Mass action across London targeting web of organisations propping up the fossil fuel economy
· Thirteen sites hit, including those of BP, JP Morgan, the Institute of Economic Affairs, BAE Systems and the Church Of England
· Protestors call for organisations to CUT THE TIES with the fossil fuel economy
Extinction Rebellion South East activists are taking part in a mass action in London today (21 November) which has seen protestors spray fake oil at the headquarters of multiple organisations to highlight their part in the global web of oil companies, law firms, banks, PR agencies, Think Tanks, and state institutions that are perpetuating the fossil fuel economy.
The South East protestors, along with other XR activists from across the UK, descended on multiple sites simultaneously at 11am.
Some offices were sprayed with fake oil, whilst at other locations protestors glued themselves to the building, hung banners at height and left handprints in fake oil and blood while activist band XR Rhythms marched to support the actions
The mass action aims to highlight the links between this web of fossil fuel enablers and to call on these organisations to CUT THE TIES to the fossil fuel industry.
Sites targeted by the protestors included BP’s London offices at St James Square, where activists sprayed fake oil across the doors, walls and windows of the building. Others waved banners accusing BP of putting “BIG PROFITS”, “BEFORE PEOPLE”, “BEFORE PLANET”
Protestors also took action at the offices of weapons manufacturer BAE Systems; investment bank JP Morgan; Arch Insurance; law firm Eversheds Sutherland and PR company Hill & Knowlton Strategies; the Church of England and climate denial think tank the Institute of Economic Affairs.
Other companies targeted today include petro-chemical producer Ineos; oil investment funders Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan, big oil service provider Schlumberger; and the International Maritime Organisation.
The city wide protests involve a coalition of campaign groups including XR South East, XR Youth, XR East of England, XR South West, Christian Climate Action, Ocean Rebellion, Writers Rebel, Plastics Rebellion, Doctors for XR, HS2 Rebellion, Sky Rebellion and XR Cymru.
===================
Deb Elliot, a business manager from Reigate, Surrey, who took part in the BP protest, said: “Despite indisputable scientific evidence that the fossil fuel economy has created a climate crisis which is threatening the very life of the planet, BP continues to operate unhindered, supported by a web of collaborators such as law firm Eversheds Sutherland and oilfield services provider Schlumberger.
“We are asking these companies, which are all complicit in the continuing destruction of the planet, to CUT THE TIES to the fossil fuel industry.”
===================
Supporting the protest outside Schlumberger’s offices at Buckingham Gate, Dr Ines Smyth, 73, a humanitarian worker from Oxford, said: “I am supporting the protest at Schlumberger out of concern that among those contributing to the climate crisis are the ones who hide away, out of the public gaze, behind the big oil companies to which they provide their services.
“Powerful companies like Schlumberger, which contribute most to climate chaos, are those which are in the best position to contribute to a fair transition by using their expertise and technology."
===================
Dr Lindsay Parkin, a climate emergency educator and father of two from Brighton, protested outside the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS), said: “Inside BEIS new arrangements are being drawn up to provide more than 100 new licences for the exploration and extraction of oil and gas in the North Sea – meaning renewed and accelerating fossil fuel extraction way beyond 2030 and way beyond all our Paris commitments.
“We will continue to point this out as loudly and as often as possible in the reasonable
hope and expectation that a government whose primary responsibility is to
protect the lives of its citizens will begin to do that, rather than pursue a
catastrophic policy of supine, oil appeasing, climate cowardice.”
===============
Marion Malcher, a project manager from Woking, who supported the action outside BP’s HQ, added:
“The addiction to fossil fuels must end. The huge fossil fuel corporations like BP and those who aid and abet them KNOW what we face.
“BP hides the dirty secrets that lie behind its latest big profit of £7,100,000,000. Enough is enough. Today we are exposing the ties between the collaborators and we will piece together the web of lies with our actions.”
