Firstly I must stipulate that I am very pro-insulation. I spent many happy hours super-insulating our barn, and I can assure you that it pays!
However, I am very against these 'Insulate Britain' protestors who close motorways, and keep policemen from far more important work. The UK's police are not paid to stand around in groups wearing uniforms; they are paid to keep the peace, solve crime, and keep law-abiding citizens safe from idiots who glue themselves to motorways.
One can but wonder if the police are not being massively over-funded. If they can afford to pay dozens of cops to stand about and simply watch protestors as they disrupt daily life, then they should have their funding CUT. They should get on with what they'd paid to do, or maybe find another job. Below is a classic example.
Personally I think it would have been far better for the planet (and their PR image) if these folk spent their train/bus fares on a few rolls of Rock Wool, and offered to insulate the homes of some OAP's, free of charge.
If they did that, I might have some respect for them.
I am surprised to learn that almost everywhere in Britain is not well insulated.
ReplyDeleteAll new homes are well insulated, but Britain (like France) has so many old houses that can't be insulated; like ours.
DeleteWere the police to handcuff them to the Armco and leave them there then I suspect their enthusiasm would wane after a day sitting in their own piss.
ReplyDeleteI have recommended the exact same thing; just get them off the bloody roads!
DeleteThis sums up Insulate's hypocrisy.
ReplyDeleteDo as I say not as I do.
That was always the rallying cry of The Labour Party.
DeleteAt the risk of stating the obvious (and being deleted for it): Police presence (and their vigilance) is precisely what they are paid for. Or, to paraphrase your words, to make sure the peace is kept, and law-abiding citizens reassured. That's why they patrol inner cities' hotspots, visibly, in their "uniforms" (you'll probably call it "strolling around") - indeed there have been citizens' complaints in many councils that there aren't enough "bobbies on the beat". The same principle why nightclubs and the like (you'll see when you get back to Brighton) employ highly visible bouncers. It's not because the venues expect trouble. But because the very presence of the big and burly (in uniform) will make some inebriated customers think twice before going for fisticuffs.
ReplyDeletePolice work is about a lot more than chasing the odd bank robber. If they look "idle" to you so much the better.
U
And at the risk of MY sounding obvious, your woke, liberal, left-wing, attitude is why the vast majority of UK citizens are fed-up with the police inactivity. Try getting a copper to help if you've been burgled. YOU may like to see them 'idle', but most of us don't.
DeleteA copper WILL try to help if you have been burgled. Or worse. Beaten to a pulp. Alas, in most burglary cases there is little they can do. Burglars are not idiots (unless they don't know their trade).
DeleteYou didn't get my main point about police PRESENCE being about PREVENTION rather than giving chase. I'll give you another example to ram home the point: A lot of people wouldn't have any qualms to speed if they weren't aware of that police car just hidden in that little clearing round the bend - being warned off (thanks) by oncoming traffic flashing their lights to slow down, or, indeed, speed cameras dotted around. According to my sources most those cameras are more for cosmetic and psychological purposes than actually being watched. WHAT?, you may cry: Not being watched? Well, my dear Cro, not enough staff around. So much for "overfunding". Anyway, this is a slight offshoot of the original point: If something is a small misdemeanour it may cost MORE to pursue the "criminal" than the fine they might have to pay if caught covers.
Also, since you mention burglary: Most stuff is insured. Now, HA, enter the truly questionable: Fraudulent claims by the burgled. Wouldn't you just love to catch those? If at taxpayers' cost.
U
TV is usually a good indicator of social awareness, hence the number of Cop-Shows featuring high powered cars and motorway chases. But, then listen to the fines, slaps on wrist, tickings off, the miscreants receive. Almost nothing. When my late Mother-in-Law was burgled, and lost some very important Russian silver, she was given a crime number; and that was it. It's about time the Police got tough, not being 'idle' as you would prefer.
DeleteAny more of this nonsense, and I'll delete.
I agree with you Cro.I would shift them with very forceful water canons.The great unwashed would not like that.I am fed up to the back teeth with these lefties thinking that they can do just as they like.xx
DeleteSadly it was those self-same lefties that forced Boris to scrap his water cannon. I believe that a good soaking was against their HUMAN RIGHTS. Gawd 'elp us.
DeleteBefore you delete Ursula Cro, I do admire her clear, concise summing up of how crime happens in Britain.
ReplyDeleteAs for insulation, it mostly only happens in new build, watch Kevin McCloud in Grand Designs on how to build a straw insulated building ;) or spend an expanding fortune on constructing 'dream houses'
Yes, I did say that above in reply to Andrew. Our own home is 300 years old and has very thick stone walls. If we wanted to insulate, we would not only lose a lot of character, but also a lot of space; neither of which we want. We have to rely of wood fires in the winter, and a small amount of insulation in the roof.
DeleteI would have thought very thick stone would be its own insulation.
DeleteThe stone acts like an old-fashioned 'storage heater'. You need to keep its temperature up in the winter. If you let it get cold, it's very difficult to heat-up again.
DeleteDuring one event the protesters clubbed together and gave a burger van man some money as compensation for stopping his business for a day.the van man angrily refused,
ReplyDeleteThe fact that several of the protest organisers have no insulation in their Victorian and older houses is another interesting take
My son was held-up on the M25; time wasted that he could ill afford. I can imagine his response to the offer of a cash recompense!!!
DeleteI saw they were blocking the port of Dover the other day, we were lucky to get through earlier in the week. I imagine the forecast gas shortages and already rising prices will be much bigger incentives to insulate than their disruptive, sanctimonious and expensive protest.
ReplyDeleteI'm sure everyone would like to insulate their homes, we don't need disruptive do-gooders to goad us.
