Press Release Thursday 2nd June
For immediate release
Today at just after 4.30pm, nine young supporters of the Just Stop Oil coalition [1] threw red paint over the Queen Elizabeth Building in Edinburgh, demanding the Government protects the ‘liveable planet’ and halts all new oil and gas licences and consents.
All nine are expected to be arrested for criminal damage. The action follows a rally attended by Stop Cambo, Extinction Rebellion and others calling for No New Oil and Gas, in response to the Business Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng approving Shell’s Jackdaw North Sea gas field yesterday [2].
Alex, a 24 year old PhD student from Glasgow studying hydrogen production as a green fuel said:
“Antonio Gutterres, the UN secretary-general stated that investing in fossil fuels is ‘moral and economic madness’, the International Energy Agency said last year that ‘if Governments are serious about climate there can be no new fossil fuels from today’. Commissioning new fossil fuel facilities are the morally bankrupt plans of a criminal cartel protecting oil and gas over life on earth. That is why this announcement has been made the night before the Queen’s Jubilee, they think we won’t notice, they think we won’t care, we are here to show them that they are wrong.”
Su (23), a political science student said:
“I believe that we have to do anything in our power to show that we’re not ok with these destructive policies. New oil and gas is not the solution, it’s not providing energy security or dealing with the cost of living crisis. If this government really wanted that they would be insulating homes and investing in renewables. We are demanding an affordable, reliable energy supply that doesn’t destroy the economy, doesn’t cause a cost of living crisis and doesn’t destroy the liveable planet for generations to come. I refuse to stand-by as my Government’s policies cause countless millions of people to die.
Another rally in opposition to the Jackdaw go-ahead will take place outside the BEIS Offices, Victoria St, Westminister at 6pm this evening. The nine young people who took part in the Edinburgh action have stated that being arrested will not deter them from taking part in future acts of peaceful Civil Resistance.
Video testimonial here
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/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/just.stopoil/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/JustStop_Oil
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-t4U1Azf8AOkCBJILSNBmw
Notes to Editors
[1] 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
[2]Decision to approve Jackdaw https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-business-61666693
