Just Stop Oil supporters have stopped traffic on key routes in Central London today to demand that the government halts all new fossil fuel licences and consents.
At 8:15am, around 20 Just Stop Oil supporters wearing hi-vis vests walked onto the A24 near Clapham South and proceeded to march slowly Northwards. They continued along Clapham High Street accompanied by around 7 police officers.
A further action is planned later this morning in Camden Town.
Adam Beard, 53, a gardener and carer from Stroud said:
“I’m taking action to highlight our government’s total disregard for human life and suffering in the pursuit of short-term profit. Not only are they issuing new fossil fuel licences, but they have now given the go-ahead for a new coal mine which will produce the dirtiest kind of fuel there is, almost all of which will be exported. This exposes the massive gap between what government ministers say and what they do. They must change tack and stop all new fossil fuel licences. We will continue to cause disruption until they do the right thing for all of humanity.”
Elvy Swan, 21, from Melbourne, Australia said:
“As young people we need to stand up to the reality we are faced with. Our generation is on the front line of a catastrophe far more significant than we could have conceived of. We are talking about people dying now. People that could have been saved. We don’t have time to squabble about the specifics of change making. We must end new oil and gas.”
A spokesperson from Just stop Oil said:
“Greenlighting a new coal mine signals that our Government does not care about everyday people or democracy. Their support and backing of new coal, oil and gas, is a plan to destroy our freedoms, our rights and the rule of law. It is a plan that will result in the deaths of countless millions and many more not knowing if they should stay where they have lived for generations or if they leave where they can go.
“The real savagery hits home when you realise that most people in this country, and across the world want what Just Stop Oil is calling for ‘no new fossil fuels’.
“Government is silencing dissent by locking up ordinary people, calling for an end to new oil and gas, bringing in new laws and taking away your right to walk down the public highway. You don’t get to cheerlead dissent abroad while demanding heavy handed tactics at home.
“We ask that you join us, the time to stand-by has passed, we must resist or lose everything”
