Not Very Brave December 10, 2008
Posted by CamdenKiwi in : Environment,Politics , trackbackIf I’d been born 100 years ago, would I have been a suffragette? Not if I’d been born in NZ, of course – women there had been voting for ten years by 1908. Even if I’d been in the UK, would I have been brave enough to be arrested? I don’t know. I’d like to think so, but somehow I doubt it.
I admire and am very grateful to those women who opened so many doors for us. They had the courage of their convictions, they stood up for themselves and their more nervous sisters, and the world is a better place for their action.
Reading reports of Plane Stupid’s activities at Stansted this week, bringing the airport to a halt to make an important point in a strong but non-violent way, I am equally full of gratitude and admiration. If we’re going to do anything about global warming it will be because of people like this, prepared to go to the edge, push harder than the rest of us at home with our nice low-wattage light bulbs. People protesting at the edge open up space for the rest of us, creating the sense of public urgency so lacking in the global warming debate.
I am quite scared of being arrested. Cowards like me could at least send them a donation – they’ll be needing help with the legal fees.
Comments»
Oh dear. Plane Stupid’s commitment makes me feel guilty about a planned flight to the U.K. in 2009. Is the responsibility is shared if someone else has paid for the flight? I like to think my regular pledge to the Green Party offsets some of my carbon usage.