“Just Stop Oil” Protest – let them get on with it….open the bridge

Well, we are fortunate that we live in a country where you are able to protest and make your point, just as long as it is not unlawful. Freedom of Speech is something we are rightly proud to promote and endorse in the UK.

I am mindful though, that disruptive protesting no matter where it takes place, is not really that beneficial, especially as the UK people and government understand the issues and are moving towards change, albeit slowly.

Wouldn’t the Environmentalist be better employed protesting in countries that don’t have the same desire as the Western Europeans to embark on saving the planet, e.g., China, India, Russia or even the USA, that message would make a more admirable headline.

I would love to see a UK protestor trying to disrupt traffic in China, however the authorities would no doubt, move swiftly, and I am not sure we would see the protestors again, or at least not for quite a while.

What I find quite extraordinary is that the ‘Just Stop Oil’ Protestors on the Dartford Crossing and others like them are undermining their message by antagonising the millions attempting to go about their daily lives.

They are not endearing themselves to the general public and rather than girder their support are only achieving negative publicity for their worthy cause.

Let’s be clear these two protestors have under their own free will, chosen to embark on what is obviously a difficult and dangerous climb. Their choice; no coercion, their free will.

The consequences of something going wrong do not require a H&S Risk Assessment, but no doubt the protestors are aware of the consequences of their actions.

What beggars believe, is that they won’t come down unless forced to. This would clearly involve others, more likely emergency services, not by their own choice risking their lives in trying to move them on.

I am at a loss as to why the bridge has been closed. Traffic should continue and everyone go about their daily routines.

In the event one of the protestors falls, he won’t be killed by the passing traffic that is for certain.

So why close the bridge, are we concerned as to the trauma of the driver and any passengers in the vehicle who may unfortunately run over the dead protestor. I would have thought that the vast majority of commuters already disrupted would be queuing up to be the first to drive on the bridge and sod the consequences.

The likelihood of the falling protestor being hit by traffic is minimal in RA terms and to those affected would at best be none or at worst limited to 2 or 3, therefore, Risk Assessment done, affect on joe public negligible, move on.

While those pure snowflakes worried about any unfortunate outcome can choose to go by an alternative route so as to not end up with PTSD or some other disorder brought on by their involvement in the highly unlikely tragic circumstances.

So I summarise, stop mollycoddling, get the traffic moving by opening the bridge and just let the protestors ‘get on with it’, they will be down soon enough, once they run out of water or food or both or it pours with rain and then freezes.

They were smart enough to undertake something that 99% of the world wouldn’t or couldn’t do, so I am sure they can make their own choice when to come down, that’s the thing about living in a free society…you have the choice.