Echoes of Extinction Rebellion: A Dialogue on Climate Action and Civil Disobedience

How many of you in the UK secretly agree with Extinction Rebellion's goals?

Secretly, I for one openly agree with their aims. We all know that if we don't make some significant changes now, we are basically fucked - our children and grandchildren are going to face a hell of a time dealing with the consequences of our lack of meaningful action.

We live in a rich country with a degree of buffer against the worst impacts, especially when it comes to the cost of imported food. As an individual, I've taken a few simple steps to mitigate my impact. I no longer fly, I avoid goods that need airfreight, and I only spend my money with companies that are openly working to halt further climate degradation.

Support for Extinction Rebellion

There are a lot of us in the UK who are in full and open support of what they do. It aligns with a fine British tradition of civil disobedience, like the suffragettes who fought for women's rights. Their motives are 100% good, and their methods are only being seen as a nuisance because polite talks have largely failed for decades now. We need governments who are more willing to do more about global warming, and so far, our governments seem not to have even broken a sweat about the matter.

Good on XR for what they're doing. Many people might hate them, but there are many of us in the UK who are on their side. The key is to find a balance between radical action and practical, effective solutions.

So, what's the solution?

Practical Solutions for Climate Change

Urgent action is needed, but returning to the Stone Age is not the answer. Gluing yourself to the M6 or whatever might be seen as certifiably nuts. Screwing up people's daily lives is counterproductive, and stunts to supposedly force the issue are never going to work.

The world must focus on preserving the benefits of modern living without messing up the environment. Green energy, ideally generated reliably, is the way to go. Why aren't we using tidal energy sources more? Why not explore synthetic fuels derived from CO2 extracted from the air and hydrogen generated by electrolysis? Yes, I know that's a problem, but maybe it's not insoluble.

Energy efficiency and eventually sourcing raw materials off-planet are promising paths forward. Even if climate deniers are right, if they're wrong, it makes total sense to move to renewable energy because fossil fuels are finite and will run out one day. So, we may as well get started.

In conclusion, while Extinction Rebellion's methods may not be to everyone's liking, their goals align with the urgent need for action on climate change. A balanced approach that combines practical solutions and community-driven movements can drive meaningful change.