===================
The Rev Helen Burnett, who took part Christian Climate Action’s protest against BAE Systems in Carlton Gardens, added: “Between 2015 and 2020 BAE sold £15bn worth of arms and services to Saudi Arabia as well as operating an extensive training and support programme for the Saudi military, a military outfit that supports and defends a regime determined to catastrophically increase its oil production during the next ten years.
“So as the planet spirals into climate breakdown BAE actively supplies and supports those whose policies wreak havoc on the lives of the most vulnerable people in our world.”
“Wherever we live, we need to cut the ties between these massive corporations and the oil industry which had over 600 lobbyists at the recent COP27 negotiations.”
===============
Sarah Hart, a sales manager from Farnborough who protested outside Eversheds Sutherland at Wood Street, London, said:
“Eversheds Sutherland, are used by ecocidal companies like Exxon and HS2. They’re using the courts to criminalise and silence peaceful protestors. We’re here to tell them to CUT THE TIES to the fossil fuel industry”
===============
Jackie Macey, a teacher from Dorking, took part in the Ocean Rebellion protest outside the International Maritime Organisation, said:
“We are calling out the failings of the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) which regulates shipping. It has failed to regulate the burning of Heavy Fuel Oil (HFO) at sea even though it’s so toxic its use is banned on land.
“When will the IMO wake up to its environmental responsibility? The best they can offer are voluntary agreements to companies focused on profit, these will never work, the time for asking nicely has long since passed.”
==================
Editors Notes
DETAILS OF THE ACTIONS
XR South East at BP HQ, St James’ Square
Activists sprayed fake oil at BP’s HQ in St James Square to protest against its obscene £7.1 billion profits which it has amassed as families struggle to cope with rocketing energy costs. BP makes no secret of its strategy to continue to invest in extracting fossil fuels in the face of rapidly increasing climate breakdown and despite UN General Secretary Antonio Gutterres warning that the policy is “delusional”.
XR Cymru at Hill+Knowlton Strategies offices, Clerkenwell Green
XR Cymru splattered fake oil over the offices of public relations consultancy Hill+Knowlton Strategies. Hill+Knowlton has worked for fossil fuel companies ExxonMobil, Shell, Chevron and Saudi Aramco and recently managed communications for Egypt’s presidency of the UN climate conference at Sharm El Sheikh.
Christian Climate Action at BAE Systems offices, Carlton Gardens
Christian Climate Action left hand prints in fake blood and oil at the offices of Britain’s leading arms manufacturer BAE Systems who supply weapons to conflicts which increase the vulnerability of people living on the front lines of climate change. The arms giant also provides military and technical support to Saudia Arabia, enabling the regime's oil production.
A spokesperson said: "Through oil you have blood on your hands."
Christian Climate Action at Church House, Great Smith Street
Christian Climate Action also protested at Church House in Westminster to highlight the Church of England’s failing strategy to stay invested in fossil fuels and influence the industry as shareholders.
A spokesperson said: "The Church should be showing moral leadership in rejecting profiting from investments in companies that continue to fuel climate suffering."
Plastics Rebellion at Ineos offices, Hans Crescent, London.
Plastics Rebellion sprayed oil outside the offices of Ineos, one of the world's largest petrochemical producers and a significant player in the oil and gas market. Many of the plastics produced in the UK start their life at the INEOS Grangemouth refinery.
HS2 Rebellion at Eversheds Sutherland, Wood Street
HS2 Rebellion reminded multinational law firm Eversheds Sutherland of their ties with big oil by spraying their offices with fake oil. As solicitors for HS2 and ExxonMobil (Esso), Eversheds Sutherland have been forerunners in criminalising nonviolent environmental protest through the use of injunctions.
XR East of England and XR Youth at Schlumberger offices in London, Buckingham Gate
Fake oil was poured over a globe to expose Schlumberger/SLB's complicity in ecocide. As the world's largest oilfield services provider, they enable fossil fuel extraction. Operating in 120 countries around the world, with over 36,000 patents dedicated to extracting every last drop of oil and gas from the ground.
