Comments
series_hybrid t1_itqdpz0 wrote
It's extortion. These organizations want to get paid to "go away". It's questionable ethics, but how else can they financially survive?
They see themselves as saviors, so...the end justifies the means.
Silent_Palpatine OP t1_itqdr17 wrote
But all it seems to do is make people think they’re dicks.
boring_pants t1_itqduxy wrote
Because they've found it's the only way to get the media and the public to pay any attention to their message.
You can certainly argue that they're in the wrong to use these methods, but so far it is seemingly the only way to make the world realize that there are people protesting for the climate and against oil, and that is why they do it.
When people protested against oil pipelines, the military was called in. Activists have literally tied themselves to oil rigs and it didn't make an impression. I think, if you can come up with a method that works for drawing attention to the climate crisis, most of these activists would be very grateful to hear from you. Because they've tried a lot of things, and so far, vandalizing art pieces is just about the only thing that gets the world to pay any attention to their message.
Zaelos88 t1_itqe19t wrote
But you're talking about It... It works.
Claytonius21 t1_itqe8dl wrote
Some people will think that, just like some people think striking train workers are lazy. Those people weren't likely to support something that required any level of personal loss though, others will see the interviews and media coverage and get involved, either in a big way like joining in future protests or a small way like messaging their local politicians and asking them to stop funding oil companies.
-paperbrain- t1_itqf6sx wrote
But it brings attention to the group and their antics, not to climate policy.
PM_ur_Rump t1_itqfqxd wrote
No, lol. Just no.
Akira1971 t1_itqfsmh wrote
Seriously, that's not how the world works.
We can easily transition to other environmentally-friendly energy sources over TIME. The point is to encourage people to take the first step towards making a change and part of that is just getting the message out.
BigCountry76 t1_itqg4l7 wrote
No one is talking about how we should fix climate change because of them. Everyone is talking about how stupid they look. Not all publicity is good publicity despite what some people think.
ethnicbonsai t1_itqg9tp wrote
Yep.
Every painting covered in mashed potatoes removes 3 lbs of carbon from the atmosphere.
Every time someone talks about it on the internet, .25 lbs are removed.
ethnicbonsai t1_itqgf42 wrote
Cause no one ever heard of climate change before these people started doing stupid shit.
DeusKether t1_itqgjuv wrote
So, what you're saying is that we need to bring the military into the museums?
SinisterCheese t1_itqgnc3 wrote
Would you care about a climate protestor throwing can off soap at an oil executives car? Would you even care to open a news article about that? Assuming it would even get an article.
And this is the exact reason protestors attack things that are unrelated but gets them the headlines. They want the headlines. They want journalists to come asking who they are and why they are on about.
They want there to be a bitter fights on opinion collumns and comment sections. Because then if one of the thousands actually realised what the message is and take it to heart, they have managed to convert one more person to the cause.
Zaelos88 t1_itqgnrm wrote
Correct. Still you'll see below people advocating for them, and surely not all of them were advocating actively without the prompt of these events.
I, for once, can say: it's a very despicable act, the one of damaging art, but so it's damaging the environment, let's hope that all this talking about It brings more awareness and less need for these extreme actions.
Talk good, talk bad, the important Is that you talk about It.
Claytonius21 t1_itqgsjw wrote
Why would someone whose family sold their oil business 40 years ago care what climate protesters look like?
Unless of course they just want a livable planet.
explainlikeimfive-ModTeam t1_itqgvdb wrote
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Zaelos88 t1_itqhxb5 wrote
Hah, if those potatoes would have been used to make vodka, sure It does. I don't approve their actions, but understand their motives.
They are Just screaming louder, ecoterrorism Is Just around the corner now. I won't approve that either, sure.
ethnicbonsai t1_itqif2o wrote
Ecoterrorism has been a thing for a long time.
Ask loggers.
explainlikeimfive-ModTeam t1_itqikxl wrote
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explainlikeimfive-ModTeam t1_itqiyae wrote
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Zaelos88 t1_itqjwb4 wrote
They'll go bigger, I fear
Inhabitedmind t1_itqkzul wrote
It just feels like they are becoming assholes over anything else. I know there is an issue and care about it but when they throw food on a painting I'm more inclined to do the opposite out of spite. Also just seems like some rich kids trying to be important, like TikTok trends. At least the ALS ice bucket challenge raised money for these issues instead of pissing people off.
ethnicbonsai t1_itqpzgx wrote
Yes.
