Shit, that was a crazy thorough response. Thanks so much! Also, I think you've captured my thoughts exactly.
I had the burning idea of it being something that's more "feel good" under the guise of political activism than effective activism itself.
For me, the shutdowns in Melbourne would have only been effective if they kept pushing them. That is, shutting down the city day, after day, after day. Each day protesting more beligerently and causing more of an uproar.
Once the discourse got so divided and people were forced to pick a side (for or against) I feel they would have had more people crossing over to join the line as it were.
Also, the constant 'non-violence' of the protest bugged me. Climate change, and the wilful ignorance of the political and capital class who perpetrate it is in itself a violent act. If XR wanted to make effective change blockading and resisting would have been more effective in my eyes than just being arrested.
We live in a society of violence in Australia. As a colonial nation we are surrounded on all sides by memories of it in statues, street names and currency. Violence captures mass attention and forces the question "which side are you on?"
Shit, that was a crazy thorough response. Thanks so much! Also, I think you've captured my thoughts exactly.
I had the burning idea of it being something that's more "feel good" under the guise of political activism than effective activism itself.
For me, the shutdowns in Melbourne would have only been effective if they kept pushing them. That is, shutting down the city day, after day, after day. Each day protesting more beligerently and causing more of an uproar.
Once the discourse got so divided and people were forced to pick a side (for or against) I feel they would have had more people crossing over to join the line as it were.
Also, the constant 'non-violence' of the protest bugged me. Climate change, and the wilful ignorance of the political and capital class who perpetrate it is in itself a violent act. If XR wanted to make effective change blockading and resisting would have been more effective in my eyes than just being arrested.
We live in a society of violence in Australia. As a colonial nation we are surrounded on all sides by memories of it in statues, street names and currency. Violence captures mass attention and forces the question "which side are you on?"