Ocean Rebellion at the International Maritime Organisation, Albert Embankment
Ocean Rebellion performed outside the offices of the International Maritime Organisation Illustrating the International Maritime Organisation's refusal to regulate shipping emissions. A heavy plume of “smog” filled the air and an oil slick appeared on the ground with dead birds caught in it. Highlighting the UN body’s refusal to regulate shipping emissions.
Writers Rebel at the Institute of Economic Affairs, Lord North Street
Writers Rebel spoke and stood in silence at the offices of free market think tank the Institute of Economic Affairs. The institute, located just metres from the Houses of Parliament, has received money from fossil fuel companies, regularly publishes materials questioning the consensus on climate science and has huge influence on politicians.
Doctors for XR at JP Morgan, Victoria Embankment
Doctors for XR glued themselves to the windows at the London HQ of JP Morgan and pasted images to the front facade of the building depicting scenes of climate breakdown both here in the UK and overseas. JP Morgan are the world’s biggest fossil fuel financiers.
Money Rebellion at Arch Insurance, Great Tower Street
Money Rebellion poured fake oil at the offices of Arch Insurance. Arch Insurance had refused to rule out insuring fossil fuel giant Total’s East Africa Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP), a project that will jeopardise important ecosystems, fuel climate change and pose significant risks to millions of people.
Sky Rebellion at Ontario Teachers Pension Plan, Portman Square
Sky Rebellion protested at the London offices of the Ontario Teachers Pension Plan. The Canadian based pension fund invests in infrastructure projects including the controversial expansion of Bristol Airport which it owns.
XR South West at BEIS
XR South West sprayed fake oil at the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
To protest against its plans to issue more than 100 new licences for exploration and extraction of oil and gas in the North Sea – meaning renewed and accelerating extraction way beyond 2030 and way beyond all our Paris commitments.
XR Rhythms
In June, London endorsed the Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty, so XR Rhythms is marching through London to highlight the web of fossil fuel enablers still working in our city. “We want to drum out fossil fuel investments and celebrate the future transition to a more sustainable economy!”
Further information on the organisations targeted today.
More than 400 scientists call on Hill+Knowlton to drop fossil-fuel clients: https://www.prweek.com/article/1804197/400-scientists-call-hill+knowlton-drop-fossil-fuel-clients
Risking the Future: Climate Change, Environmental Destruction, and Conflict in Yemen: https://civiliansinconflict.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/CIVIC_Report_Yemen_ClimateCrisis_ProtectionofCivilians.pdf
BAE Systems sold £15bn worth of arms to Saudis during Yemen assault: https://www.theguardian.com/business/2020/apr/14/bae-systems-sold-15bn-arms-to-saudis-during-yemen-assault
Climate Change: The Church of England: https://www.churchofengland.org/about/leadership-and-governance/church-commissioners-england/how-we-invest/responsible-investment
Revealed: top UK thinktank spent decades undermining climate science: https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2019/oct/10/thinktank-climate-science-institute-economic-affairs
How vested interests tried to turn the world against climate science:
The Greenwashing Files: INEOS: https://www.clientearth.org/projects/the-greenwashing-files/ineos/#about
Tweet from Matthew Lesh, Head of Public Policy at the Institute of Economic Affairs: https://twitter.com/GeorgeMonbiot/status/1575484547416068097
High Court Order regarding Harvil Road: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/high-court-order-regarding-harvil-road
Activists Banned From Disrupting New ExxonMobil (Esso) Oil Pipeline: https://www.law360.com/articles/1542379/activists-banned-from-disrupting-new-esso-oil-pipeline
Banking on Climate Chaos, 2022: https://www.bankingonclimatechaos.org/
Teachers across Atlantic don't want their money spent on Bristol Airport expansion: https://www.bristolpost.co.uk/news/local-news/teachers-across-atlantic-dont-want-5023231
London endorses global Treaty calling for an end to the fossil fuel age and a just energy transition: https://fossilfueltreaty.org/london
BP
https://www.cnbc.com/2022/10/31/well-continue-to-invest-in-hydrocarbons-bp-ceo.html
https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-63560279
Schlumberger
https://xrcambridge.org/schlumberger/schlumberger-ecocide
Behind the fossil fuel industry lies a shady network of corporations and organisations that legitimise and enable the activities of an industry that is killing us. These can be in the form of finance, insurance, legal, engineering, construction, PR, press, pension funds, lobby groups and an almost endless number of others.
