Just Stop Oil Protest

Because (and hold another front page for this, and maybe sit down before you read on) people can be theatre lovers and not want themselves or future generations to die because of how we are treating the planet in the way we are.

This might take a while to process though. Steady yourself.

You're starring in your own melodrama.  Future generations won't die, because smart humans create smart solutions (rather than tipping orange powder over stuff like a spoilt little degenerate toddler).

If you can steal yourself from the snarky put-downs for a second, reflect on the fact that I (and I would hazard a majority of board users) largely agree with the aims of JSO. Why we despair is because JSO are actively setting back action by their methods that persuade people that their cause is the side of lunatics and fanatics.

I could weep, I really could, for the environmental problems we are bequeathing next generations.

Longest running, arguably most recognisable. Plus they got up during Do You Hear the People Sing?, the big rallying song asking people to join in their crusade. 

The only concrete aim they've expressed that I'm aware of is that UK should stop new North Sea oil and gas production. Hence we should instead import our oil and gas from Norway and the Middle East with the associated extra transport CO2 emissions, and instead of collecting petroleum revenue tax of between 40% and 75% on that production that they could spend on green energy initiatives the government should instead get no production tax at all. So no, I don't think I do agree with that aim. 

It's a credible conspiracy theory.  When asked about the JSO protestors outside the London office of a major UK oil firm, an exec said "they have a right to protest peacefully provided they don't endanger or intimidate our people".  I.e. "we tolerate them because they pose no real threat".  These firms spend millions on mitigation strategies for activist actions, and JSO simply do not register on the credibility scale.  Other groups are "heard" and sometimes even enter into discussions with such firms.  These conversations are not disclosed because these firms also know there are rogue agents working on the inside.

JSO is not a credible or sensible group of people and they are mocking the efforts of more credible people through their lame efforts.  I am not an environmentalist myself but could weep for the steadfast and earnest efforts of others which are undermined by the prattish behaviour of the JSO idiots.

Hence, the government is confident enough to row back on oil field pledges and issue new licences (while they still can) which guarantee oil production for the next 40-80 years based on lifecycle management (40 being the yield required to be a profitable long-term investment).  Even with carbon capture/recovery/storage, there is still a footprint and the products drilled certainly don't help the ambitious goals of net-zero.  The game changer will be in affordable alternative energy solutions, but we are not there yet.  2050 is a more realistic target for net-zero goals, and in the meantime we can all do our bit to help make the planet a better place for all.  But JSO don't want that - let's face it, in a few years, half of the JSO cohort will be dead, the other half will have grown up and be living in suburbia with 2.4 kids and a labrador, and JSO will be a footnote on how not to do political or environmental activism.

The ushers could of lobbed ice creams at them

It would be interesting to see research on whether exposure to these sorts of protests makes people *less* sympathetic to moves to combat climate and environmental crises. If government regulations are going to make your life more difficult and/or more expensive and then you get prevented from getting to a hospital appointment or have a night out ruined by JSO protests, might there not be a tendency to think, "Oh, to hell with the whole business" and, with that, a tendency to support Sunak's watering down of relevant measures? Yes, research could be intertesting.

What would have happened if someone from the audience had decided to drag one of the eco zealots off the stage or pulled their hand off the barricade. With today's society they would probably be done for assault.  

When the protesters tried to block the highways before I think Burning Man festival in the US the footage of the sheriffs driving through their baracade is how you should handle this lot.

^ that's what I was thinking.

In the footage; the cast leave the stage and the stage management give them a wide bearth.

I wonder if West End shows are briefed on this scenario.

With security checks, I think they are not thorough enough; I don't mind them rummaging through / taking their time - reassures me if anything, especially in the kind of world we live in now.

The civil rights movement in America relied on peaceful protests to start the process of change. Granted some police departments reacted in a violent fashion, but it took time. JSO would do better to put their money where their collective mouths are, get rid of their autos, take public transport or ride bikes. They could be encouraging others to do the same, or promoting alternative environmentally friendly methods of locomotion (not that I trust electric cars - the batteries are a huge problem waiting to happen once it's time to replace them). Rather than infringing on ordinary people they've got to find a way to make it cool to encourage average citizens to cut back on petroleum products. No one is talking about plastics, another petroleum product with an afterlife of hundreds of years before biodegrading. Not a lot of discussion about fast fashion, one of the biggest polluting industries on the planet. But the biggest polluters affecting the ozone layer are China and India. Doubt it will be possible to convince either country to change their ways when they're trying to keep up with Western standards of living. I doubt the Indian government or Chinese government would put up with JSO's antics.