Supporters of Just Stop Oil have disrupted oil supplies from oil terminals in Warwickshire, Hertfordshire and Essex, marking the tenth day of action in support of their demand that the UK government end new oil and gas projects in the UK.
Overnight, supporters of Just Stop Oil dug a tunnel under a key tanker route to the BP Kingsbury Terminal in Warwickshire. The tunnel was concealed by a modified caravan parked on the roadside and surrounded by Just Stop Oil supporters. Despite a number of police arrests, 5 people remain inside the caravan this morning working on the tunnel.
At around 2:30am today, and despite a heavy police presence, 40 people approached the gates of the Buncefield oil terminal in Hertfordshire and locked on, blocking the entrance. This was followed at 6:30am by a further action at the Grays Inter Terminal in Thurrock where around 40 young people swarmed into the facility, climbed the loading bay pipework and locked on.
It is expected that this morning’s actions will continue to significantly impact on fuel availability at petrol pumps across the South East and the Midlands.
So far during the 10 days of nonviolent disruptive action there have been over 800 arrests, with at least 80 more expected today. The supporters of Just Stop Oil will continue to block oil terminals until the government makes a statement that it will end new oil and gas projects in the UK.
Cat, 19 speaking from Grays Terminal this morning said
“I’m terrified and I hate heights but I’ve come here anyway because I’m more terrified of my future with fossil fuels. We need to ensure that the government gives out no new oil and gas licences. I will keep going until that happens. I’ve been strip searched and treated badly by police and it’s been a really traumatising experience at times, but I will keep going because I know that this is the only option.”
“I’m here in solidarity with the millions of people dying right now from the climate crisis, particularly in the global south and for the 6.5 million households who have been plunged into fuel poverty in this country while the oil companies make billions in profits and for all young people whose futures are being destroyed. We will not stand for it.”
Ben Webb, who was arrested outside Buncefield this morning said
“I’ve got two beautiful daughters, and because of the government’s inaction on the fossil fuel industry, they are going to experience unimaginable suffering and have an early death. That is why I’m here today. This government is sick, they don’t care about the future of our children, they just care about keeping the status quo, keeping the fossil fuel industry going, keeping the rich, rich and not caring about anybody else.”
Rev. Tim Hewes, 71 a retired priest from Wantage, who is with the tunnellers said:
“I’m here because our government is useless, they make a lot of noise but they are doing nothing. As a priest I have a duty of care for people, and also for creation. What I’m doing here, with everyone in this caravan, is what our government should be doing – that is trying to protect our families and our loved ones from the appalling future that stands before us. I hope we can continue what we’re doing and stop the flow of oil, if the government won’t.”
The Just Stop Oil Coalition is calling on all of those whose futures are being destroyed, who are facing poverty now, and who are outraged at yet another betrayal by this continuing dependence on oil and gas, to step up and take action. Join our daily zoom calls at 7pm. It’s 2022 and the time to stand by has passed.
ENDS
Press contact: 07762 987334
Email: [email protected]
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] Locations
- Kingsbury Oil Terminal, Tamworth, B78 2HA
- Buncefield Oil Depot, Hemel Hempstead HP2 7HZ
- Inter Terminals UK Ltd, London Rd, Grays RM17 6YU
[2] 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
