Tuesday, an opposition member of parliament referred to climate campaigners as “reckless idiots” after they halted traffic for hours to protest for a better rail network.
Police had to stop the southbound lane of State Highway 1 in Wellington, New Zealand’s capital, when demonstrators scaled a gantry, resulting in a heated morning television confrontation.
Simeon Brown, a member of the National Party, stated that the protesters impeded “thousands of commuters trying to get to work, trying to go about their daily lives, attempting to make a job and pay their bills, and they’re delayed in traffic.”
‘The reality is that emissions would have increased in Wellington… because all those cars would have been trapped in gridlock spewing more and more gas, so this is just reckless fools and it sets back their cause significantly,’ he told channel 3.
John Minto, a climate activist, responded to Mr. Brown by stating, “The irresponsible idiots are those who ignore what is occurring with the climate.”
Climate action demonstrators (pictured) caused hours of traffic mayhem in Wellington, the New Zealand capital.
Restore Passenger Rail was printed on a giant banner hung by the protesters.
The same-named climate action group is urging the New Zealand government restore passenger rail to its level in 2000 by restoring freight-only routes and opening new lines.
Mr. Minto told Ryan Bridge, host of the AM show, that the demonstrators were bringing attention to a critical subject.
“When you consider the magnitude of the threat posed by climate change. He replied, “I tip my hat to these young folks.”
In actuality, New Zealand and the rest of the globe are not taking this issue seriously enough, and we need these wake-up calls every once in a while, so kudos to them for bringing it to our attention.
Mr. Minto also criticized Mr. Brown, indicating that he was more concerned with playing politics than helping those caught in traffic.
“Simeon Brown is concerned with the election next year, but (the demonstrators), myself, and many other New Zealanders are concerned with the world in 30, 50, and 100 years.”
“We are confronting an existential crisis; either capitalism or the planet will survive.” He stated that we cannot have both options.
As the conversation heated up, however, the representative immediately responded by accusing Mr. Minto of being an expert in “disrupting and protesting.”
I’ve lost track of the number of times he’s been arrested, but he specializes in this type of conduct. He stated that the majority of New Zealanders are law-abiding.
“We care about the environment and we care about resolving these concerns, but there is a right method to… It does not need illegally stopping on a highway.’
On the show presented by Ryan Bridge, politician Simeon Brown (left) and climate activist John Minto (right) engaged in a heated dispute (centre)
Mr. Minto maintained a strong emphasis on what he perceives as the failure of politics.
This issue cannot be left in the hands of politicians who think in three-year cycles. We must begin to consider 30, 50, and 100-year periods,’ he said.
Mr. Brown returned the discussion to the activists. If the protest had prevented an ambulance from passing, however, someone could have perished.
Mr. Minto asserted that this was not the case, but neither the National MP nor the AM host appeared persuaded.
Mr. Brown stated, “The interruption may have caused someone to lose their life, and this is the reality.”
Three people were arrested following the protest, but no charges will be filed, according to police in Wellington.
They have instead been sent to “an alternate resolution process.”