@mscaitlinmoran I'm always a bit torn on them, because some of their protests seem a little misguided - although they are trying to get attention on the climate crisis and in that, they're succeeding.

Either way, regardless of our individual opinions on the matter, they will be on the right side of history.

@mscaitlinmoran That’s such a good point, about the need for two wings — disruptive and moderate. It’s been there in so many past movements, and I kind of knew without realising.

I’ve changed my view on Just Stop Oil these past few days. I’d kind of dismissed it as entitled middle-class kids having a brief moment of activism, as if it were a gap year trip to Chile. But I actually don’t think that’s it. I think it’s sparked by genuine frustration at the blanket refusal of those in power to properly engage with what is clearly a gigantic crisis. "You will only pay attention if I irritate everyone in a 20 mile radius."

If it brings those in power to a meeting with the moderate side of the campaign, it strikes me as A Good Thing. But not throwing soup at paintings. I’m not jumping on that boat.

@mscaitlinmoran always interesting to see that those who protest about the protesters essentially give away that really they just don’t like protests of any sort ever.

If it’s “Swampy” and his mates protesting nuclear weapons, well they should have a bath and get a job.
The unemployed, obviously get a job instead.
Kids protesting anything should just “get back to school”
Middle class protestors, they’re just “champagne socialists” or similar.

@mscaitlinmoran I think of how we remember Suffragettes, civil rights activists and abolitionists.

I’m no machiavellian, but unless they’re endangering life*, good luck to them.

*I know, I know. Everybody on the M25 yesterday was taking their great great granny for a chemotherapy appointment.

@mscaitlinmoran I would counter with: Aren't the disruptive wings there to highlight the problem and the moderate side to suggest and press for solutions to it?

With an issue that's already known about - what does the disruptive side achieve?

@mscaitlinmoran Most peoples opinion seems to be that they agree with what what they have to say just not how they go about it.

They’re keeping the issue in the public domain and forcing people to say “I agree we need to reduce fossil fuel but…”

@mscaitlinmoran If you had to choose between saving, say, "Mona Lisa," or the life of a random child that you would never know on the other side of the world, which would you choose?

This is something like the real choice we're faced with and I think they're brilliant for pointing that out. We revere the wrong things. I wouldn't expect people to be comfortable with it. And I think a lot of people are missing the point on purpose. So I celebrate them.

@mscaitlinmoran
I agree. It's healthy in a society to have, and to tolerate, people who go further than others, beyond what you yourself might do. If we are to understand, and maintain the boundaries of what is permissible, it's necessary that some people should be always testing those boundaries.

The alternative is that the range of things that are permitted shrinks and shrinks. In the UK right now, this is already happening and it scares me.