Two supporters of Just Stop Oil have covered Madame Tussauds waxwork model of King Charles III with chocolate cake at the waxworks museum. They are demanding that the government halts all new oil and gas licences and consents. [1]
Having bought tickets to Madame Tussauds, at just after 10.30 the two Just Stop Oil supporters stepped over the rope barrier separating the King from the public and smeared the model with chocolate cake.
Eilidh McFadden 20 from Glasgow and Tom Johnson 29, a painter decorator from Sunderland then made the following statement:
“We are here because we seek to protect our freedoms and rights, because we seek to protect this green and pleasant land which is the inheritance of us all. Last year at COP 26 in Glasgow Queen Elizabeth said [2]: “The time for words has moved to the time for action!”
Her successor King Charles III – on the continued heating of our world has said [3]: “We are feeling the effects of all of this now, and disasters are increasing with terrifying frequency and intensity, and causing unprecedented levels of physical and economic damage.”
“no nation, no region and no population will be inured from the impacts of food, water and energy insecurity, and the resulting economic and political insecurity that arise from our seeming utter determination quite literally to test this planet to destruction”
“In every sector of the economy there are solutions available now”
“For the past, what, 40-50 years I have been driven by an overwhelming desire not, to be confronted by my grandchildren – or yours, Ladies and Gentlemen, whom I mind about equally as much – demanding to know why I didn’t do anything to prevent them being bequeathed a poisoned and destroyed planet. Now, of course, we are indeed being confronted by these very children, demanding immediate action and not just words.”
“The science is clear. The demand is simple: just stop new oil and gas. It’s a piece of cake”
The action takes place a few weeks ahead of COP 27 which King Charles III has reportedly abandoned plans to attend and deliver a speech at, on the advice of the then, now former Prime Minister Liz Truss. [4]
Just Stop Oil continues to peacefully resist the government’s plans to licence over 100 new oil and gas projects by 2025, and its failure to fulfil its promise to help people with their skyrocketing energy bills. Policy failures that will force millions into poverty and facing a choice between heating, eating, or providing the basic essentials for themselves and their families.
Today’s roadblock follows three weeks of continuous civil resistance by supporters of Just Stop Oil during which the police have made 574 arrests. Since the campaign began on April 1st, Just Stop Oil supporters have been arrested 1,880 times, with 7 supporters currently in prison.[5]
This is not a one day event, expect us every day and anywhere. 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. [6]
Stand with our supporters in prison, with the 1,700 murdered across the global south, for protecting all our lives. 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. [7]
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. Just Stop Oil is a member of the A22 Network of civil resistance projects. Climate Emergency Fund is Just Stop Oil’s primary funder for recruitment, training, and capacity building.
[2] Queen Elizabeth II’s address to COP26 1st November 2019 https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/uk-59124775
[3]The State of the Global Environment: An Address by HRH The Prince of Wales at Lincoln University, New Zealand, 21 November 2019 https://www.princeofwales.gov.uk/speech/state-global-environment-address-hrh-prince-wales-lincoln-university-new-zealand
[5] 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 Joshua Smith, Louis McKechnie, Simon Milner-Edwards, Margaret Reid, Michelle Charlesworth, Morgan Trowland and Marcus Decker. 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
[6] Just Stop Oil made this statement in response to the former Home Secretary Suella Braverman: https://juststopoil.org/2022/10/16/a-response-to-home-secretary-suella-braverman/
[7] A recent report from Global Witness says that more than 1,700 people have died while trying to prevent mining, oil drilling or logging on their lands.
