51 supporters of Just Stop Oil have blocked service stations and decommissioned pumps across central London this morning in support of their demand that the UK government end new oil and gas projects in the UK.
Starting from 6am today, actions took place across West and South London affecting up to 7 service stations. In some locations, Just Stop Oil supporters blocked access to the petrol pumps by sitting in the road with banners. Elsewhere, groups moved from one station to the next decommissioning petrol pumps by breaking the display glass or covering them with spray paint before sitting down to await arrest.
Just Stop Oil continues to resist the government’s plans to greenlight 46 new oil and gas projects by 2025. Today’s action was timed to coincide with the announcement by Ofgem of a massive increase in electricity bills for October which will push millions more into poverty, forced to choose between heating and eating.[1]
Tez Burns, 34, a bicycle mechanic and physics graduate from Swansea taking action today said:
“I can’t live with myself, knowing what I know, without doing all I can to stop new oil and gas. We are suffering the worst cost of living crisis in 40 years and facing climate breakdown because of our dependence on oil. Yet the government is allowing energy companies to drive us into poverty with skyrocketing energy bills, and is failing to protect us from the consequences of climate collapse. Enough is enough.
“We are not special, we are ordinary people, with different backgrounds and stories to tell, who have overcome the fear of causing disruption. We know from history that nonviolent civil resistance works. Will you also step up and join us, or will you look back in 10 years wishing that you had?”
Jade Calland, 29, from Lancashire, also taking action today said
“I cannot stand by while young people, people on low incomes and those least responsible for the climate crisis have their lives destroyed. Today we are resisting the government’s plans to allow more oil and gas. We want to stop the misery forced on millions by rising energy bills, food poverty, poorly insulated housing and a society run for the benefit of the fossil fuel companies and the rich.
“In October, thousands of us will occupy Westminster until the government agrees to end new oil and gas. Don’t be a bystander, step up and join us. Now is the time to resist the destruction of everything we love.”
Stephen Gingell, 56, a business owner and father of 3 from Manchester said:
“I don’t want my beautiful boys to suffer horribly and their lives to be cut short with food shortages and riots due to climate collapse. The brutal truth is more burning of oil and gas is an act of genocide. The oil companies and the government know this. So why are they leading us into this slaughter?
“This week I climbed into the pipework of an oil refinery to shut it down. I’d never done anything remotely like that before. But I’m going to continue doing whatever it takes to stop new oil and gas.”
Today’s actions will put further pressure on petrol and diesel supplies for the south-east ahead of the August Bank Holiday weekend. These were halted by Just Stop Oil actions near the Navigator and Grays depots in Essex and the Kingsbury terminal in Warwickshire earlier this week. A series of four tunnels have been constructed under access roads to the depots resulting in highway closures and the disruption of supplies.
Essex police have refused to close a road that runs over one of the tunnels occupied by Just Stop Oil supporters. The road above a tunnel on St. Clement’s Way in Thurrock, Essex near the Navigator oil terminal remains open. This means that large oil tankers and other HGVs are passing over the occupied tunnel, risking its collapse, threatening the life of the people below and endangering anyone using these roads.Stoneness Road which runs above the second occupied tunnel has remained closed since midday Tuesday and is expected to remain closed until September 1st.
Jo, 32, a musician from Somerset, who is currently occupying one of the tunnels said:
“Normally at this time of year I would be at a festival, jamming with my friends, dancing in the sun. But instead I’m lying in a tunnel, underneath a road leading to the Navigator oil terminal. I’m here because oil and gas is killing us and we need an emergency response from the government, and you know what? There’s nowhere else I’d rather be”
This is the moment to come together and resist. We are not prepared to just watch while they destroy everything we love. We’re done with begging. Voting has changed nothing. We are going to stop new oil whether those in power agree or not. As citizens, as humans, as parents and children we have every right under British law to protect ourselves and those we love. This is the moment, we are the last generation that can solve this. Will you step up and join us? If we all come together we can do this. We can Just Stop Oil.
ENDS
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Notes to Editors
[1] https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/uk-62633742
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.
