We are killing our planet with a wanton abandonment that depleted and impoverished future generations will view with dismay. With 75 per cent of flying insect biomass lost in 27 years, our soils in crisis, the sixth mass extinction underway and runaway climate change all but inevitable, Greta Thunberg rightly implores us to act like the house is on fire. She doesn’t want hope or platitudes; she wants action.
Meanwhile our government (Sajid Javid in particular) and most business leaders claim the ground of reasoned, rational sobriety with pleas for stability and continuity, and for us to be patient and trust them. What is reasonable, rational or trustworthy about continuing on a course that science tells us is doomed, in order to afford a last grotesque bout of consumption?
The slow and marginal change advocated by government and businesses will not be enough; a few nods to corporate social responsibility while rejecting any initiative that threatens short-term economic growth or our individual right to consume with abandon, doesn’t come anywhere near to matching the gravity and urgency of the crisis we face. We are locked into a capitalist, consuming paradigm which is leading us to imminent self-destruction, but seems unchallenged nonetheless.
Frustration is breaking out across the world; it just needs a leader. The fact it has taken a 16-year-old with an extraordinary gift for stating the obvious with glaring integrity to galvanize the world into action does not reflect well on the rest of us. Could Greta be our last chance, our only hope of redemption? It is an extraordinary burden for such young shoulders.
When democracy fails to serve our common interest and that of our children, it is time to take to the streets. Sajid Javid has called on police to use the “full force of the law” against Extinction Rebellion protestors causing disruption in London to draw attention to the issue of climate change. He and many of our leaders urgently need disrupting before they lead us into the eternal flames of irreversible climate change and ecological breakdown.
We have been sending pallet loads of veg to feed the protestors and will continue to support them and the school strike for as long as it takes to see action and good governance.
Good for your. I joined the sit in and its good to know that others really do care, care enough to make a real contribution,
Thank you Riverford! I was there in week one. More non-violent direct action to come, no doubt. We need system change not climate change!
Well done RiverFord. However it’s depressing to see, with XR taking a break and Greta back in Europe, apart from Corbyn’s potential call for a climate emergency debate, our government and the main media have returned to their normal posture of heads firmly stuck up backsides.
Good for you all at Riverford. We need to keep up the pressure on this ‘government’ to take the necessary urgent action.
I am so pleased you were able to help feed the ‘rebels’. Good for you and the river ford community
Perhaps you will answer my question here, why are you sending free food to people who have the money to buy their own and not sending it to the foodbanks and the homeless and hungry? These people made a choice to be antagonistic and disrupte peoples lives, they therefore can afford their own food, whilst those who are using foodbanks are doing so not from choice but through necessity.
Hi morganHC, Riverford have supported community food projects and charities like Food Cycle for many years, and continue to do so. As you will see from Guys article, climate change is an issue he feels strongly about and so was happy to donate some veg for the protesters at recent events too.