Blocking public transport could alienate a lot of otherwise-supportive people.
“I’ll have to withhold judgement…the organisers haven’t been very forthcoming” one Extinction Rebellion activist said, when asked about the group’s plans to shut down public transport in London on Wednesday. “There’s been quite a bit of debate about whether it’s a good idea,” another told me.
“I fully support the actions of ER so far…[but] it would be counterproductive to the cause to try and disrupt the tube and train networks,” wrote green activist Tom Chance on Twitter. Green London Assembly candidate Zack Polanski joined Sadiq Khan in opposing the new tactics.
In fact, of the ten or so Extinction Rebellion activists I spoke to – activists in the sense that they were actually occupying a bridge – none seemed too keen on shutting down the tube.
Whatever you think about Extinction Rebellion, the recent shift in tactics – moving from occupying bridges and squares to shutting down public transport – has divided opinion in the movement and outside of it.
On Wednesday the group announced ‘light’ disruption of public transport in London: “We will disrupt one overground line as part of our escalating campaign to demand the government acts now on the climate and ecological emergency.”
They demanded that the ‘government must tell the truth by declaring a climate and ecological emergency, working with other institutions to communicate the urgency for change’.
The call is spot on. And it would be trite to automatically condemn the action on the grounds that ‘public transport reduces emissions’. The point of direct action is much bigger than a single event itself. It is about garnering maximum attention and creating maximum disruption.
You do, however, have to bring the public with you. And repeatedly stopping millions of people from getting to work increases the likelihood of losing friends and alienating people (particularly if the immediate impact – increasing car journeys, in this case) is visibly counter-productive.
There was a note of wisdom from a policeman (who was privately supportive of the protesters): “If you’re starting to block the underground and the DLR, it will change the public’s perception.”
When 200 Extinction Rebellion activists were arrested for blocking bridges and occupying public squares, the public appeared broadly behind them.
Hell, even the media coverage has been broadly positive. The Times welcomed the movement (while criticising their tactics).
That support shouldn’t be taken for granted. Direction action is always a balance between grabbing attention and annoying people. But you need to annoy the right people. When fracking activists shut down fracking sites, it is easy for the wider public to endorse (while being highly effective). When you shut down the tube – which is expected to host a billion journeys this year – that lack of focus can be counter-productive.
I support the campaigners and the cause. But those in influential positions in the campaign must think carefully before throwing away public support. Block City Airport. Take over Parliament Square. Occupy coal plants and luxury car company HQs. Don’t block the majority.
In a movement with no formal democratic levers, a silent majority in the group may struggle to force a rethink. It’s worth a try, though.
Josiah Mortimer is Editor of Left Foot Forward. Follow him on Twitter.
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7 Responses to “Down the tube: Extinction Rebellion transport disruption could prove counter-productive”
nshgp
Yougov shows the public hate them
Ben
I don’t see anything on yougov at all to do with them. Link welcome.
Londoner
They’ve from the beginning disrupted most of the central London bus network by blocking roads – don’t see the distinction between buses and trains.
Patrick Newman
According to the YouGov web site, 30% of those giving an online opinion strongly opposed Extinction Rebellion. I think nhsgp makes up a lot of what it posts.
Gareth
I was broadly supportive of even some of the most dramatic proposed climate change measures before they came along (and was strongly considering going vegan on the basis of environmental benefits)
Now I just want to go and burn tyres in my backyard while grilling more burgers than I’d actually be able to eat and lobbying the government to increase pollution – just to spite them.