We ignore climate change at our peril
■ COMING from a buffoon like Boris Johnson, I guess Extinction Rebellion protesters can live with being branded as “uncompromising crusties”. This is pathetic from a Prime Minister who cosies up to the likes of Trump, who denies climate change is happening.
But Trump is on his way out and other populists in Italy and Brazil are being found out for what they are – dangerous demagogues who demonise decency and debase debate. People who are fighting to save the planet are worth 10 times those who just pander to ignorance and their own worthless vanity. Colin Rossini, Dovercourt, Essex
■ Extinction Rebellion’s attempts to draw attention to the looming disaster if we don’t take immediate action to address climate change, while highly laudable, are doomed to fail. Their programme of disruption is becoming more militant which will eventually alienate support. More significantly, their protests won’t make our politicians give ground and change their policies to accommodate them because they are thick-skinned and intransigent.
Michael Smith Chatham, Kent
■ Donald Trump, Boris Johnson, Jeremy Clarkson et al are merely a few of the big mouths who throw obscenities at just about anyone who cares about the planet. But all of them have failed miserably to intimidate a small, defenceless teenage girl who had the courage to stand before the world’s leaders and tell them to respect the planet for future generations. Greta Thunberg is not only speaking common sense and trying to educate everyone about saving the planet, she has got up their noses and rattled their cages too. Reg Barrett, Southminster, Essex
■ My heartfelt good wishes go out to the Extinction Rebellion protesters in London and other places around the world. After all, the climate crisis affects each and everyone of us, especially our children and grandchildren. We should give credit to the brave people who are risking arrest for the future of the planet.
Derek Ray, North London ■ Please can anyone tell me how it is that there are never enough police officers around to patrol our streets or to prevent knife crime in our cities and yet hundreds of them magically appear to arrest climate change protesters, who are, after all, only trying to save the planet?
In a recent TV news bulletin, I noticed six police officers carrying away one protester. Could it be that disrupting business is seen as more important than the lives of teenagers and ordinary members of the public? Pete Perry, Stevenage, Herts
■ Do the protesters never learn that clogging up Central London will do nothing to solve climate change?
By keeping traffic idling they are not only adding to the problem, but are blocking roads affecting how our emergency services can react, potentially putting lives at risk. Britain’s climate record is good, so if this selfish group wants to make a difference then take their protests to India or China who are more culpable. Harry Miller, New Addington Greater London
■ Should Extinction Rebellion fail to stop catastrophic climate change, the only consolation will be that the miserable fools complaining about the ‘inconvenience’ caused by protests will burn with the rest of us. Sasha Simic, North London
No. If we’re on public transport we’re more likely to be walking further and if we’re commuting what else are we supposed to do? GLEN MOUNTFORT No. How would they enforce this? People ignore the alcohol ban on the London Underground. ALISTAIR REAY No, Unbelievable! What if that travel time is all you have before or after work? Getting breaks at work is hard enough. No. Soon we won’t be able to breathe if the ‘experts’ have their way. YORKY COFFEEALI Yes. Definitely a good idea. The food smells, they leave their rubbish – and it makes me hungry! JULIE DE-VERE Yes. I’d support this move if it reduces the rubbish people leave on the floor. GAVIN GREEN