons, firstly growing concerns about climate change, and secondly the current high price of natural gas is shifting the economic argument away from gas and towards renewables.

Diesel fuel by contrast is about 95% fossil fuel, and doubts exist as to the environmental merits of the other 5%.

So railway electrification is a good thing now, and will get still better.

I might question the figures, but I can't question the merits of electrifying the whole rail network.

[broadgage]

Motorway protests continue, by "insulate Britain" an offshoot of XR^▸ (Crossrail).

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-essex-58721909

[Lee]

Motorway protests continue, by "insulate Britain" an offshoot of XR^▸ (Crossrail).

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-essex-58721909

And taking an interesting new twist...

https://uk.news.yahoo.com/insulate-britain-m25-protester-married-153959335.html

Insulate Britain: M25 protester is married to Transport for London boss

An Insulate Britain protester who had to be removed by police from the roof of a DLR^▸ (Docklands Light Railway) train was revealed on Tuesday to be the wife of a Transport for London boss.

Cathy Eastburn, 54, has also been arrested several times for blocking the M25 and is reportedly one of Britain’s most prolific climate activists.

Her husband Ben Plowden, 58, was a director in TfL^» (Transport for London - about)’s surface transport team and previously a leading environmental campaigner with the charity Living Streets. In 2019, she was twice arrested taking part in Extinction Rebellion protests, including an incident when she glued herself to a DLR train, The Sun reported.

Last month she was involved in similar stunts on the M25 and at Heathrow for Insulate Britain.

Mr Plowden has spent the past 20 years as a TfL director and most recently has been overseeing plans to adapt its buildings to changing work practices resulting from the pandemic.

TfL said on Tuesday that he was leaving the organisation at the end of the month. His departure is said to be unrelated to the revelations about his wife.

A TfL spokeswoman said: “We do not comment on the activities of the families of our staff.”

The High Court was on Tuesday set to review injunctions issued over the past fortnight preventing protesters targeting the M25, TfL red routes and the Port of Dover.

[TonyK]

An Insulate Britain protester who had to be removed by police from the roof of a DLR^▸ (Docklands Light Railway) train was revealed on Tuesday to be the wife of a Transport for London boss.

Cathy Eastburn, 54, has also been arrested several times for blocking the M25 and is reportedly one of Britain’s most prolific climate activists.

Her husband Ben Plowden, 58, was a director in TfL^» (Transport for London - about)’s surface transport team and previously a leading environmental campaigner with the charity Living Streets. In 2019, she was twice arrested taking part in Extinction Rebellion protests, including an incident when she glued herself to a DLR train, The Sun reported.

Poor chap. Whether he approves of her actions or not, I suppose he's stuck with her.

[TaplowGreen]

An Insulate Britain protester who had to be removed by police from the roof of a DLR^▸ (Docklands Light Railway) train was revealed on Tuesday to be the wife of a Transport for London boss.

Cathy Eastburn, 54, has also been arrested several times for blocking the M25 and is reportedly one of Britain’s most prolific climate activists.

Her husband Ben Plowden, 58, was a director in TfL^» (Transport for London - about)’s surface transport team and previously a leading environmental campaigner with the charity Living Streets. In 2019, she was twice arrested taking part in Extinction Rebellion protests, including an incident when she glued herself to a DLR train, The Sun reported.

Poor chap. Whether he approves of her actions or not, I suppose he's stuck with her.

Adds Insulate to injury.