Just Stop Oil supporters have blocked Piccadilly in London. They are demanding that the government halts all new oil and gas licences and consents. [1]
At midday today, 16 Just Stop Oil supporters walked onto Piccadilly near Green Park Tube station and disrupted traffic by sitting in the road with banners. Some supporters have glued onto the tarmac.
Linda Ahtiainen, 23, a recent graduate from Ruokolahti, Finland said:
“I am taking action with Just Stop Oil because the government’s plan to approve over a 100 new oil and gas projects is completely irresponsible in the face of the climate crisis. I hope that people will understand the severity of the situation we are facing. New oil and gas projects are not just unnecessary, but will destroy everything we depend upon and all we hold dear. This campaign of civil resistance is not about any individual or groups of people but about ensuring the survival of humanity.”
Dr Louis Keal, 32, a physicist from Edinburgh said:
“The public sees the critical need for immediate downscaling of fossil fuels, so does the UN, the International Energy Agency, and countless businesses and scientific institutions. But the dangerous radicals in government are determined to continue making fossil fuel companies richer at the expense of the rest of us. We have no choice but to resist, to put our bodies on the line. We are ordinary people who have run out of options.”
The action follows the spraying of several car showrooms with orange paint by Just Stop Oil supporters this morning. [2]
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 587 arrests. Since the campaign began on April 1st, Just Stop Oil supporters have been arrested 1,900 times, with 7 supporters currently in prison.[3]
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.
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. [4]
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.
[3] 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
[4] 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.
