Just Stop Oil supporters are out marching again in central London. They are demanding that the British Government halt all licences and consents for new oil, gas and coal projects. [1]
At 8:00am, around 50 Just Stop Oil supporters, in five groups, began marching on roads around Hyde Park and Battersea Park. At around 8:37 a mini march of four people walking on Kensington Gore was seen delaying the England Cricket Team, who were travelling by coach. Police arrived on scene within minutes and placed a Public Order Act (Section 12) notice on the march, ending it by 8:43. All teams were off the road by 10am. Further marches are currently underway and three have now been arrested on Waterloo Bridge. Just Stop Oil has been marching six days a week since April 24th.
A Just Stop Oil spokesperson said:
No-one is safe from climate collapse, it will destroy everything we care about. All we will have left is ashes. Oil and gas has had a good innings, but it’s time to declare – Just Stop Oil.
One of those arrested on Waterloo bridge this morning, Phil Green, 22, a BA student from Cornwall, said:
“In my lifetime, the UK Government has never stood up for the people- not once. As a young person, I have no faith in those in power to make the change we need to keep us safe. We need big changes and that now has to come from us, the people. Throughout history, we have seen disruptive dissent, like this, make big changes in society. I don’t want to be causing this disruption but I have to do something when the Government isn’t doing its job.”
“I don’t want to live in a world where floods, wildfires, and crop failures are a common occurrence. We’re not asking for much, just a world where we can feed our families and thrive in our communities. Stopping new fossil fuel licences is an absolute no-brainer to ensure energy security, lower bills and cut emissions. I want to call on young people everywhere to step up and join a march, every Saturday at midday in Parliament Square.”
Another of those taking action this morning Alice Tulissio, 21, a student from Falmouth, said:
“I am marching with Just Stop Oil today because I want a future. We are heading towards climate catastrophe and the UK government is knowingly speeding this up by licensing over 100 new oil, gas and coal projects. This will ultimately be a death sentence to us all.”
“I understand it’s frustrating to those on the road who are disrupted by marches, but it has gotten to the point where this is the only way the government will listen to us. Writing letters and non-disruptive protests do not work and we do not have time to sit around and do nothing. Throughout history we have seen that disruptive protest is how change is won.”
“It is heartbreaking and terrifying that millions of people around the world are already experiencing the grave effects of the climate crisis and the people in charge are still not acting appropriately. This is why ordinary people like me, and you, have to act now to save ourselves and the future generations to come.”
A report published last week by the European Central Bank has found that higher than average temperatures are accelerating inflation in dozens of countries around the world, and the trend is expected to continue as the world heats up. They found rising temperatures are driving up the cost of food and other goods and services resulting in an uptick in prices that ripples across the global economy. While it’s a worldwide phenomenon, the largest impacts likely will be felt in the Global South, specifically Africa and South America, the researchers said. [2]
Since the Just Stop Oil campaign launched on 14th February 2022, there have been 2,200 arrests and 138 people have spent time in prison, many without trial. There are currently two Just Stop Oil supporters serving three year prison sentences for resisting new oil, gas and coal.
We stand with these political prisoners, with the 1,800 victims of the UK’s broken criminal justice system, imprisoned for over a year without trial, and with the 1,700 murdered across the global south, for protecting all our lives. Ordinary people must come together to resist this criminal government and hold them to account for their genocidal policies. [10][11]
Just Stop Oil is calling on everyone to get off the sidelines and join in civil resistance against new oil, gas and coal.
The time is now. Join us and slow march while you still can. Our indefinite campaign of civil resistance is underway and will not end until our government makes a meaningful statement halting new fossil fuel projects in the UK.
Join Just Stop Oil on a slow march at midday every Saturday, at Parliament Square until we win.
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.
Just Stop Oil ‘Blue Lights’ policy: our policy is, and has always been, to move out of the way for emergency vehicles with siren sounding and ‘blue lights’ on.
[2] https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/climate-change-is-exacerbating-inflation-worldwide/
[3] Fair Trials reports that the number of people being held in prison without trial in England and Wales is at its highest for over 50 years, with 1,800 people in prison without trial for at least a year. https://www.fairtrials.org/articles/news/highest-number-of-people-on-remand-in-england-and-wales-for-over-50-years/
[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. https://www.globalwitness.org/en/press-releases/deadly-decade-land-and-environmental-activists-killing-every-two-days/
