Climate Activists Warn Of Disruption With Daily Protests
Climate activists have pledged to hold daily protests as they renew calls for the government to end its use of fossil fuel energy.
A number of arrests were made today (1 April) after protesters from Extinction Rebellion and Just Stop Oil blocked at least 10 different oil terminals across the country, with some activists climbing on top of lorries as others sat across the road in front of entrances to the facilities.
The protests, which took place at ExxonMobil oil refineries in London, Birmingham, Southampton and a number of other sites, proceed what the groups said would be a daily series of protests taking place in London from next week, as campaigners said they hoped to cause enough disruption 'to create a tipping point moment' for the UK government.
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A spokesperson for Extinction Rebellion said: "We will be more disruptive than ever, and we will be impossible to ignore."
Following the protests, ExxonMobil confirmed three of its sites had to temporarily close due to the protests, while Essex Police confirmed 13 protesters had been arrested on suspicion of obstructing the highway.
The protests come on the same day that British households saw the largest energy price hike in decades come into effect, following record increases in global gas prices.
Extinction Rebellion said that it would be holding daily protest action organised from London's Hyde Park, and urged people to gather to put pressure on the government to announce an 'emergency' plan to move away from reliance on fossil fuel-based energy and towards sustainable sources.
"In the tradition of non-violent civil disobedience, we will disrupt business as usual until the government and big business make change. We need everyone to join us," the spokesperson said.
"The energy crisis is really starting to hit home on people, and people really want us to step up into a space where their voice is heard."
In a statement Just Stop Oil - who made headlines last month after a protester from the group cable tied himself to a goal post during a Premier League football match - said: "The Just Stop Oil coalition is demanding an end to the Government’s genocidal policy of expanding UK oil and gas production and is calling on all those outraged at the prospect of climate collapse and suffering from the cost-of-living crisis to stand with us."
The UK government has pledged to reaching net zero carbon emissions by 2050, but in the wake of the Russian invasion of Ukraine has said it would ramp up domestic oil and gas production in the coming months.
Hannah Smith