A Tayside man involved in London protests with Just Stop Oil has defended these actions as “absolutely necessary”.
Former deputy head teacher and climate activist Adrian Johnson was arrested in connection with the recent London protests.
He has since been knocking on doors around Perthshire to discuss the controversial group’s aims, and other groups like them.
He acknowledges many view such direct action protests negatively.
But he wants to explain his climate activism to locals.
“What we do is serious and we do it because it’s a serious issue,” he said.
“We feel it is absolutely necessary at this point in history.”
Direct action is happening because the ‘usual methods’ don’t work
This direct action is a last resort for those with concerns over the fate of the planet.
Experts believe we are nearing climate change “tipping points”.
The UN secretary general said “at the present level, we will be doomed. Present policies will be absolutely catastrophic.”
Adrian shares the same concerns and wants to see change now.
He said: “We have tried all of the usual methods, like writing to MPs, meeting with MPs, petitions [and] marches.
“I can see that in spite of all these things, it’s not going to have the necessary effect in time to make the difference that we need to make.”
Adrian admitted that some turn off when he mentions the activism groups he is involved with.
The Van Gogh was protected by glass, [and] these groups have a blue light policy to always let emergency vehicles through.”
Adrian Johnson, activist involved with Just Stop Oil, Extinction Rebellion and Christian Climate Action
“Whilst some people I meet are fully supportive, I’ve had others close down conversations – effectively shutting the door in my face – when I mention Extinction Rebellion, Just Stop Oil and Christian Climate Action.”
“I do get it – what protestors are doing is pretty serious.”
But people become “more receptive” when Adrian has the opportunity to explain that the “Van Gogh [recently vandalised with soup ] was protected by glass, [and] protestors [blocking roads] have a blue light policy to always let emergency vehicles through.”
“Basically, I tell them that none of us want to be doing any of this, but we have tried everything else and, so far, none of the usual methods have worked.”
Perthshire people agree climate change is a “really serious” issue
From these doorstep surveys in Butterstone, Spittalfield and Forneth, Adrian has learned many share his climate change concerns.
“As you might expect, mostly people say that it’s really serious,” he said.
“The main thing about doing these door-to-door conversations is for people to have the opportunity to talk to me and articulate their thoughts.”
“People will either ‘get it’ and be fully supportive or they will be quite unsupportive.
“But if they want to engage with us and suggest ideas of what we should – or shouldn’t – be doing, then that would be amazing,” he said.
“That provokes really interesting conversations.”
‘We’re open to ideas and advice’
There will be a climate action meeting this Saturday November 19 in the Butterstone Village Hall at 10.30am.
Adrian says this is an opportunity for everyone to join the climate conversation.
He said: “I started to see it would be really helpful for folk to actually meet some of our Scottish climate protestors.
“We are ready to listen and we hope that others would be willing to listen.”
Conversation