Breaking: Just Stop Oil Coalition blocks 10 critical oil facilities to demand an end to new oil and gas

“If governments are serious about the climate crisis, there can be no new investments in oil, gas and coal, from now – from this year.”  

Fatih Birol, Executive Director of the International Energy Agency [1]

Early this morning hundreds of supporters of the Just Stop Oil coalition blocked ten critical oil terminals near London, Birmingham and Southampton to demand that the UK government stops new oil and gas projects in the UK. [2]

The actions are being carried out by supporters of Just Stop Oil and Extinction Rebellion.[3]

Scores of people sat in the road to block oil tankers from leaving each site, while others climbed on top of oil tankers, including over 30 young people at the Navigator Oil Terminal in Thurrock.

The Just Stop Oil coalition is demanding an end to the government’s genocidal policy of expanding UK oil and gas production and is calling on all those outraged at the prospect of climate collapse and suffering from the cost of living crisis to stand with us. Ordinary people can no longer afford oil and gas, it’s time to Just Stop Oil. It’s funding war and killing people in the global south, while destroying the future for young people everywhere. 

Louis McKecknie, 21 from Weymouth said:

I don’t want to be doing this but our genocidal government gives me no choice. They know that oil is funding Putin’s war and pushing millions of people into fuel poverty while energy companies reap billions in profits. They know that to allow more oil and gas extraction in the UK is suicidal and will accelerate global heating. It means millions dying of heat stress, losing their homes or having to fight for food. This is the future for my generation, I stop when oil stops.”

Louise Harris 22, from Luton said

“When people ask me why I’m taking action, I always think the better question is ‘Why aren’t you taking action?’. Many choose not to take part in civil resistance because they would be sacrificing things – their job, career, family. I’m a singer-songwriter with dreams for the future, but I’m devoting my time and energy now to stopping this genocidal government so that my dreams even stand a chance. It is not a sacrifice to take action – the sacrifice is what happens when you don’t: the sacrifice is your life, your future, and those of everyone on this planet.”

Jack Johnson, 23 from London said

“The government has no democratic mandate to expand oil production which they know will make the planet uninhabitable. There is no climate change pass. We all face a choice – stand by and do nothing while the government destroys your future or take action. Nonviolent civil resistance works. It’s our best hope of forcing the government to take responsibility. Now is the time for action, thousands of us are taking to the streets. We will go home when the government makes a meaningful statement to end new fossil fuel production in the UK.”

The action comes amid a series of cascading crises, the war in Ukraine, the cost of living crisis and news that climate breakdown is happening much faster than expected. However, while these events should prompt an emergency response to reduce UK dependence on oil and gas, the government is doubling down on drilling for new oil and gas. [4]

Right now ordinary people are being made to pay, while the government wastes £230m a week subsidising the oil industry and energy companies make huge profits. There must be no more increases in fuel or heating costs. Fossil fuel companies and the richest must pay.[5]

The cost of living crisis is not going to end, but we can insulate ourselves from higher fuel prices by getting off oil and gas. No new oil, reduce demand and invest in renewables.

The Just Stop Oil Coalition is calling on all of those whose futures are being destroyed, who are facing poverty and who are outraged at the prospect of continuing our dependence on fossil fuels to stand up and take action. It’s 2022 and the time to stand by has passed.

ENDS

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High quality photos and video footage available here: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1Dgcuv5vJjzfdSrdpX6HJEaayoidc08xy?usp=sharing

Website: https://juststopoil.org/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JustStopOil/

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Twitter: https://twitter.com/juststop_oil

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-t4U1Azf8AOkCBJILSNBmw

Notes to Editors

[1] Quoted in the Guardian on the release of the International Energy Agency, May 2021- Net Zero by 2050: a Roadmap for the Global Energy Sector

[2] Locations

Just Stop Oil

  • Inter Terminals UK Ltd, London Rd, Grays RM17 6YU
  • Navigator terminals Thames, Oliver Rd, West Thurrock, Grays, RM20 3ED
  • Buncefield Oil Depot, Hemel Hempstead HP2 7HZ
  • Esso Petroleum Co Ltd, Wood Lane, Birmingham B24 8DN
  • Purfleet Fuels Terminal, London Rd, Purfleet RM19 1RS
  • Kingsbury Oil Terminal, Tamworth, B78 2HA
  • BP Oil Depot, Kingsbury, Tamworth B78 2EF

Extinction Rebellion

  • Esso West Terminal near Heathrow Airport 
  • Hamble Terminals in Southampton.
  • Hythe Terminal, Fawley 

[3] About Just Stop Oil

Just Stop Oil is a coalition of groups working together to demand that the government immediately halt all future licensing and consents for the exploration, development and production of fossil fuels in the UK.

We must urgently end our reliance on fossil fuels to avoid irreversible changes in the earth’s climate system. We cannot continue to burn fossil fuels in the belief that future developments in carbon capture and storage and other so-called “unicorn technologies” will allow us to suck vast quantities of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. 

The UK must begin this process immediately. It starts by calling a halt to any further fossil fuel projects on the UK Continental Shelf. That would give us eight years of fossil fuel production left in which to rapidly transition to a zero carbon economy.

Everyone knows we have to engage in massive changes. Just Stop Oil is a coalition of groups demanding the no-brainer things be done immediately – actions that will reduce the demand for fossil fuel energy dramatically such as insulating our homes, rethinking how we travel, getting on with renewable energy and making sure no-one is left behind. 

We either come together as humanity or we die. Youth know which they choose. They have already chosen. They are in the streets to demand a future. We are all in the streets to make sure they get it. It’s as basic as that.

Further information about Just Stop Oil and our demands here: https://www.juststopoil.org

[4] https://www.express.co.uk/news/science/1588597/nicola-sturgeon-cambo-oil-field-license-extended-russia-energy-gas-oil-north-sea


[5] https://neweconomics.org/uploads/files/FFS_NEFCW-Final.pdf