Examples include Just Stop Oil and Extinction Rebellion here in the UK.
Personally, I think some charities are groups are genuine in their outburst wanting large firms to stop strangling the natural beauty for profit, however for me there is a red line that can be crossed.
Blocking roads preventing medical care, people going to work, interview and possibly a nice vacation away. This doesn’t really help but make the public look at your group in a bad light.
The same can also be said when attempting to destroy priceless art for a cheap publicity stunt knowing it’ll get clicks on social media.
TLDR - I think some groups are genuinely good whilst others are just shouting in a speakerphone, pissing everyone else off.
What do YOU think?
I like a lot of these takes and explanations on behalf of the protestors, like that they throw paint to signify “What will be lost in the climate crisis” for instance. It’s clever.
But also, asymmetrical warfare is very much about winning “hearts and minds.” If all you do is petty vandalism to annoy and or sabotage other working class people, you just succeed in pissing them off while the actual culprits are still laughing their way to the bank.
Worse, it makes it much easier for them to get public support in crushing your movement by turning your own class against you. You’ve then raised awareness that “People dressed like this are a public nuisance that will get in your way” more than climate change.
Most average people don’t know what they can do to actively sabotage the oil industry. Myself included, I feel pretty damn hand-bound when a lot of issues are systemic, like unwalkable cities and forced commutes for instance.
What’s the call to action for everyone stuck on a blocked road?
You gotta educate your potential allies instead of merely resorting to performative shock for clout, then you gotta give them the tools to join your plight.
Many groups just shout “awareness! Be aware btw!”, and stop there to collect their nonprofit money.
Awareness is made. Cool. Now what? That’s what we want to see them answer.