Fuel Protest

There was an interview with a Human Rights professor at NUIG yesterday about the rights and wrongs of these protests (on RTE Drivetime)

I thought this will be interesting and will give us some kind of 'moral framework' around these protests.

I was disappointed. He was specifically asked "is there a hierarchy of rights" here? But, the answer was exactly what I'd expect to hear from the protesters themselves. ie. "we don't like doing this" but "protests have to cause disruption".

There was zero engagement with the question of whether the amount of disruption was justified. He then compared with Gaza protests, and Shell 2 Sea etc, completely missing the rather more limited effect of disruption caused by those protests. Extraordinary stuff. The message seemed to be "might makes right". They "become a problem for the government" etc. Though he did in the end, concede that a more forceful intervention from the state is likely in cases like this.

https://www.rte.ie/radio/radio1/clips/22599870/

You don't think it will just be Transport Corps out with wreckers/recovery/low-loaders playing the part of a tow company?

Im sure there will be uproar in the media about this. Fascist dictator Government sending in the troops to stop Peaceful Protesters.

Where have we heard that before eh ?

Except in this case the protesters are actually peaceful and not setting cities on fire, looting, robbing and creating mayhem.

So say we all.

The right to protest is important, and there is a genuine grievance, no doubt.

What's different here is the lack of any restraint by the protesters.

Traditionally disputes would be properly organized, including with advance notice, they would be controlled- for instance, they might cause mass disruption for one day, then pause and say, it will be two days next week, and pause, and then do 3 days the week after etc. There would be a legitimate union or association with appointed leaders in situ, who have channels into government and credibility to negotiate. There would also be a level of PR, call it reading the room, call it knowing when to press and when to relax in order to achieve an outcome while building support across the public.

Instead it's wildcat action organised on social media with no control, strategy or exit point.

This will probably escalate and only end after some personal tragedy arising from its impact means it can no longer continue.

I am surprised Irish people can actually protest. I thought we were complete sheep. I'd like to see Excuse duties reduced considerably more. Diesel prices insane.

I suppose I admire the protesters but I would like to see it resolved soon. The FFG leaders are as slow as usual to react. The protesters don't seem to have a main spokesperson.

The army should not be involved. Stupid move.

What gets me about these protests is the narrative that anyone living in the greater Dublin area is some kind of elite and everyone in rural Ireland is a hard done by salt of the earth type, so it's okay to disrupt everyone who works in Dublin city centre.

I don't understand it. Most people living in the greater Dublin area have much higher mortgage/rent costs than rural people and live in smaller houses with less land. There are loads of Mc mansions in the country that dwarf houses in the suburbs. We will be affected by inflation arising from this just as much as rural people.

I support supports for certain industries at this time but the way the protestors are going about it and the poor mouth narrative that everyone else is some privileged elite is rubbing me the wrong way.