Just Stop Oil supporters are slow marching and blocking roads in Central London today causing delays and disruption for the ninth day running. They are demanding that the government halts all new oil and gas licences and consents. [1]
Over 80 ordinary people – teachers, builders, volunteers, mums and dads – are involved in today’s actions. These follow a week of continuous disruption by supporters of Just Stop Oil in which a total of 200 people were arrested, including 25 yesterday.
At around 11:00 this morning, 35 Just Stop Oil supporters marched from Downing Street to the Royal Courts of Justice on the The Strand where they are holding a demonstration.
At 13:30 another group of 45 Just Stop Oil supporters established four roadblocks near Piccadilly Circus stopping traffic in all directions. The groups are sitting in the road, and a large number have glued themselves to the tarmac, making it more difficult for police officers to remove them.
Vanya Marks, 45 a mum of two from East London said:
“Once you know the damage that fossil fuels are doing to the climate and what this means for people, you know you have to take action. Because if you don’t, it’s like you’re saying you are ok with this damage. The government is not only refusing to take action to stop extracting fossil fuels, they are actively making the situation worse by fast-tracking new gas and oil licences. When organised society is in tatters and my kids are fighting strangers for the last loaf of bread in the supermarket, I want to look them in the eye and tell them that I tried my best.”
Luke Watson, 33 a woodworker from Bishops Stortford said:
“You wouldn’t stand by and watch an adult kick a child in the face again and again so how can you do nothing when you know what climate change means for the next generation? We are all responsible for climate change, it’s our problem to fix and there is no excuse for inaction. Don’t try to switch the blame, it’s the oldest trick of all cowards.”
Bertie Coyle, 27, a writer and volunteer from South London said:
“I’m sick of the people who profit from oil laughing at us. We don’t need to just roll over and pretend it’s not happening. The government has chosen to prioritise looting this country, rather than protecting the people. It’s one step forward, two steps back. That’s why we need direct action and nonviolent civil resistance. It’s unpleasant to face the reality of climate change now, but it’s going to be so much worse if we don’t act immediately.”
Anne Richards, 64, an Emeritus Professor with 3 daughters and 2 granddaughters from London said:
“ I am taking action for my children, grandchildren and all future generations. I know many young people who have decided not to have children because of the world they would be born into. I find this heartbreakingly sad. When I see the devastating consequences of climate change happening now it makes me so angry that we, as the public, are so complacent and passive. Please do not be passive. Please join Just Stop Oil.”
This is not a one day event, this is an act of resistance against a criminal government and their genocidal death project. Our supporters will be returning – today, tomorrow and the next day – and the next day after that – and every day until our demand is met: no new oil and gas in the UK.
We will not be intimidated by changes to the law, we will not be stopped by private injunctions sought to silence peaceful people. Our supporters understand that these are irrelevant when set against mass starvation, slaughter, the loss of our rights, freedoms and communities.
Stand with our supporters in prison, with the 1700 murdered across the global south, for protecting our futures. We will not die silently, it will be ordinary people, like you, your friends, colleagues and neighbours who do what our government cannot. It will take all of us. [2]
ENDS
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Notes to Editors
[1] 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. More information here: https://juststopoil.org/
[2] There are now 7 Just Stop Oil supporters in prison on remand or serving sentences for taking action to demand that the government halts new oil and gas licences. They are Orla Murphy, Hannah Torrens Bright, Simon Milner-Edwards, Margaret Reid, Michelle Charlesworth, Joshua Smith and Louis McKechnie. Also in prison are Madelaine Budd for the ‘Captain Tom’ action, Scott Breen for taking action against the Southampton to Heathrow pipeline and Elliott Cuciurean for taking action against HS2.