Things are also a lot more urgent.
SinisterCheese t1_itqq6o0 wrote
The thing is that anger is a powerful emotion - it makes people do things.
Tell me... Would you be for more consumption of oil products because of this event? Would you be for less use?
Because here is a thing: Disgust is a destructive emotion, it makes people do stupid things like protest fuel regulations by wasting fuel. Anger however flares up when they are at the pump fueling, it digs deep in to your psyche.
But lets analyze what you said just a bit more:
Is your problem with the act, or who did it? Would you be equally angry if a homeless person without a penny would do this same act for the same reason? Or is it because "Rich kids and tiktok trends"? Because I sense that your problem is more with class than the act.
But you fail to see the problem that they are trying to address since you admit that you know there is a problem. However there are plenty of people who don't.
Tell me: Is there a issue that you'd care so much about that as a protest you'd be willing to risk jail time? Because these people are. How about, when was the last time you noticed a quiet peaceful protest about a thing you didn't know was an issue?
I can tell you exactly when was the last time I did. It was over 5 years ago, where one person was sharing a pamflet about an organisations demanding changes to the adoption regulation allowing there same-sex couple to be registered as the parents to a biological child of one of them.
What was the last protest I noticed because they made noise? The hijab related protest about Masha Hamin. A thing I hadn't even known about having had happened for I been avoiding news past few years and being in Finland articles about foreign matters been especially something I avoid.
The reason they keep doing stuff like this because it is the only way to get any media and public attention. And it is working!
Inhabitedmind t1_itqu0hu wrote
There are many examples that get the media attention that doesn't get people pissed at the cause.Steve-o protested sea world a while back. It didn't hurt anyone or destroy anything but it got people's attention. the funny "look at this idiot up there". He went to jail and got some articles written on him. It raised awareness for animal rights without coming off as a pompous twat who just wants attention and happen to have a cause behind it.
The people gluing their hands to the floor, blocking traffic, and attempting to destroy artwork aren't coming off as some hero to change but as people who inconvenience the lil man who has no say in what oil corporations do.
Like this climate protest where they blocked the roads and may have cost a man his parole. How is that helpful? People are just trying to get to work and they felt it was appropriate to hold everyone up, also wasting more gas keeping these cars idle, and did fuck all for climate activism.
It isn't working, we all know climate change is an issue. You all just aren't giving 1, the incentive to help and 2. solutions to help. Just a bunch of fuckheads inconveniencing people for the sake of...acknowledging climate change?
I want them to do better, to have a catch me moment that is simple for people to go "Hey, I can do that!" vs "Yes, big corporations are the main issue for climate change and my car doesn't help but I can't afford a better alternative or stop what corporations are doing".
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SinisterCheese t1_itqvs2o wrote
Well you just posted two things which got media attention.
You know what the extinction rebellion did in Finland last summer at a Rally? They peacefully protested. https://yle.fi/uutiset/3-12565745
What was done to them? Slurry made of cowshit was shot at them.
Care to explain what was so bad that they deserved such actions that the police arrested those people who shot shit at them?
Now I'm not part of extinction rebellion, but I am worried of climate change.
But you want solutions? I have some for you. Carbon tariffs at the EU border. Severe penalties for fossil fuel use. More nuclear power. Ban combustion engine cars for personal use and have a buyout program. Add tariffs to fossilfuels. Equally share carbon credits to everyone living in EU, which can be traded against cash and limit consumption against these; since wealthy people consume and emit more emission, they have to buy the right to emit - no more riding on the backs of poor people while you get to spoil in luxury even if you can afford the taxes.
Now present to me your solutions to this issue.
Because I can tell you that it is a fucking inconvienience when summer temperaturs keep going up and weather gets drier to the point that rivers are running dry around the world. But I assume this is not an inconvience?
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Claytonius21 t1_itqdnab wrote
They do go after oil companies as well, but throwing soup at a glass frame gets more media attention and allows them to have a better platform to spread their message.