- In short: Police have arrested and fined 72 climate activists [$385 each] for staging a protest in the middle of a Melbourne CBD intersection.
- Demonstrators from the group Extinction Rebellion say they have tried less-invasive forms of protest to make governments listen to their concerns, but they have not been heard.
- What’s next? The group is planning further disruptive action for March next year.
It was the fourth consecutive day of action by Extinction Rebellion demonstrators, culminating in a rally outside Flinders Street Station at the intersection of Flinders and Swanston streets.
The protesters are calling on the federal government to reduce carbon emissions. Many who attended the rally came prepared to be arrested, saying their actions were a last resort.
I think this is some serious whataboutism. It’s not a centralised movement, and the actions of some cunts over in the UK doesn’t reflect on this group here in Melbourne. I’ve been to a lot of left-leaning protests in my time here, and it’s a pretty universal rule never to fuck with Ambos.
I’m sorry, but it really does. If you’re going to give yourselves the same name and employ the same tactics, you have to acknowledge that you’ll be considered by the public as the same group. Hence “these protesters” in my comment. If you don’t want to be seen as the same people, don’t call yourselves Extinction Rebellion.
This is coming from someone sympathetic to the cause.
So… Critical thinking and logic shouldn’t apply to the lay person then? The government in the UK reflects on our actions here?
But we’re splitting hairs here. The point of disruption is to stir up conversation and keep the issue front and centre. We’re in the middle of a climate crisis. Our quality of life is trending downwards. Interrupting the public comes after scientists giving hard facts to the world that have been largely ignored for decades.