Their link to the fossil fuel industry is often hidden behind their glossy websites and claims of being Net Zero, but a closer look will reveal that they are carrying out activities that mean they continue to profit from fossil fuels.
Other organisations too, invest, promote and profit from fossil fuels. Some are complicit as contractors or hide behind think tank names, working behind the scenes, lobbying secretly in the corridors of power.
Extinction Rebellion’s CUT THE TIES campaign takes action against these fossil fuel enablers, shining a light on the activities they would rather keep hidden. The campaign does not disrupt the general public but instead targets the companies responsible for propping up the fossil fuel industry.
Do you want to CALL OUT your local FOSSIL FUEL ENABLERS and demand they CUT THE TIES?
DOWNLOAD THE ACTION PACK NOW!
Many of the previous actions have had an immediate and clear impact on the companies targeted, the speed at which some have attempted to downplay and clean up the actions shows their concern regarding reputational damage they will suffer should their customer base and wider public be aware of their activities.
Previous Actions:
Join the CUT THE TIES telegram chat HERE
Global protest calls for ban on private jet flights and tax on frequent flyers to help fund climate loss and damage reparations
Link to Global images https://xrb.link/wz1WMk1U
This cross-continent, co-ordinated, non-violent action, which involves hundreds of activists from Extinction Rebellion (XR) and Scientist Rebellion (SR), is part of a bold new international campaign dubbed "Make Them Pay" and the campaign intends to target private airports in other countries across the globe.
Scientists and young climate campaigners will barricade multiple private airports across thirteen countries, including Farnborough Airport and London Luton Airport’s Harrods Terminal, to demand a total ban on all private jets and a tax on frequent flyers.
The protestors are calling on world leaders gathering this week at Sharm el Sheikh, Egypt, for the UN's 27th annual climate change conference (COP27), to take action to end the use of private jets, which are 5 to 14 times more polluting per passenger than commercial planes and 50 times more polluting than trains. Campaigners are also demanding a tax on those who fly frequently to cut emissions and help raise funds to pay for the loss and damage caused by climate breakdown.
Activists at Farnborough - Europe’s premier private jet facility - are today (10th November) locked-on at the iconic Whittle Gate, whilst at London Luton, the luxurious Harrods Aviation terminal is the backdrop for the protest. Climate campaigners are lighting coloured flares, chanting slogans and waving banners proclaiming “Ban Private Jets”, “Tax Frequent Flyers” and “Make Them Pay”
The campaign is targeting the climate destroying, jet-setting life-styles of billionaires and multi-millionaires which are exacerbating climate breakdown and condemning the global majority to a lifetime of poverty.
Today’s international action is taking place as COP27 enters its fourth day at Sharm El Sheikh – a day designated as both Science Day and the Youth and Future Generation Day.
The protests also seek to highlight a proposal made by the Least Developed Countries Group - which represents the most climate-vulnerable countries at COP27 - for a global aviation tax to fund climate finance, address loss & damage, and adaptation in their countries. Multiple national Citizens’ Assemblies have shown that ordinary people support the “Make Them Pay” campaign demands.
Research has shown that just 1% of the global population produces over a half of total aviation emissions while 80% of the global population have never actually stepped foot onboard an aircraft.
Dr. Gianluca Grimalda, social science researcher, and a member of the Scientist Rebellion, said: “It is obscene that Jeff Bezos or Bill Gates can fly their private jets tax free, while global communities starve. It’s only fair that wealthy polluters pay the most into climate loss and damage funds to help the most vulnerable countries adapt.”
