Do Just Stop Oil protests make any sense?

THE Government needs to take a harder line against climate change protesters who block roads and bridges, picket fuel depots and glue themselves to motorways. Environmental fantasists who imagine we can end oil use tomorrow are sadly deluded. A great percentage of the world’s trade is moved with diesel, so please wake up. It will take decades to end oil use.

LEONARD GANT, Loughborough, Leics. ISN’T the link between oil paintings and the oil industry somewhat tenuous? Perhaps those in the glue-yourself-toanything brigade need to broaden their general understanding if they want to be taken seriously.

MARTIN HAVARD, Chulmleigh, Devon.

DON’T the Just Stop Oil protesters at the National Gallery realise every piece of machinery needs oil, or a derivate, for lubrication? And that most plastic items, from kitchen bowls to fridge-freezer linings, are made from oil?

MICHAEL J. LOCKE, Gillingham, Kent. JUST Stop Oil, Insulate Britain and Extinction Rebellion seem to think that by annoying the general public they further their cause. Just Stop Oil sounds like a simple remedy for the climate problem. But if that objective were achieved, we would be back in Victorian times. About 6,000 everyday items we use are derived from petroleum, including mobile phones. In an oil-free world there would be no TVs, laptops, aeroplanes nor ships. Insulate Britain says achieving its goal would save lives and everyone would be cosy. But thousands of houses are unsuitable for insulation — and where is the workforce to accomplish this gigantic task? Insulation keeps heat in, but the heat has to be supplied first, which would mean another huge workforce to supply and fit heat pumps, at enormous cost.