Saturday 20 April 2019

Easter Saturday

It's official - The Warmest Easter Saturday on Record' - unbroken sunshine and such a lovely day. 

Tess and I had been invited out to lunch at friend W's.   She has friends staying who are now, after meeting them at W's for so many years, good friends of mine too (and Tess's).   W's cooking is superb and I am ashamed to say that I did absolutely nothing - just sat and chatted.  Roast ham, many different vegetables, new potatoes, chips,followed by fresh fruit salad, sticky toffee pud, chocolate cake, coffee, plenty of good wine - we ended up replete.   Nothing more needed today - so thank you W for cooking the food and N, K and S for the great pleasure of your company.

Coming home to News bulletins and seeing the protesters in central London protesting about Climate Change, holding up traffic and thus creating fumes, putting police on to the streets rather than giving a grossly overworked police force some time off, leaving behind huge quantities of rubbish - plastics included.   I do agree with free speech, the right to protest - but I do also wonder whether it was done in an appropriate manner.   I am open to being convinced should anyone have a view which might convince me - not of the need to do something about climate change - that is indeed a world problem and a serious one at that; but is this kind of protest at this time of year - when the tourist trade is just beginning and people's livelihoods are being affected -  the right way to go about it?   Is there a better way?   I have a feeling that if I was young 20 instead of 86 then I might well be down there with them because I am appalled by the whole thing around climate change and the way the world seems to be going helter skelter towards annihilation, but now at my age I do question the method of protest more.

 

21 comments:

Rachel Phillips said...

At any time of year.

crafty cat corner said...

No doubt the Suffragettes were thought of as hooligans in their time but what they did worked and we ladies are all grateful for it.
I agree there might be better ways of doing things but something has to be done to draw the world's attention to our plight.
I only have to look back just 50 years to remember all of the wild life that has disappeared and which I took for granted.
Sadly as with most things left to those in charge it will be left to the last minute to change things and maybe too late.
I do hope not, even though I myself shall not be here to witness this my children and Grandchildren will be.
Nice post.
Briony
x

JayCee said...

I too feel helpless in the face of the undoubted calamity that our planet is facing and so frustrated that the world's leaders have no interest in doing anything to save us from disaster. I look at my niece's two young children and feel a quiet despair for their future. I am not sure that the current protests will have any effect but I supose people feel that they have to make their voice heard somehow. Although perhaps this may not be the best way to do it.
Anyway, your lunch sounds absolutely delicious and I am very envious!

Thickethouse.wordpress said...

Do you know what has happened to Rachel Phillips blog? I am confused and rather sad.

Joanne Noragon said...

It's best, I think, to protest at the ballot box, and stand for office.

EM Griffith said...

The Japanese are perfecting biodegradable plastics. Japan and the US are both making big progress with fusion energy. Alas, those sorts of things don't make compelling news... even though they're HUGE for the ecology. And yes, it's astonishing how much trash is left after big protests and marches anywhere. My theory? Protesters need to feel they're doing something to save the planet... even if they're not. Going in large groups means everyone can feel empowered... even though those doing anything truly "earth changing"are ticked away in scientific laboratories.

Cro Magnon said...

Well said Weave. Right sentiment; wrong method.

Derek Faulkner said...

I agree with Cro, especially when the likes of Emma Thompson flies 4,500 miles from America to join the protest and I wonder how many of the protesters drive cars, fly away on holidays, use plastic - in other words they are just as polluting as the rest of us.

Rachel Phillips said...

The world is not going to end. Climates change, they always will. Wind patterns shift. A meteor might even come along and wipe us all out tomorrow. Everyone, well almost everyone, has been brainwashed into believing their claptrap of protest and we are not even able to move them on to open our streets. If the police cant move them bring in the army. Allow the protest to carry on like this and ordinary people are going to go out of business. The wealthy middle class protesters will go back to their houses and carry on where they left off and gloat, about what I don't know, their self satisfied, sanctimonious, self righteous selves I suppose. And no, they are not up there with the Suffragettes. Don't even think about it. The human race adapts and it will carry on doing so.

thelma said...

What a tangled web we weave when trying to sort the moral problems of today ;) The protest was for a specific reason, it was to say 'get off your backsides, the world around you is crumbling away'. We cannot pretend that the niceties of life are far more important, did anyone watch Attenborough on Climate Change, and not vow to do their bit for the environment?

John "By Stargoose And Hanglands" said...

I protest about climate change every day. It's called "walking, cycling and using public transport". It won't make a huge difference on a world scale, but it does me more good than glueing myself to Mr Corbyn's fence.

Jennyff said...

I agree the climate protest will achieve nothing apart from annoying us, and they are not on a par with the Suffragettes who didn’t have the power of the media. These people would get more credit if they went out and did something useful, giving out reusable non plastic bags outside supermarkets or drinks cups at coffee shops, all emblazoned with their message. They wouldn’t get the same publicity but it would make a difference in a good way and get people onside rather than cost the taxpayer millions and disrupt everyday life.

Librarian said...

A lot of food for thought here, in your post as well as in the comments.
Speaking of food, your day sounds excellent - and don't feel ashamed for doing nothing! you were invited, and the job of a good guest is that to enjoy the tiime at their host's, food and company included.

The Weaver of Grass said...

Iagree Librarian, comments are also food for thought Don't know what the answer is - I think of all those huge chimneys spouting out pollution in some countries, all that plastic in the sea killing our fish, the way we all really only pay lip service to it. I think of all the money wasted on all this arguing about Brexit - and I feel 'stop the world I want to get off' is not far from my mind.

Rachel Phillips said...

I believe that the protesters in London would not dare to go to Beijing to protest which is where they should go if they feel so strongly about climate change being totally man made. They would not be treated with such courtesy there so I guess they would hot like to go there and glue themselves to the road.

Heather said...

I always feel sorry for our policemen when they have to deal with protests. They could well be in sympathy with the protesters but have to do their duty. I agree that the demonstration could probably have been better thought out, but desperately hope that around the world governments will get together to do all they can to lessen the damage we are doing to our planet. We/they all waste money on schemes and projects which are less important than saving the planet. What could be more important?
On a happier note, I sat in our communal garden yesterday and enjoyed the sun until I became too warm, and plan to do the same today.
Your day out sounded perfect.

Derek Faulkner said...

I was amused this week on TV, to see one of the leaders of the London protests, when questioned about the several flights he'd taken for holidays over the last year, get up and walk out of the studio.
Rachel makes some good points in her comments.

jinxxxygirl said...

I'm 52 and i too prefer peaceful protests.. I think they are much more effective also.. But i think people are just so frustrated that nothing is changing.. noone is listening.. I get it .. i do.. but still... when it gets like that i just tend to tune them out..

Glad to hear you had such a wonderful time! Happy Easter Pat!!! Hugs! deb

Donna said...

I agree with you. We had a protest here against fossil fuels where they shut down a rail line to the refineries with their oil made tents and clothing and left behind rubbish including plastic buckets of human excrement that were left next to our river. We (the locals) had to clean up their mess as they went home to their urban lives. Not an effective protest, if you were to ask me.

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