Just Stop Oil supporters have stopped traffic on key routes in Central London today to demand that the government halts all new oil and gas licences and consents. [1]
At 8:00am, 10 Just Stop Oil supporters wearing hi-vis vests walked onto Aldersgate Street in the City of London and proceeded to march slowly along London Wall, causing delays to the rush hour traffic. The march continued on major roads through the City, followed by at least 7 police vehicles and up to 20 police officers, but there were no arrests.
A further action is now in progress on Upper Street and Holloway Road near Highbury and Islington station in central London, where the police presence escalated to over 40 officers following a march of 10 people.
people.On Monday a similar Just Stop Oil march in west London attracted a large police presence and two supporters were arrested.
A spokesperson for Just Stop Oil said
“We will continue to do whatever is nonviolently possible to demand an end to new oil and gas. We will not be intimidated by changes in the law or government posturing on tougher policing tactics.
“No government has a democratic mandate to pursue policies that will destroy our food supply and leave vulnerable people starving and hungry. Policies that will destroy millions of lives and lead to civil unrest and the collapse of ordered society. They are failing to uphold the fundamental duty of government which is to protect its citizens.
“This affects us all. Either we stand up now and be counted or we will lose everything we love. Don’t be a bystander. It’s either survival solidarity or collective failure.”
Oscar Bailey, 26, a software developer from London said
“I’m taking action because I’m tired of government inaction on the biggest issue of our generation, possibly in the history of our species. We know the problem, we know the solution, as a society we just need to enact it.
“There is no second chance – our actions in the next few years will be remembered for centuries to come. We need to make the right choices now. I want to live in a just world that respects all life, where our actions are motivated by that respect.”
On Tuesday, Jan Goodey, 57, a Just Stop Oil supporter from Brighton was sentenced to six months in prison for taking part in an action on the M25 motorway in November to demand an end to new oil and gas in the UK. [2]
Two more Just Stop Oil supporters Anthony Whitehouse and Arne Springorum are due in Westminster Magistrates court today at 2pm charged with public nuisance for taking part in the November M25 actions. They have both pleaded guilty and are due to be sentenced tomorrow.
This week’s actions are the first since 10th November, which marked the end of six weeks of continuous disruption and civil resistance by supporters of Just Stop Oil during which the police made over 700 arrests. Since the campaign began on April 1st, Just Stop Oil supporters have been arrested over 2,000 times, with 26 supporters currently in prison. [3]
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. By continuing to encourage new oil and gas they are complicit in the death of millions and are facilitating the collapse of the ordered society that allows democracy to function.
Stand with our supporters in prison, with the 1,700 murdered across the global south, for protecting all our lives. We are not prepared to just watch while they destroy everything we love. 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. [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.
[2] Jan was arrested after climbing a gantry at junction 16 on the 7th November and charged with intentionally or recklessly causing a public nuisance. After entering a guilty plea he appeared at Westminster Magistrates court Monday for sentencing.
The magistrate imposed a sentence of 6 months, of which Jan will serve at least half. The magistrate spoke of wanting to use his sentencing as a ‘deterrent’ against further disruption of ordinary people going about their “lawful business”.
Jan Goodey was convicted of the new statutory offence of public nuisance brought in with the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022 which carries a maximum jail term of 10 years. The new offence replaces an old common law offence of public nuisance which carried a maximum potential sentence of life imprisonment.
[3] There are now 26 Just Stop Oil supporters in prison on remand or serving sentances for taking action to demand that the government halts new oil and gas licences. They include Abigail Percy Ratcliffe, Adelheid Russenberger, Alexander Wilcox, Alfie Beswick, Callum Goode, Catherine Rennie-Nash, Daniel Shaw, Ian Bates, Isobel Rock, Jan Goodey, Roger Hallam, Karen Matthews, Lucia Whittaker, Mair Bain, Molly Berry, Nick Onley, Paul Bell, Paul Bleach, Phoebe Plummer, Tez Burns, Tim Hewes, Joshua Smith, Louis McKechnie, Morgan Trowland and Marcus Decker. Elliott Cuciurean is also in prison 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.