Finlay Asher, an aviation worker said: “Aviation represents the pinnacle of climate injustice and emissions inequality, I can’t stand by watching the emissions from my industry continue to grow and contribute to the climate carnage wreaking havoc around the world, private jet sales are booming we're utterly failing on economic and climate justice”
Youth climate campaigner Hallie said: “The future of humanity and civilisation as we know it is at play at COP27. It’s Code Red for Humanity.” and youth activist Becca concluded “Private flights are costing us the Earth and are flying us headlong towards extinction. Private jets must be banned. Climate Reparations Now.”
– ENDS –
EDITORS NOTES
Extinction Rebellion
Extinction Rebellion (XR) is a decentralised, international and politically non-partisan movement using non-violent direct action and civil disobedience to persuade governments to act justly on the Climate and Ecological Emergency.
To learn more about XR’s three demands please visit the Global website at https://rebellion.global/about-us/ & in the UK visit https://extinctionrebellion.uk/the-truth/demands/
Scientist Rebellion
Scientist Rebellion are scientists and academics who believe we should expose the reality and severity of the climate and ecological emergency by engaging in non-violent civil disobedience. Unless those best placed to understand behave as if this is an emergency, we cannot expect the public to do so. Some believe that appearing “alarmist” is detrimental - but we are terrified by what we see, and believe it is both vital and right to express our fears openly.
To learn more visit: https://scientistrebellion.com
COP27
The Conference of the Parties official website https://www.cop27.eg/
MakeThem Pay Campaign
Campaign website: https://makethempay.info/
Least Developed Countries - Aviation / Loss and Damage / Climate Adaptation
https://www.ldc-climate.org/
Vulnerable countries demand global tax to pay for climate-led loss and damage
https://www.ldc-climate.org/press_release/ministers-from-the-least-developed-countries-meet-in-dakar-to-discuss-the-groups-climate-change-priorities-ahead-of-cop27/
https://unfccc.int/topics/adaptation-and-resilience/the-big-picture/what-do-adaptation-to-climate-change-and-climate-resilience-mean
Citizens Assemblies recommendations on private jets and frequent flyer taxes
Multiple national Citizens’ Assemblies have produced such recommendations for the aviation sector, including:
Aviation Inequality
The MASSIVE Inequality of Flying (Part 10: Sustainable Aviation)
Flying is the fastest way we can burn fossil fuels and produce greenhouse gas emissions. It is also a highly unequal activity as only 2% to 4% of the global population flew internationally in 2018, and only 1% of world population emitted 50% of CO2 from commercial aviation. (https://www.sciencedirect.com/science...)
Private jets are even worse as they are 5 to 14 times more polluting than commercial planes (per passenger), and 50 times more polluting than trains (https://www.transportenvironment.org/...)
Moreover, 1% of the global population produces over a half of total aviation emissions while 80% of the global population have never actually stepped foot onboard an aircraft
The Polluter Elite
https://www.firstpost.com/explainers/elon-musk-new-private-jet-gulfstream-g700-11563321.html
https://simpleflying.com/bill-gates-private-jet-collection/
https://www.therichest.com/luxury/amazon-air-inside-jeff-bezos-insane-150-million-private-jets/
CODE RED FOR HUMANITY
Video message by UN Secretary General at the WGII AR6 press conference
IPCC adaptation report ‘a damning indictment of failed global leadership on climate’
https://news.un.org/en/story/2022/02/1112852
Scientist Rebellion on Climate Change, Inequality and Resistance.
There is universal scientific consensus that climate change is caused by GHG emissions associated with the burning of fossil fuels in activities such as transport, heating, production. Historically, emissions have been marked by strong inequalities, both within and between countries. The US and Europe alone have produced about 50% of GHGs, even if the share of their world population is only 17% (Ritchie, 2019). Sub-Saharan African countries, with roughly the same amount of population, have produced only 4% of total emissions (Chancel et al., 2022) but are most vulnerable to seeing their land becoming completely uninhabitable by 2070 (Xu et al., 2020).
