While everyone has a right to protest, it is assumed that one protests legally. Extinction rebellion however has set a new benchmark in being a public nuisance blocking roads and bridges and generally making a mess and disrupting people's days. For most of the population this says more about the activists not giving a crap about anyone else and less about the cause.

Up to now being arrested was at best a finger wagging, now that the laws against this version of eco terrorism are being tightened up and the tossers will be able to experience real self sacrifice. A couple of stiff fines and community service cleaning up after themselves should do for a start followed by jail time and a criminal record for recidivists.

There is no 'right' to disrupt traffic, impede people going about their lawful business. There is no 'right' to tie up police who are not paid to be parade marshals. There is no 'right' for a nasty, thrill-seeking minority of hoons to bring the CBD to a standstill. Rather, there is a genuine right for the majority of the population to be protected from mobs trying to subvert democracy. These creeps are undermining the rights of the majority, aided and abetted by weak governments too frightened to deal with the creeps. The rule of law is slipping away in Australia, an increasingly rooted country.

There have always been people for whom violence is exciting; protests and disruption of others lets them clothe this deeply unattractive attribute in politically noble clothes. All physical protesters, including 'little old ladies' are violent people who hold the democratic process and the majority in contempt.

Studio 10 host Kerri-Anne Kennerley has slammed climate change protesters, suggesting motorists should “use them as a speed bump”.

Perhaps contra-violence might be the answer for the mobs in the street, who clearly don't understand what democracy and common decency are all about. There is probably not much point in trying to reason with them.

Dear Shadow Minister,

Come on mate, this is not anything new.

"Sydney, ringed by about 19 blockages, could suffer some food shortages by tomorrow.

Fruit, vegetables and dairy products were being dumped by drivers stopped at the NSW blockades."

http://www.smh.com.au/national/from-the-archives-nationwide-truck-blockades-cripple-australia-s-roads-20190403-p51ah5.html

The police response then?

"Victorian police were watching the blockades all night and their instructions were to avoid confrontations."

But you want the modern day protesters to do jail time?

Even leading Leftist, Daniel Andrews has gone dirty on Extinction Rebellion, saying they are not winning any friends. Apparently they are disrupting Danny Boy's major construction works.

It's amusing to watch these Leftist idealogues chopping and changing when their pets interfere with another of their passions. The wheels are slowly but surely falling off the Leftist bandwagon.

Bugger all food was dropped but it makes for more fake news
Yes however they have turned many away from supporting them
Blocking streets is no longer wise swinging under bridges too is not working
Protest by all means but not by harming those you need on side

Its funny how the Hong Kong protests showed a different type of protestor.
One that showed respect towards the common citizen.
They knew that if their cause was to succeed they'd need to gain the respect of all citizens;
They did not seek to impose upon them regular citizens through their protesting.

Dear Shadow Minister,

I thought you were for freedom of speech and all that.
And believed strongly in the right of peaceful
protest. As do we all.

Of course those who become violent or cause havoc and
break our laws - should be dealt with appropriately.
We've had protests ever since I can remember. And
the police tend to be prepared for them and do have
things under control. - be they protests from nurses,
firemen, teachers, students, or even white-supremacists.
Licorice-all-sorts. Why do these kids bother you so much?
Are you being made aware of facts you know little about -
and that's what's aggravating you?

You're concerned about disruption and blocking traffic?
Isn't that what footy crowds do? And street festivals,
Like the Gay Parade in Sydney or Moomba in Melbourne, and
St Pat's in all cities, and Anzac Day - all of which are
organised but they also cause disruption - are you against
them as well?

divide and conquer

Uplift not put down!

I just hope that it will be their own extinction !

With that sort of attitude - you will end up on the
ash heap of history.

With that sort of attitude - you will end up on the
ash heap of history.
Foxy,
that happens even without CC.

that's what happens when you have a generation of entitled kids who have never been spanked in their life. They act like self entitled brats while virtue signalling.

