JUSTICE SEEN TO BE DONE

How joyous to be able to write the above title in the knowledge that for once it has been seen to be done! Those responsible for holding up the traffic on the M25 in November 2022 have been held to account for their selfish action.  You cannot see the smile that permeates my face as I place digit upon keyboard.  Forget Christmas and birthday presents, this is one I will savour long after the metaphorical wrapping is discarded, for these contents fall into the category of the 'veritable present that keeps on giving' - well for a few years anyway.

Five protesters - Roger Hallam, 58, from Wales (There's lovely), Danial Shaw, 38, from nondescript Northampton,  Louise Lancaster, 58, from leftist Cambridge, Lucia Whittaker De Abreu, 35, from Derby, whose name sounds more 'Chelsea' than one originating from northern climes, and Cressida Gethin, 22, from Hereford,  whose name indicates she may well have one foot in Kensington and another in Cardiff, were all sentenced to four years imprisonment with the exception of Mr. Hallam who received an additional year.  Still not long enough in my book - see previous post entitled 'Just Stop Oil - Another Name For  Misguided Inadequates' and dated 25th June 2024 for  previous comments and thoughts.  The Hallam chap is co-founder of both  Just Stop Oil and Extinction Rebellion.  The 'Gang of Five's' combined efforts cost the economy at least £765,000 prosecutors alleged in court, while the Metropolitan Police Force's costs were in excess of £1.1 million.  What a waste of public money and police time.  I doubt very much if any of the five deranged fanatics will see the common-sense light while doing porridge, but I hope they might reflect on the misery they caused to others and the pointlessness of their actions, other than to get their names in print and their obligatory fifteen minutes of fame.  

It didn't go unnoticed that The Guardian's headline ran with its typical namby-pamby offering:  'Just Stop Oil jail terms raise questions over harsh treatment of protesters'.  The article is written by one Haroon Siddigue. the paper's Legal affairs correspondent.  I rarely come across a traditional English name when reading an article in this newspaper.  It would be interesting to know what percentage of the editorial and journalist team are actually of true English heritage?  But then, it is not a newspaper known for standing back and looking at the bigger picture.  Below the heading are two sub-statements.  The first reads: 'Lengthy prison sentences seen by many as heavy-handed and prompt comparisons with other offences. The second advises that it is:  '"Not acceptable in any democracy"': UN expert condemns lengthy Just Stop Oil sentences.  

With regard to the first comment, it would be interesting to know just how many saw the sentences as 'heavy-handed', and were those, whose opinions the paper sought, friends or relatives of Guardian employees, or did they enquire outside of their opinion-closeted bubble and seek the thoughts of real people?  I doubt if it was the latter.  Not one person I have spoken to has considered the sentences as being 'harsh'.  Many feel that at best they should have been forcefully removed at the start of their shenanigans, and most felt that being run over would have eased the tailbacks within minutes and sent a message to their fellow morons that we, the British tax-paying public, will not put up with the work-shy dictating their views in such a destructive way without consequences.  I repeat that I agree with the protesters in regards to their concerns and where big business and governments across the globe are letting us down, but they will never get the public behind them with these acts of crass stupidity.

On to point two, what in the name of 'Outside Interference' gives a UN 'expert' the right to pontificate and comment on a situation that does not concern him or his dubious organisation?  Was he in the traffic queuing for hours while the police looked on?  Can't imagine so for one minute!  They would be more highly regarded if they concentrated on protesting against  the destruction of natural resources and the removal of native tribes by development corporations across the world that are causing ongoing damage to our planet.  

What you do know, is that if The Guardian  and all who sail in her feel aggrieved, outraged, disgusted, or any other form of anger or irritation at what they consider an injustice, it is extremely likely that the public at large will reckon that justice has been meted out to the offending cretins - a rarity in these times of rights without responsibility.