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Saturday 3 August 2024

A dark day



'A dark day for UK human rights,' says UN adviser after Just Stop Oil activists jailed

Protesters now face up to two years in prison, but there has been international condemnation of the increasing severity of sentences for non-violent protest.

Five Just Stop Oil activists have just been jailed for up to two years after they climbed gantries over the M25 motorway and caused temporary gridlock.


The whole country would go dark if Just Stop Oil were to have their way.

8 comments:

DiscoveredJoys said...

I'm all for Free Speech and the right to protest, but if your protest disrupts other peoples' lives significantly well that (according to the Elastic Woke Principles) is violence.

It may be a 'dark day' to those of an activist mindset but it cheered me up.

The Jannie said...

"Special Rapporteur on Environmental Defenders". That's an outstanding example of the kind of gobbledgook job description dreamt up by wastes of space and money like the left-dominated Untidy Nations.

A K Haart said...

DJ - it cheered me up too. The right to protest is essential, but activists are more inclined towards coercion which isn't protest at all, it isn't an invitation to debate. In many cases it seems to be more "look at me" than protest.

Jannie - it's a weird gobbledegook job too. I don't see how anyone can be pleased about being a "Special Rapporteur on Environmental Defenders".

Sam Vega said...

"international condemnation of the increasing severity of sentences for non-violent protest."

I find this a bit odd. Poisoning, blackmail, fraud, and polluting the seas are all nonviolent. Are they OK with them? Or are standards different for "protest"? Is protesting somehow more noble or worthy?

A K Haart said...

Sam - I think you have it right, standards are different for "protest" and it is somehow more noble or worthy. Unless you are far-right of course - different again. Or your name is Trump.

microdave said...

It's been reported that Hillary Clinton is the largest financial backer of JSO. Will there also be international condemnation about that?

Anonymous said...

I may, just may, consider JSO's viewpoints if they walked to their protests in home made shoes, wearing clothes that were not a by-product of oil, or manufactured by machines which required oil for lubrication. Until then, I consider them hypocritical eco terrorists, and a prison sentence seems a fair form of punishment.
Penseivat

A K Haart said...

Dave - and her day in court? Let's hope so.

Penseivat - JSO antics do have that advantage, they highlight the hypocrisy in a very public way. Even without checking, many people must see how even the most strident activists don't come close to living their supposed beliefs.