I am a believer in free speech. We have the domain in Sydney, & they can use soap boxes there. I don't believe in disruption. In fact I believe if people want to super glue themselves to the roads, we should use them as speed bumps, until they lose all form.

These are simply naughty children with no idea of anything. They are really a waste of space, & should be held in prison, not giver parole. I don't know where the idea of the right to protest by interfering with the public came from, but it is ridiculous.

These people aren't protesters, they're indisciplined, lazy, trouble makers. They don't give a crap about the environment because if they did they wouldn't do what they do. They'd help working on solutions instead of destroying property & causing emergency services to use up their limited resources.

Dear Foxy,

Today, protests. Tomorrow, riots!

What we are seeing is the beginning of social movements geared towards undoing the damage to the global environment: today, protests; tomorrow, riots!

And who better to say this then your own resident environmental sociologist. LOL.

individual,

Dead right. They are a bunch of scumbags. Freedom of speech has nothing to do with with disrupting other people and stopping traffic. High pressure hoses and gas, followed by mounted baton charges is the way to deal with them; then a complete ban on demonstrations of any kind, about anything, should be enacted. Mob rule should never be tolerated.

Foxy,

I believe in free speech, but with anything in life, as long as what you say or do has no direct impact on someone else then the state has no justification from interfering in your life. No one has the right to dictate your sex life, who you marry or what you do with your body. I have no problem with someone protesting, what I do have is twats that think that they have the right to screw up someone else's life or making a living simply because they want to get noticed.

You however, are clearly only for speech to be free when it suits you. You are happy for morons to be arrested for public nuisance 11 times with no consequences whatsoever yet happy to have a man's career ruined forever based on a single social media post.

Secondly, I don't intend to jail all these arrogant sociopaths, what I suggested was an escalating rate of fines and jail only for the most persistent offenders. What I don't want is the bloke who has been arrested 11 times and not had to pay a $ for all the damage he causes.

SR,

Thanks for reminding us what inconsiderate pricks the unions were and how lucky we now have a government that won't put up with this criminality.

Dear Shadow Minister,

Sure, as long as you are consistent.

MORE than 300 logging trucks laid siege to Parliament House in Canberra for five days last week. The trucks blocked all entrances to the buildings on Capital Hill. The blockade ended when the Prime Minister Paul Keating, agreed to speed up an inquiry into whether woodchipping can go ahead in 500 areas of native eucalyptus forests.

http://www.newscientist.com/article/mg14519641-000-loggers-win-concession-in-siege-of-canberra/#ixzz6201yyhrJ

Should the government have given it to their demands or should they have been carted off to jail?

And who better to say this then your own resident environmental sociologist. LOL.
Mr Opinion,
The day he comes up with a sensible remark I'll buy a Lottery ticket !

I wonder how long it'll be before the idea of a National Service takes hold. These protester scumbags could learn a thing or two about doing something positive for the environment by serving a year in NS.

Dear Shadow Minister,

You wrote;

“Thanks for reminding us what inconsiderate pricks the unions were and how lucky we now have a government that won't put up with this criminality.”

Actually mate you are going to have to clarify that one for me. The trucker's blockade wasn't a union thing, in fact the TWU withdrew their support early on.

“On Tuesday, TWU representatives dissociated themselves from the blockade, saying it would only harm their cause.”

In fact the trucker delegates walked out of a meeting with the minister because;

“The five NSW truckies’ delegates walked out of their meeting with the NSW Transport Minister, Mr. Cox, after objecting to the presence of two Transport Workers’ Union officials.”

These were owner drivers not union members who were by far the main organising and protesting group. Why have you tagged the unions as the 'inconsiderate pricks'?

I agree with their right to protest, share their concerns would protest too if it was close enough
But not the rather silly way they are going about it
Take their clothes off and line the edge of the road if they want headlines
But do not stop peoples freedom to move around and build total dislike in doing it
Stop hanging under bridges climbing buildings
Do safety process and know if some one dies res-queuing them they will forever be blacked
Respect the reason but the public too

SR,

The TWU was balls deep in this action and only pulled out when they lost control and realised that it was a PR disaster. Of course the Truckies were pissed at the union after they had been stabbed in the back.