Moreover, wealthy people emit a much larger amount of GHGs than the average world citizen. The typical person in the top 1% of the global wealth emissions distribution emits hundreds of times more GHGs than the average person in the bottom half of the emission distribution (Chancel et al., 2022).
XR and SR citizens and scientists say that stopping these outrageous disparities in emissions is not only a moral imperative. It is also the most efficient way to contain emissions and avoid the most nefarious consequences of the incoming eco-climate breakdown. Banning private jets and yachts and introducing taxes on luxury consumption are examples of essential measures that policy-makers at the COP27 should implement immediately.
XR and SR practice civil resistance against the current model of economic development, which is leading us to a “collective suicide”, as vividly stated by UN Secreterary General Antonio Guterres. XR and SR citizens and scientists are aware that their action will break the law and that they will be put under arrest for these actions. Nonetheless, they think that civil resistance is necessary for societies to switch toward emergency mode, albeit past the eleventh hour.
References:
Armstrong McKay, David I., Arie Staal, Jesse F. Abrams, Ricarda Winkelmann, Boris Sakschewski, Sina Loriani, Ingo Fetzer, Sarah E. Cornell, Johan Rockström, and Timothy M. Lenton. "Exceeding 1.5° C global warming could trigger multiple climate tipping points." Science 377, no. 6611 (2022): eabn7950.
Barros, B., & Wilk, R. (2021). The outsized carbon footprints of the super-rich. Sustainability: Science, Practice and Policy, 17(1), 316-322.
Chancel, L. Thomas Piketty, Emmanuel Saez and Gabriel Zucman (2022). World Inequality Report: . https://wir2022.wid.world/
IPCC, 2022: Climate Change 2022: Mitigation of Climate Change. Contribution of Working Group III to the Sixth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change [P.R. Shukla, J. Skea, R. Slade, A. Al Khourdajie, R. van Diemen, D. McCollum, M. Pathak, S. Some, P. Vyas, R. Fradera, M. Belkacemi, A. Hasija, G. Lisboa, S. Luz, J. Malley, (eds.)]. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, UK and New York, NY, USA. doi: 10.1017/9781009157926
Ritchie, H. (2019: Who has contributed most to global CO2 emissions?, Our World in data: https://ourworldindata.org/contributed-most-global-co2
Steffen, Will, Katherine Richardson, Johan Rockström, Sarah E. Cornell, Ingo Fetzer, Elena M. Bennett, Reinette Biggs et al. "Planetary boundaries: Guiding human development on a changing planet." science 347, no. 6223 (2015): 1259855.
Wallace-Wells, D. (2019). The Uninhabitable Earth: Life After Warming, Crown InternationalXu, C., Kohler, T. A., Lenton, T. M., Svenning, J. C., & Scheffer, M. (2020). Future of the human climate niche. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 117(21), 11350-11355.
Will you resist? The SLP, ExxonMobil's new Southampton to London Heathrow aviation fuel pipeline, is cutting a swathe of destruction across South East England; putting planet and people before profit and enabling our government's ecocidal airport expansion plans.
Will you be complicit? or will you join in the resistance and #StopTheSLP ?
Listen to this powerful testimony and decide.