DeleteDemonstrating is a democratic right. I would not like to live in countries were the police hunt, beat and kill people. Burglers are mostly part of organised criminal groups. Are you happy about the UK government ? Some people are , others not.Insulating old house is nearly impossible if you would keep the character of old constructions.
ReplyDelete"Demonstrating is a democratic right". Thanks for that, Lou. I feared that if I'd point that out I'd definitely outstayed my (not being particularly) welcome here.
DeleteU
Demonstrating is a Democratic right, correct. However illegally blocking roads and committing criminal damage are not. If you believe they are please leave your address and we'll arrange for protesters to glue themselves to your house, car and generally harass you and disrupt your day, after all you believe that is their right...
DeleteOf course everyone has the right to demonstrate; no-one disputes that. What people DON'T have the right to do is bring life to a halt, throw rocks at Police, smash windows, pour paint over monuments, etc. Peaceful protest is one thing; violent or seriously disruptive protest is another.
DeletePeople forget that responsibility comes along with rights. Demonstrate without disruptions.
DeleteAnybody who purposely glues themselves to the road deserves to get rained on. I don't understand these protesters, going on about freedom and choice, as if others were forcing them to have the covid shots.
ReplyDeleteLet them protest quietly in their own homes
Oops, I thought they were covid protesters. Why would anyone protest against insulation?
DeleteFor not against.
DeleteOh. Thank you. I should have realised.
DeleteI am pleased that these protesters have put the issue of insulation in the public spotlight. Nonetheless, if imprisoned they should be placed in the insulation block and made to sweat.
ReplyDeleteI think everyone is aware that insulation is good for you, and saves money. Weren't there government grants to insulate houses? There have been here for yonks!
DeleteJust a load of bollocks. Like death being a certainty, climate changes come around and always will; they should be sent to Africa or China or Myanmar or Afghanistan or Ethiopia or The Congo or Chad or Northern Nigeria and given guns to defend the innocent. Then they might do some good.
ReplyDeleteClimate change is a natural phenomenon. But the horrendous amount of pollution created by the Chinese is not. There has to be common sense involved in the reduction of pollution. Insulation is one small step, but the huge causes will continue.
DeleteI do not know Rachel , but she seems to have a serious understanding problem. And are you as naiv to believe our actual climate change is normal ?
DeleteI believe Rachel has stated in the past that she does not believe the climate change is man made.
DeletePlanetary climate change goes in cycles, and is a perfectly natural occurrence. If anyone thinks they can bring a halt to that; they are crazy. We can help by not causing too much pollution, etc. But halt it; NO!
DeleteCro , ask competent people , what they think is not what you think. Fake news spread a lot of stupidities and people seem to rely on it.
DeleteClimate change is natural, but the extremes and rapid changes we are now seeing are not normal, therefore not natural, being caused in most instances by humans and their polluting ways.
DeleteA man was taking his mother to hospital A&E and, because of those protesters, she suffered a stroke with life changing consequences …. The doctor said that if he had got her there quickly she would have been OK.
ReplyDeleteInsulation isn’t good in old houses …. They were not built for it and suffer condensation and other things. XXXX
We have hardly any insulation here, but at the barn, it's stuffed with it. I did hear about the man's mother; awful.
DeleteWhile I believe in the democratic right to "protest" - this doesn't mean that blocking roads, damaging public property, leaving a mess behind and marching (or sitting) is the only way to do go about protesting.
ReplyDeleteI believe we have to do better in protecting the environment - but I've been taught this since I was a child (many, many years ago) and would never dream of littering, don't buy "fast fashion" - follow the 3 R's etc. etc. I would respect and support these groups more if I saw them doing something positive.
Teach people how to follow the 3 R's
Organize cleanup campaigns - both city & rural areas
Run a writing or boycott campaign
Run candidates at all levels of Govt.
Lead by example - the joke here happened back in Fall of 2019 when all the schools emptied for the day so students could protest at the provincial legislature - and what happened? Tons of garbage left behind - fast food shops emptied (sold out of food) - disruptions to public transit - all from people wearing the latest "fast fashion" - carrying plastic bottles of water - all with the latest tech (supporting companies who use almost slave labour & using up rare earth metals & supporting totalitarian regimes) and leaving behind disposable coffee cups.
Hardly a way to win supporters!
The Media all around the world have to do better job of telling the truth about some of these groups and need to support those making positive changes. I think it's also important to tell people the truth about energy consumption and what it would mean to do away with all fossil fuels - what people would have to give up on a personal level - and who the worst offenders are (China). I attended a lecture where it was pointed out that - even if Canada reached all its current goals - the overall effect on the planet would be a drop in the bucket! Two books that people might like to read for some very interesting facts:
How Bad are Bananas and The Day the World Stops Shopping - both are eye openers.
My daughter (in Australia) is a member of the 'Ocean Crusaders' organisation. They go out on boats and clean-up rubbish. She was recently on Mud Island and cleared 580Kgs of rubbish. She doesn't protest, or glue herself to roads; just gets on with the job in silence.
DeleteTHAT is the type of "activist" I respect and would happily listen to!
DeleteMaybe there should be an open space (call it protest park) somewhere for peaceful protesters to gather and have their say. Closing down roads for the sake of protest does more harm than good. How police should be utilized is another good topic.
ReplyDeleteI totally agree. Hyde Park, or even Hyde Park Corner. Why not?
DeleteI believe in protest. However, violent or disruptive protests are simply riots. Rioting does not further any cause. It simply muddies the water and give opponents ammunition to discredit that cause.
ReplyDeleteThis what Priti Patel was trying to stop; of course all the Labour Party people claimed she was trying to stop people from protesting. Nonsense.
Delete