So, lets stand out in the sun all day long to protest global warming.
Lets block traffic and cause extra carbon monoxide to be pumped into the environment to protest climate change.
Lets leave garbage everywhere to show others how we care about the environment.
Lets eat at McDonalds whilst hypocritically demanding an end to factory farming....

If you step back and look at the bigger picture;
Just ponder it for a moment...

Then clearly these people are dumber than a box of rocks.

- Extreme Low Level Morons -

It's the only real argument that holds any merit.

It doesn't matter anyway it's all decided.

The IMF is advising governments on how they can screw their populace over.

That's why we have articles like this:
http://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/australia-will-miss-paris-goals-even-with-a-us75-a-tonne-carbon-tax-imf-20191010-p52zct.html

The $75 amount is also quoted in a Washington Post article
http://www.washingtonpost.com/climate-environment/2019/10/10/world-needs-massive-carbon-tax-just-years-limit-climate-change-imf-says/

"In the United States, a $75 tax would cut emissions by nearly 30 percent but would cause on average a 53 percent increase in electricity costs and a 20 percent rise for gasoline at projected 2030 prices, the analysis in the IMF’s Fiscal Monitor found."

This is that report.
http://www.imf.org/en/Publications/FM/Issues/2019/09/12/fiscal-monitor-october-2019

"At the international level, the report calls for a carbon price floor arrangement among large emitters, designed flexibly to accommodate equity considerations and constraints on national policies."

Australian Financial Review quotes $111 price

A $111 carbon tax in Australia would still be too low, says IMF
http://www.afr.com/policy/energy-and-climate/a-111-carbon-tax-in-australia-would-still-be-too-low-says-imf-20191010-p52zkq

Where do they get this price?
It's the current exchange rate: US$75 = AU$111
http://www.xe.com/currencyconverter/convert/?Amount=75&From=USD&To=AUD

If you're not in control of your own wallet then what are you in control of?
This is foreign bankers helping themselves to everyones wallets.

Which part of ROBBED BLIND don't you people get?
Which part of 'There is no democracy' don't you understand?
Which part of 'We do not decide our future anymore'

- Do you all not comprehend? -

I bet the dirty government will still fine our asses in an instant if you don't vote and make a show of support for their flawed corrupt 'democracy' though hey?
They have to make it seem like people agree and believe it works.

You're all chumps.

Look up Hegelian Dialectic - Problem, Reaction, Solution.
http://youtu.be/wWXTW4RoZHk

Greta Thunberg was 'The Problem'
Extinction Rebellion was the 'The Reaction'
And a US$75 a ton Global Climate Tax is the 'Solution'.

You're all being played like Muppets.
Might as well give Statler and Waldorf an encore...
http://youtu.be/EJ9yAV8uQ7g

Since when did we sign up to communism?

- Socialism at the barrel of a gun -

Am I wrong?

Yes AC you are wrong but what is the point of telling you?
My warning given to you, that such as your self are merely fodder for a very real conspiracy, one clearly working against your own best interests fell on infertile ground
Not that the well intention-ed but unwise young folk are in any way helping them selves by their current lack of concern for the very people they need to convince
Protest yes, highly visible yes disrupt traffic? no

The wackadodos are reported as being terribly upset that Gormless Greta won't be getting a Nobel Prize for her absurd efforts.

What planet are these people on! As Douglas Murray has said, the little girly was only put up on the world stage so that her puppet masters could say, 'How dare you disagree with a 16 year old autistic little girl'.

I keep asking for the 'Full 2030 Sales Brochure'.

Here's a small piece of it.

http://blogs.imf.org/2019/10/10/fiscal-policies-to-curb-climate-change/

"Large emitting countries should take ambitious action equivalent to a carbon tax set to rise quickly to $75 a ton in 2030."