"We're on the brink, we see the decades of denial and failure to act. Ice caps melting, forests on fire, floods and famine"
Learn more : https://xr-southeast.uk/stop-the-southampton-to-london-heathrow-pipeline/
STRICTLY EMBARGOED FOR PRIOR RELEASE
Link to images below, available from 9.30am Monday 18th July 2022 and throughout the day:
https://xrb.link/E6Nu86
Videos and Livestreams taking place from around 8.30am. Available to view afterwards.
https://www.facebook.com/XRSouthEastUK/
Press contact
xrsoutheastmedia@gmail.com
Hashtags : #InvestInLifeNotDeath : #OurChildrensFuture : #ClimateChangeBringsConflict : #WarIsEcocide
Updates on social media
https://twitter.com/XrSouthEastUK : https://www.instagram.com/xrsoutheastuk/
Invest in Life not Death. Heart breaking “Pram Rebellion” staged at Farnborough Airshow
Climate Change brings Conflict, a dignified procession takes place as famous Air Show becomes an Arms Fair
A dignified procession takes place as the famous Farnborough Air Show becomes an Arms Fair.
In solemn procession, and in solidarity with Quakers and Greater Rushmoor Action For Peace, Extinction Rebellion drew attention to the rise in global conflict brought by climate breakdown.
Dressed in mourning clothes and pushing empty white prams, Pram Rebellion walks slowly to the sound of sorrowful music, mourning our children’s future and in memoriam of children suffering and dying now in countries most affected by conflict and climate change.
The protest takes place at the opening of the Farnborough Airshow, on a day when the temperature record for Hampshire of 36.1°C may be broken and as climate scientists anticipate Britain experiencing its first 40°C temperatures.
Farnborough Airshow is one of the largest aerospace and defence exhibitions, attracting thousands of exhibitors and visitors from all around the world. This year sees a heavy presence from arms companies including Lockheed Martin, Elbit, Rafael Armed Defence Systems and BAE Systems who are the largest defence contractors in Europe.
Hannah, 32, an actuarial consultant from Farnborough said
“Arms manufacturers are meeting in air conditioned halls to sell their destructive technologies, as ordinary people here in the UK are sweltering in a heatwave which experts tell us is a wake up call on climate change. Conflicts over basic resources like food and water are inevitable.
We must invest in life, not the machinery of death.”
Steve, 51, a company director from Surrey said
"I didn't want to dress in black funeral attire and push a heavy pram to Farnborough Arms and Airshow on the hottest day in UK records, but it's that heat that is the very reason I did. Governments around the world are fully aware that the greatest security rish posed to their countries will come as a result of climate change, and are they're pumping billions of dollars into their armed forces to be ready for the conflicts will arise. I'm not sitting back and watching the lunacy of this military spending and investment in aviation growth instead of tackling the climate disastter. My discomfort in the heat was nothing compared to those who died today, and those who will dies in the days, weeks and years ahead because of our governments' collective inaction."
The world’s armed forces are amongst the largest climate polluters, but avoid scrutiny as countries do not have to include armed forces’ emissions in their climate targets. The UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) says the UK military’s total annual carbon footprint is 3 million tonnes of carbon dioxide but Scientists for Global Responsibility (SGR) estimate the true figure to be 11m tonnes.
The MoD admits climate breakdown will increase global conflicts. Climate change is a “threat multiplier” that makes already dangerous social and political situations even worse. Countries such as China and Russia have been growing their armed forces for sometime. In the last two years alone, over 200 conflicts over water have been recorded.
The objectives of many arms companies are not socially well aligned. Prioritising profits means they sell to countries with some of the worst human rights records and even take advantage of their own countries to protect their business.
One Air Show exhibitor typifying this is BAE Systems who have a large presence at the Farnborough Airshow. Its CO2 emissions account for 30% of the UK’s arms industry.
Since the beginning of war in Ukraine, BAE Systems share price has increased by about 33% as investors expect bigger profits. Its employees are fundraising to help Ukranians, some very generously. In contrast, records of BAE Systems donations are not readily available.
BAE Systems enjoys windfall profits. However in the past when equipment it has designed fails to meet the necessary standard, it is the UK government, taxpayers, who pick up the bill. Despite being the design authority for the Type 45 destroyer, when it became apparent that the ships were unable to operate in high temperatures, the UK government had to pay an additional £160 million to make them useable.
