Just Stop Oil supporters are back on the streets of central London this morning, demanding that the UK Government halt all licences and consents for new oil, gas and coal projects. [1]
Shortly after 8am, around 54 Just Stop Oil supporters, in six groups, began marching along key routes in Hammersmith, Islington and Bayswater. A pre-emptive Public Order Act (Section 12) notice was placed on one march before even stepping on a road- effectively banning the right to peacefully demonstrate. Two were arrested in a coffee shop after walking on the road as part of a ‘mini march’ in Islington.
Six further arrests were made as a second set of marches kicked off in the West End, City, Fulham and Borough. Just Stop Oil has been marching six days a week since April 24th.
One of those arrested this morning, Kate, a lawyer and mother said:
“Even if I don’t see my children before they go to bed tonight, they are going to know that I’m doing this for them. I am using the privileges I have to stand up to power and I want everyone who sees us walking down the road holding signs to know that we have no alternative. Most of the public supports our demand but the government is not listening. We have to force them to listen.”
One of those on the road this morning, Oliver Clegg, 20, a plant-science student from Manchester, said:
“We’re led by a mob of selfish, extremist zealots. These are people who care more about money than they do their own children’s safety.”
“As the sociopaths in government dance to the tune of the fossil fuel lobby, the British people are struggling to survive. We can’t afford our bills, and regardless of what lies are peddled in the billionaire-owned media; that is directly the result of our dependency on obsolete fossil fuels. Drilling for more UK oil and gas will not lower prices, as fossil fuels are traded on international markets and subject to speculative price fluctuation and profiteering from private energy firms.”
“The cycle of corruption continues. We need to liberate ourselves into clean energy and the sustainable jobs of the future. We do not have a choice not to get on the streets, this situation is unacceptable, I will not sit and watch my generation be destroyed by these criminals.”
Another of those taking action today, Dr John-Paul Stonard, 50, a writer from Yoxford, said:
“Any sensible person can see the utter insanity of new oil and gas, at a time when we simply must stop the planet warming. I have seen ordinary, peaceful people of all ages bravely marching, slowly, resolutely and non-violently. I cannot sit by and not show support- that means marching with them.”
“If your house is on fire, do you sit down to watch TV, or do you try and do something about it? Those who are funding and supporting new oil and gas are fanning the flames. It is greed for money over human lives, and it is deeply wrong.”
This morning’s marches come as scientists warn it is now too late to save the summer Arctic sea ice. They say preparations need to be made for the increased extreme weather across the northern hemisphere that is likely to occur as a result. A ‘blue-ocean event’ such as this, will result in the absorption of much of the sun’s energy into the oceans, rather than reflecting into space off the ice. This is one of a number of ‘tipping-points’ that threaten to contribute to feedback loops that could result in rapid runaway collapse of food systems and make large parts of the world unsuitable for human habitation. This will likely cause mass displacement and war. [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. [3][4]
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.
[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/
