Extinction Rebellion stops work on aviation fuel pipeline to Heathrow
Press Release : Extinction Rebellion stops work on aviation fuel pipeline to Heathrow.
Extinction Rebellion South East UK
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For Immediate Publication
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Funeral cortege of eco-protestors invade site to dig grave and mourn the climate destruction that the project will wreak across the globe.
Work on the new 97km aviation fuel pipeline from the Southampton Fawley Refinery to London Heathrow is being disrupted today (25th June) by climate protestors digging a grave and mourning the grim prospects for the future of life on Earth if prompt action is not taken to stop the use of fossil fuels.
To the heartbeat of a single drum, protesters walked solemnly in a dignified procession to where a funeral service was conducted at Naishes Lane, Church Crookham in Hampshire. A child’s white coffin was interred, signifying the loss of children’s futures across the world should the Government fail to act on the climate and ecological emergency. There must be no new fossil fuel infrastructure.
The activists are demanding that work on the pipeline, which will increase the volume of aviation fuel to Heathrow airport, be stopped because it is inconsistent with the urgent need to reduce carbon emissions. Flying is the fastest way to burn climate damaging fossil fuels.
At the COP26 Climate Summit in Glasgow last December the UK government emphasised the need to reduce the aviation sector’s contribution to climate change as essential, yet they plan to grow air traffic 60% by 2050; a completely unsustainable prospect and against the advice of the UK Climate Change Committee.
Climate change is real. The facts have been known for decades by ExxonMobil, whose subsidiary Esso Petroleum Ltd, is constructing the pipeline. Exxon has denied the overwhelming scientific consensus on man-made climate change since the 1960s, responding by financially sponsoring climate science denial. They have continued to exploit and profit from oil and gas despite knowing the harm they are causing to people and nature. The immediate damage to nature as a result of the construction works is readily visible in the South East as a swathe of destruction is carved across woodland, country parks, open spaces and disturbingly across the globally threatened heathland of the Thames Basin Heaths, a habitat rarer than rainforest.
Hannah Shelley, 32, an Actuarial Pensions Consultant from Farnborough said
“We’ve got to stop this pipeline. Once you've seen the evidence, you know that flying is the fastest way to fry the planet. Things are going to change, mother nature will make sure of that, but it'll be better if we take action first to stop the worst of the chaos climate breakdown will bring."
Deborah Elliott, 63, a Business Travel Manager said
“After 40+ years in the travel industry I’ve seen the changes - families used to have just one holiday a year. Then those richer families added more flights; a ski trip, a weekend break, half term holidays or a stag/hen do abroad. The plans to grow air traffic 60% by 2050 is nonsensical as only the wealthiest will benefit, causing carbon emissions and climate change which will affect the poorest amongst us most. And, Exxon know the science, the damage and continue to push their products”
Danielle McHallam, 33 a Sales Manager from Farnborough said
"The world is dying before our eyes and I'm here because protest seems to be the only way to get my voice heard and soon the new police bill may deny me even that. I’ve made a no-flight pledge. People must stop flying"
Climate concern is high right across society, with polls from around the world demonstrating that governments have a clear mandate to make the changes needed to ensure that we leave a habitable world for coming generations. This is particularly so in the UK where 80% of people see the climate crisis as a global emergency.
We’re at a crucial moment in history. Our climate is breaking down and life on Earth is dying: accelerated by our economic system and supported by politicians. But, together we can change this, Join us.
Sign up to learn more about our Summer Uprising which starts on 16th July.
https://xrb.link/s6L3VB5mt6
You are invited. All are welcome.
Notes for Editors:
XR South East Campaigns
https://xr-southeast.uk/stop-the-southampton-to-london-heathrow-pipeline/
XR South East Press
https://xr-southeast.uk/press/
XR South East Social Media
https://linktr.ee/xrsoutheastuk
Unicef : Uniting for Global Food Security conference in Berlin 24th June 2022"
As is always the case, none of this is the responsibility of children and yet, they pay the highest price”
https://www.unicef.org/press-releases/unicef-executive-director-catherine-russells-remarks-uniting-global-food-security
COP26 Declaration : International Aviation Climate Ambition Coalition
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/cop-26-declaration-international-aviation-climate-ambition-coalition/cop-26-declaration-international-aviation-climate-ambition-coalition
Public Support for Action on Climate Change
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/nov/01/cop26-polling-data-is-overwhelming-people-want-leaders-to-act
The Massive Inequality of Flying - the fastest way to burn fossil fuels
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NW_hH3xCiAY
Naishes Lane, Church Crookham
https://www.naisheslanesangs.co.uk/
Thames Basin Heaths
https://www.tbhpartnership.org.uk/
Extinction Rebellion's Immediate Demand : Stop the Fossil Fuel Economy
https://extinctionrebellion.uk/2022/01/23/xr-uk-strategy-2022/
NO NEW FOSSIL FUEL INVESTMENT
NO NEW FOSSIL FUEL LICENCES
END FOSSIL FUEL SUBSIDIES NOW
Investment: Since the Paris Agreement, fossil fuel lending has increased every year and could surpass $1trn by 2030. The financial sector, along with governments, is the key enabler of an economic model built on causing harm.
Licences: The government must commit to end new concessions, licensing or leasing rounds for oil and gas production and exploration and to set a Paris-aligned date for ending oil and gas production and exploration on all territory over which they have jurisdiction.
Subsidies, the UK is one of the worst of the OECD-member nations, calculating that it gave on average £16 billion a year to support fossil fuels in 2017–19.
That’s £43,835,616 per day – over £300 million a week – taken from our tax, and given to murderers.
About Extinction Rebellion
Time has almost entirely run out to address the ecological crisis which is upon us, including the 6th mass species extinction, global pollution, and abrupt, runaway climate change. Societal collapse and mass death are seen as inevitable by scientists and other credible voices, with human extinction also a possibility, if rapid action is not taken. Extinction Rebellion believes it is a citizen’s duty to rebel, using peaceful civil disobedience, when faced with criminal inactivity by their Government.
Extinction Rebellion’s key demands are:
1. Government must tell the truth by declaring a climate and ecological emergency, working with other institutions to communicate the urgency for change.
2. Government must act now to halt biodiversity loss and reduce greenhouse gas emissions to net zero by 2025.3. Government must create and be led by the decisions of a Citizens Assembly on climate and ecological justice.