Hey ttbn,

"What planet are these people on! As Douglas Murray has said, the little girly was only put up on the world stage so that her puppet masters could say, 'How dare you disagree with a 16 year old autistic little girl'."

Yeah there's that, but also in managing 'the reaction' they used 'Extinction Rebellion' to create the impression of 'consensus'.
They reinforce the narrative by giving the people that support 'climate change' media coverage and a voice, but not the people who disagree.

Labor has fallen in line with 2030 agendas, what more can we expect from a 'progressive' party based on an immigrant platform in a flawed 2 party system.

http://theconversation.com/labors-plan-for-transport-emissions-is-long-on-ambition-but-short-on-details-114592

"The key targets are to have electric vehicles make up 50% of new car sales by 2030 and to introduce regulatory fuel emissions standards."

Anytime I see that '2030' I'm reminded that our 'democracy' is nothing more than an illusion.

It's international democracy being imposed upon nation states.

I think we should introduce thinking lessons for those who believe young Greta thought of all of that herself !

I've just been reading about these protests.
What a bunch of absolute morons.

Climate protesters willing to 'sacrifice liberty' as six more arrested in Sydney
http://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/climate-protesters-willing-to-sacrifice-liberty-as-six-more-arrested-in-sydney-20191008-p52yok.html

So they say they're willing to sacrifice their liberty.
You can all read that right?

Extinction Rebellion protesters subject to bail conditions 'designed for bikie gangs'
http://www.smh.com.au/national/extinction-rebellion-protesters-subject-to-bail-conditions-designed-for-bikie-gangs-20191009-p52z4s.html

And now they complain when their liberty has been sacrificed.
Are these people possibly mentally retarded?

- Chances are pretty good -

Extinction Rebellion is like an entire following of stooges not just 3

Oh wait ! The 'left' is about to go out on the streets to protest in huge numbers against the betrayal of the Kurds, who did most of the fighting against ISIS.

No ?

You are aware that these ER lunatics are seriously advocating eating babies and cannabilism to save the planet - aren't you?

Gentlemen,

Why do these protests upset you so much.
If these people are morons as you claim
(despite the fact that there are elderly people
also protesting) - then why give them air-space.
Here you are discussing them. They appear to
be achieving the attention that they set out to do.
So who are the ones really displaying moronic
behavior here?

Protests are supposed to disrupt. Historically they
always have. That's nothing new. And one of the
pre-requisites of a democracy is the right of
dissent. If we didn't react so largely to all this-
perhaps they'd just move on?

Think about it.

They're also quite happy it seems to pay the price for their
dissent. Quite happy to go to jail. So what's your
objections really about?

Dear Foxy,

They are out there doing something they believe in.

At least they don't pretend to be Arts grads like someone we know - nudge nudge wink wink know who I mean.

Misopinionated,

Was that YOU I saw hanging under the Storey Bridge ?! You looked like you enjoyed it there, so I would have left you for a day or two. I hope you were wearing a nappy.

As for those lying on the road, glueing themselves to shop windows, etc., I would have glued them there even tighter, and to each other. And got a couple of buckets, one full of water, pouring from one to the other until they wet themselves. Wouldn't have taken long.

So dissent, disagreement, conflict of opinion, is a 'Good Thing' ? Not necessarily 'hate' ? Thank you, Foxy, you're slowly maturing.

Joe

Joe,

Pity you're not.

cont'd ...

Joe,

There's a difference between the tolerance of
dissent, a tolerance of criticism and of
dissenting opinions, which is
fundamental to democracy, and the preaching of hatred and
inciting violence.

You should know that.

Hey Loudmouth,

The 'left' is about to go out on the streets to protest in huge numbers against the betrayal of the Kurds, who did most of the fighting against ISIS.

They didn't do most of the fighting.
You forgot another group, like you read too much news and forgot they even existed.

