Sir, – Una Mullally, in a jingoistic paean to activism, doesn’t quite argue that the ends justify the means, but appears to believe the end sanctifies all acts (“At least the activists ‘desecrating’ art works are doing something. What are you doing?”, Opinion & Analysis, October 31st). She even claims that those who are not engaged in activism should not have a right to criticise activists’ actions: “I don’t see how anyone given to policing or criticising a form of protest thinks they’re in any position to do so if they themselves aren’t putting their bodies on the line, aren’t willing to get arrested, or aren’t committed to a cause.”
This is an absurd barrier to accepting criticism and may explain the blindness to the obvious truth that people can have laudable ideals and goals and still have terrible ideas about how to go about achieving those goals.
Activism has a proud history and has done much to alleviate suffering and promote justice. But activists need to be keenly aware that their actions can also do harm. Plenty of people on both the left and right engage in destructive actions and if they were simply to stop and do nothing instead we would be better off. Activists as much as profiteering capitalists spread misinformation, and were they to stop propagandising we would be better off. Most of the time it is better to do nothing than to do harm.
Take the example of nuclear power. Activists have been very effective in stopping its use as a short- to medium-term solution to energy needs. Perhaps they are right to do so. Or perhaps in blocking nuclear power they have contributed to the growing geopolitical instability and looming energy crisis, and unnecessarily and dangerously prolonged the world’s dependence on fossil fuels.
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Activists have power and influence and need to be mindful of their responsibilities. They have an important role to play in helping humanity avert climate change, but just like everyone else who is working to avert climate change, they will need to exercise skill and good judgment to successfully navigate the way. Paving a path to climate catastrophe with good intentions is not good enough. – Yours, etc,
COLIN WALSH,
Templeogue,
Dublin 6W.