Extreme weather failing to encourage political climate action, says activist Luisa Neubauer
Extreme weather failing to encourage political climate action, says activist Luisa Neubauer
Fridays for Future organiser warns conspiracy theories are increasingly taking hold despite effects of global heating
Like many, I did buy into the idea that big catastrophes would do something to politics,” said Luisa Neubauer from Fridays for Future Germany. “I bought into that – and I’m glad about it – because I was naively believing there was a democratic responsibility that would live through coalition changes and climate changes.”
The 28-year-old activist, who spent three months in the US before the presidential election, said she had been shocked to see the destruction from Hurricane Helene “play into the cards of those denying climate disasters”.
Far-right influencers and conspiracy theorists used the wildfires that ravaged California this month to attack efforts to stop the planet from heating. Similar disinformation was seen in Spain after deadly floods struck Valencia in October.
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We knew that would be the case. It'll be try in 50 years.
Reality isn't convincing. Repeated messaging and indoctrination is convincing, partly because it determines how you perceive reality.
A stable paycheck to believe otherwise is the most convincing. "I would do something, but I can't risk losing my job" is the most common excuse for allowing tyranny.
allowing tyranny
Tyranny isn't "allowed" by those who suffer under it. That's a really terrible thing to say.
Those who choose the paycheck to comply with it vs suffering under it are the ones who allow it. "I only worked with the fascists so I would survive" is what a fascist is.
Those who choose the paycheck to comply with it vs suffering under it are the ones who allow it.
I don't understand this sentence.
"I only worked with the fascists so I would survive" is what a fascist is.
That's not what a fascist is.
"I was just following orders." Those who's comforts are maintained by tyranny, and don't want to lose the comfort provided by tyranny to stand up against it, are directly enabling tyranny. Tyrants wouldn't last if not for the complacent "enlightened" centrist who thinks the balanced and sensible perspective is to "Keep Calm and Carry On." "At least they're not going after me!" says those who's loyalty has been bought by tyrants out of fear. The same kind of people who think the ones who fight tyrants are "terrorists."
I'm glad you haven't used the word "allow".
loyalty has been bought by tyrants out of fear
Paralysis due to fear does not imply loyalty.
"First they came for the Communists And I did not speak out Because I was not a Communist Then they came for the Socialists And I did not speak out Because I was not a Socialist Then they came for the trade unionists And I did not speak out Because I was not a trade unionist Then they came for the Jews And I did not speak out Because I was not a Jew Then they came for me And there was no one left To speak out for me"
- Pastor Martin Niemöller - Initially an antisemitic Nazi supporter, his views changed when he was imprisoned in a concentration camp for speaking out against Nazi control of churches.
LOL that doesn't contract anything I said.
The guy who wrote that poem was the aforementioned complacent majority who was comfortable with fascism till it was his turn. It will be your turn soon.
I'm glad we agree that your comment didn't contradict what I said.
Tyranny is absolutely allowed by the "moderates" who don't consider themselves aligned with the tyrants but also don't actively work to resist them. Go read "Letter From a Birmingham Jail" if you need an explanation.
the "moderates"
I don't know what you're referring to with this new term you've introduced.
the "moderates"
I don't know what you're referring to with this new term you've introduced.
What part of
Go read "Letter From a Birmingham Jail" if you need an explanation.
did you not understand?
Here's the link; go read it: https://www.africa.upenn.edu/Articles_Gen/Letter_Birmingham.html
...and if you won't do that, fine, I'll spoon-feed you the relevant quote:
We should never forget that everything Adolf Hitler did in Germany was "legal" and everything the Hungarian freedom fighters did in Hungary was "illegal." It was "illegal" to aid and comfort a Jew in Hitler's Germany. Even so, I am sure that, had I lived in Germany at the time, I would have aided and comforted my Jewish brothers. If today I lived in a Communist country where certain principles dear to the Christian faith are suppressed, I would openly advocate disobeying that country's antireligious laws.
I must make two honest confessions to you, my Christian and Jewish brothers. First, I must confess that over the past few years I have been gravely disappointed with the white moderate. I have almost reached the regrettable conclusion that the Negro's great stumbling block in his stride toward freedom is not the White Citizen's Counciler or the Ku Klux Klanner, but the white moderate, who is more devoted to "order" than to justice; who prefers a negative peace which is the absence of tension to a positive peace which is the presence of justice; who constantly says: "I agree with you in the goal you seek, but I cannot agree with your methods of direct action"; who paternalistically believes he can set the timetable for another man's freedom; who lives by a mythical concept of time and who constantly advises the Negro to wait for a "more convenient season." Shallow understanding from people of good will is more frustrating than absolute misunderstanding from people of ill will. Lukewarm acceptance is much more bewildering than outright rejection.
I don't understand why you're telling me this. I said that tyranny isn't "allowed" by those who suffer under it. Nothing you've said contradicts what I said.
Do you really think the Venn diagram of "those who suffer under it" and "moderates who comply with the regime" has zero overlap?
"those who suffer under it" and "moderates who comply with the regime"
I haven't commented on "moderates".