- The Syrians -

When I was a kid we rebelled AGAINST authority.
These morons rebel in support of it.

That's not rebelling, that's being a Millennial Aged Muppet.

Hey ttbn,

"We need to eat the babies!"

That was funny, but I'm pretty sure it was staged to try and catch Ocrazyo Cortez off guard and make her look stupid.
She handled it pretty well, actually.

- And usually she doesn't need any help saying something to look stupid -

AC,

I didn't see that video. I can't recall where it was that I read about the baby eating. But it's the sort of stuff that would come out in any gathering where that mad-eyed young woman AOC was in attendance.

It's hard to tell if it's serious or not, because there are so many really deranged people mixed up in the ER. I don't think that I could extend the benefit of any doubt to them.

It is pretty funny. Enjoy.

'We need to eat the babies' says woman to Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez
http://youtu.be/epwUTVUwB7A

Roger Franklin, editor of Quadrant Online, writes of ER:

"Anyone who followed last week’s Extinction Rebellion disruptions will have seen news footage and interviews of protesters attempting to explain why blocking traffic, impeding productive citizens and parading in one’s underwear will help Gaia to recover from mankind’s alleged abuses. Incoherent, inarticulate and infuriatingly vague, they did not present as any sort of endorsement for Australia’s schools."

Incoherent, inarticulate and vague - a bad look for Australia's education. But, also dumber than their British counterparts who get paid for rioting and disrupting traffic and normal people trying to go about their legitimate business.

The nutters in England are being paid up to AU$800 per week to cause havoc over there

How much carbon do wars cost?

Foxy,

People that set off bombs also get people talking. I have heard lot of people talking about ER, but not a word about what their actual agenda is.

Again I have no issue with people protesting, but if they are deliberately trying to screw up people's lives then they should be happy to pay the fines and do the time.

Is Brit commentator going too far when he says that " … in years to come, I and others face prosecution for having dared to doubt them (the Extinction Rebellion)?

Given the lack of courage in the here and now of 'authorities' to ban these lunatics from stopping huge cities from working; given that the lunatics will eventually be the 'authorities', could he be right?

Hitchens believes that, "Soon we will be sitting in an impoverished, dark country, with a trashed economy, incessant power cuts and dismal standard of living, caused by their dogma".

That certainly seems to be ER's aim, and that sort of existence would make it so very easy for these nutters to take over, given that the average person will be cowering in a corner somewhere as they are now instead of demanding action from politicians.

How the country misses pollies like Sir Joh who had a backbone and would not tolerate economic vandals holding the country to ransom. And to think the likes of Trad and co see themselves more morally superior. What a deceived generation.

And to think the likes of Trad and co see themselves more morally superior
runner,
true, I don't think they'd even know the meaning of moral. At least I see none emanating from them.

Older Australians will have to pay a price for their willful ignorance as well.
Well see how much they like the immigrants and the flagrant missuse of funds by the political class who never looked out for anyone's interest except their own when they are sucking down pureed pumpkin with a metal straw as hospital inpatients.

Aged care royal commission told nursing homes understaffed, most would receive one-star rating
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-10-14/aged-care-royal-commission-understaffing-nursing-homes/11600396

A bit of sense at last from the UK. ER has been banned from staging demonstrations ANYWHERE in London.

The British public showing how they feel about ER:

https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/blogs/tim-blair/extinction-rebellion-activists-cop-an-oldschool-london-stomping/news-story/6e39071a43571cce11636bfc2da362e3

Extinction Rebellion eco-warriors have caused rush hour chaos after climbing on Tube trains today – with furious commuters dragging protesters off trains.

The protesters have taken over trains at Stratford, Canning Town and Shadwell in London this morning.

Dramatic footage shows a mob of commuters pulling the protesters off a train at Canning Town as the crowd cheers.

There were shocking scenes as one activist was stamped on by a mob as he tumbled off the roof of a Jubilee line train at Canning Town station in east London.