A coalition of groups opposed to new oil and gas gathered this morning outside Edinburgh Sherrif Court to show support for 2 women held in custody since Thursday.
On the evening of June 2nd six Just Stop Oil [1] supporters were arrested after throwing red paint over the Queen Elizabeth Building in Edinburgh. Four of the young women were released on the morning of Friday 3rd, however two were held in custody.
Jenn 26 an Environmental Scientist and Su 23 a political science student at St Andrews University are due at Edinburgh Sherrif’s Court today where they will be charged. All four of those released have bail conditions that mean they must stay out of Edinburgh and can not attend any authorised or unauthorised protest or procession in Scotland.
The action was undertaken as a response to the announcement by the UK Government giving Shell the go ahead to develop the Jackdaw [2] gas field off the coast of Scotland. This is the latest major UK fossil fuel project [3] to have been approved since the UK hosted the COP26 climate conference in Glasgow last year.
Su 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 Government’s policies cause countless millions of people to die.
Jenn said
“We have been left with no choice, but to take drastic action. I’m scared to take action, I’m scared to put myself in this vulnerable position, but I’m much more scared of a government that is pushing ahead with new oil and gas fields”
The young people who took part in the Edinburgh action were also part of the Nustar Oil Depot blockade which started on May 3rd 2022. All six have stated that being arrested will not deter them from taking part in future acts of peaceful Civil Resistance.
ENDS
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Notes to Editors
Jenn is second from the right and Su is on the far right
[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
[3] UK Government new fossil fuel infrastructure approved https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2022/may/19/uk-has-approved-several-fossil-fuel-projects-since-cop26-analysis-finds
Carbon bombs https://www.theguardian.com/environment/ng-interactive/2022/may/11/fossil-fuel-carbon-bombs-climate-breakdown-oil-gas
