Update: I believe climate protests that block traffic do more harm than good

I support climate action, but when protests block roads, it turns people against the cause. My friends in the movement say any attention is good, but I see it pushing folks away. I've been in arguments about this at meetings. How do you balance getting noticed with not alienating people?

3 comments

3 Comments

kelly.michael7d ago

During the Extinction Rebellion protests in London, traffic was stuck for hours. But honestly, is a traffic jam really that big a deal compared to what's coming? Climate change will ruin a lot more than your day. Nice protests don't get on the news or change minds. If folks get angry at the protest and not the problem, they're focusing on the wrong thing. Sometimes you have to shake people up to make them pay attention.

masonw4310d ago

Man, I get where you're coming from. It feels like those protests make people mad at the activists instead of the actual problem. I've seen regular folks just trying to get to work who end up really angry about the whole thing. There's gotta be a better way to get the point across without stopping traffic. What kind of action do you think would work better?

troy_palmer7610d ago

You're right about needing a better way than stopping traffic. I helped organize info booths at busy parks with free water. People would stop to grab a drink and end up talking about our cause. We handed out simple flyers and collected signatures without blocking anyone. It felt more like a community event than a protest. That way folks left informed, not pissed off.