Newbury Community Forum

General Boards => Got something to say? => Topic started by: Number 6 on February 15, 2019, 08:12:04 pm

Title: School Pupils turned in political 'weapons' ?
Post by: Number 6 on February 15, 2019, 08:12:04 pm
This to me seems very a distasteful use of young people by politically motivated groups seeking to 'weaponize'  our youngsters for their own ends. What do others think ?


https://www.newburytoday.co.uk/news/home/26634/newbury-school-pupils-stage-climate-protest.html
Title: Re: School Pupils turned in political 'weapons' ?
Post by: Old Goat on February 16, 2019, 09:24:47 am
Must admit my first thought was that the kids are simply emulating their 'betters', following the recent Head Teachers demo in central London. Mind, from my experience environmental issues are a big concern of youngsters.  Locally of course, the reinvigorated Green Party has realised has a ready made target in attacking the local lazy Lib.Dem / Conservative consensus on such issues.
Title: Re: School Pupils turned in political 'weapons' ?
Post by: Number 6 on February 16, 2019, 08:59:58 pm
The fact that this was a national protest took organisation and money which presumably came from an organisation or pressure group ? What may seem a 'proper' cause could in the future be seen as the thin edge of a wedge. Subverting people starts innocently at first and young minds are easily herded. To my way of thinking this should be investigated as having tasted success those behind it will not stop there.
Title: Re: School Pupils turned in political 'weapons' ?
Post by: Old Goat on February 20, 2019, 08:23:36 am
Wouldn't disagree - it's an old technique, been done before and will again.  Nonetheless, the faction concerned only gets much interest where there is a vacuum.  So, for me, putting myself in the shoes of an idealistic adolescent on the verge of leaving school my future looks pretty bleak. I get taught about environmental matters at school, look round at the filthy mess everywhere and see 'the Council' making it far worse buy removing bins, not cleaning streets.  Supermarkets doing nothing at all about double wrapping or plastic bottles. I've got a ready made campaign.  No, I'm not even going to listen  to the lying mainstream local politicians who can't even lead themselves.  Not a good time to be young, so the only thing I'm surprised about is the peaceful nature of the protest!  In my day, cobbles would have been lifted!
Title: Re: School Pupils turned in political 'weapons' ?
Post by: Number 6 on April 15, 2019, 06:44:42 pm
It looks like I was right about the intentions behind involving school children. Tomorrows anarchists being recruited today whilst officialdom stands idly by ? Our so called leaders are asleep at the wheel. Shameful.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-47935416
Title: Re: School Pupils turned in political 'weapons' ?
Post by: Old Goat on April 17, 2019, 12:34:57 pm
Difficult to disagree with that!

It's quite sad really, because a good few good causes get hi-hacked by hard line political activists who then can, in their eyes at least, legitimise their own dogmas. So Trendy Wendy, Dim Tim, Mes Muddlehead et.al. can bring a bit of colour to their lives.  Excaserbated by our national dearth of good and effective leaders and dare I say, by the sole political focus on Brexit.  I dread to think what else has 'slipped the net' because of this.  Summing up, our politicians have stopped listening.

Locally, we have a wonderful example of why these frustrations are exploding.  Our Chief Executive makes snide comments about West Berkshire people failing to give up their cars, then just a few months later his Council presides over significant reductions to public transport bus services. 

Reap what we sow, and I'd put money on the result of the upcoming elections, the old gang will be back, light or dark blue.
Title: Re: School Pupils turned in political 'weapons' ?
Post by: Number 6 on April 18, 2019, 09:51:58 am
Indeed and its clear from the article below that they are still on their happy pills . Should the Lb Dems or even Labour by any chance unseat them would either hold a full and public audit of what's taken place over the past several years of mismanagement ? No, I thought not. They would not want to queer the pitch for themselves in power would they ? A curse on them all.

https://www.newburytoday.co.uk/news/home/27083/conservative-party-launch-manifesto-ahead-of-local-elections.html
Title: Re: School Pupils turned in political 'weapons' ?
Post by: Number 6 on April 21, 2019, 10:36:23 pm
It is clear that this is now on an escalating trajectory. If allowed to continue it will not be pleasant. The powers that be need to wake up to the manipulation of our young people.


https://www.newburytoday.co.uk/news/news/27108/third-climate-protest-strikes-newbury.html
Title: Re: School Pupils turned in political 'weapons' ?
Post by: Old Goat on April 24, 2019, 07:53:24 pm
I suppose it would be rather too much to ask that these students demonstrated a little closer to home?  Perhaps outside the school gates trying to persuade parents to walk their kids to school, or say having a litter blitz bagging up the litter which is strewn about the vicinity, or demanding the elimination of the food waste coming from primary school 'free dinners' which kids can't stomach and so forth.  No, a nice jolly to London is so much nicer - almost an extra bank holiday.
Title: Re: School Pupils turned in political 'weapons' ?
Post by: Number 6 on May 25, 2019, 10:47:51 am
More evidence of the using of young minds for nefarious purposes ? I suspect that most of these young people spend an huge amount of their personal time glued to screens on the internet without the slightest thought about the carbon content involved globally in doing so ? They should drop the holier than thou stance and look at their own contributions first to global warming before preaching to others. Or maybe just concentrate on their education ?

https://www.newburytoday.co.uk/news/home/27391/this-is-democracy-schoolchildren-take-to-streets-over-climate-crisis.html
Title: Re: School Pupils turned in political 'weapons' ?
Post by: Number 6 on May 26, 2019, 08:57:51 pm
As someone with a beard and a duffel coat I now feel rather marginalised ;-)
Title: Re: School Pupils turned in political 'weapons' ?
Post by: Number 6 on June 13, 2019, 11:07:19 am
So the UK which produces a 1.1 % contribution to global warming emissions has radicalised it's school pupils whilst the real big players get on with destroying the planet ? If you are going to protest choose your polluters wisely !



https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-australia-48618774
Title: Re: School Pupils turned in political 'weapons' ?
Post by: Number 6 on June 18, 2019, 12:21:10 pm
Perhaps a greater concentration on maths and science whilst at school needed ? Greater threats to the planet short term are the risks to biodiversity and pollution of the seas, together with the fact that the planet is being stripped of resources at an increasing and faster rate than ever before? Well done Newbury Town Council for a totally meaningless gesture in the face of the profligacy of the worlds largest guilty parties.


https://www.newburytoday.co.uk/news/home/27560/newbury-town-council-declares-climate-emergency.html