Six of the climate change activists, found guilty of organising a massive blockade of the M25 (London's ring road), have had their sentences reduced by the Court of Appeal. These modest reductions, however, have still left the six (including a co-founder of 'Just Stop Oil') with long prison sentences. It seems odd that protests against climate change, now receive more draconian punishments than rioters and serious criminals. There's constant talk, in the right-wing media, of the need for 'freedom of speech'. The same folk applaud, however, certain forms of public protest, on particular issues, attracting severe sentences (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cm2jvmrvydro). Only a few hardy souls appear to be prepared to go to prison, for their beliefs that there's a climate emergency and that governments (with the connivance of vested interests) are doing too little about it. Predictably, some activists are now turning to sabotage rather than risk protesting (https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/mar/08/a-new-phase-why-climate-activists-are-turning-to-sabotage-instead-of-protest). This can't end well. One might think there would be a way of letting people peacefully protest about issues they believe are life-challenging. The trouble is, the prevailing media make it very difficult (impossible?) for folk to argue certain positions. Objectors are consequently tempted to do wilder things to attract any attention. Bigger penalties may simply push them into more extreme ways of operating. War?
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