BAE Systems' reputation is starting to affect its social licence to operate, resulting in courts acquitting people planning to sabotage their aircraft. In 2017 two protesters were arrested after breaking into BAE Systems’ Warton base. They planned to damage Typhoon jets due to be exported to Saudi Arabia, where they believed they would be used in the war in Yemen. They were both acquitted.
Even the UK government is trying to reduce its dependency on BAE Systems with the contract for the Type 31 destroyer. One defence analyst has been quoted as saying - "Were they to have bid as BAE Systems, they wouldn't win. That is absolutely obvious. The fact is that the Type 31 is slanted, probably to exclude any bid that includes BAE.”
Let's not forget where the priorities of all arms manufacturers lie, they profit from the suffering that war brings. Extinction Rebellion demands they invest in life, not death.
Notes for Editors
Greater Rushmore Action for Peace https://www.facebook.com/GRAWantiwar/
Highest maximum recorded temperature for Hampshire: 36.1°C, 1944.
https://www.hampshirelive.news/news/hampshire-news/hampshire-heatwave-could-temperatures-set-7324492
High temperatures a ‘wake-up call on climate change’
https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/uknews/high-temperatures-a-e2-80-98wake-up-call-for-climate-change-e2-80-99/ar-AAZC9M4
21 of the biggest 40 Western defence companies will be at the Airshow, which is arguably an Arms Fair.
BAE Systems, Lockheed Martin, Raytheon Technologies, Boeing, Northrop Grumman,
General Dynamics, L3Harris Technologies, Airbus, Leonardo, Thales, Honeywell, Rolls-Royce, Safran Hanwha, Elbit Systems, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Naval Group, Dassault,
Israel Aerospace Industries, Rafael Advanced Defense Systems, Jacobs
https://www.farnboroughairshow.com/fia2022/
https://www.farnboroughairshow.com/media/ivhlmrie/fia2022-exhibitor-list-260422.pdf
The Ministry of Defence acknowledges that climate change brings conflict
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/ministry-of-defence-climate-change-and-sustainability-strategic-approach/ministry-of-defence-climate-change-and-sustainability-strategic-approach-accessible-version
In the last two years alone, over 200 conflicts over water have been recorded.
https://www.worldwater.org/conflict/map/
Ukraine war: How weapons makers are profiting from the conflict
https://news.sky.com/story/ukraine-war-how-weapons-makers-are-profiting-from-the-conflict-12624574
10 ways that the Climate Crisis and Militarism are intertwined
(CounterPunch Article at www.counterpunch.org/2019/09/27/10-ways-that-the-climate-crisis-and-militarism-are-intertwined/)
World’s armed forces amongst the largest climate polluters, but avoid scrutiny
The world’s militaries are avoiding scrutiny over emissions, scientists say.
Countries do not have to include armed forces’ emissions in their targets despite estimates that the sector creates 6% of greenhouse gases.
The Ministry of Defence says the UK military’s total annual carbon footprint is 3 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e), but other sources estimate the true figure to be 11m tonnes. That is roughly the amount 6m average cars would emit annually.
A 2019 report found that the US Department of Defense is not only the largest consumer of energy in the US but is also the world’s largest institutional consumer of petroleum and, thus, the world’s largest institutional emitter of greenhouse gases. https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2022/mar/10/pentagon-us-military-emissions-climate-crisis
BAE SYSTEMS
BAE Systems CO2 emissions account for 30% of the UK arms industry
The UK-based company with the largest carbon emissions is BAE Systems, whose emissions account for about 30% of the UK arms industry’s total output.
BAE System share price is up 33% since the beginning of the war in Ukraine as shareholders expect bigger profits.
Samuel Perlo-Freeman, research coordinator for the Campaign Against Arms Trade, said: “War is good for no one but arms dealers.”
BAE Systems up 33% since the beginning of the war in Crimea.
https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/BAE-Systems-Employee-Fundraising
BAE Systems takes the profits, but when the UKs Type 45 destroyed were found not to meet the design specification and needed its power plants upgraded; the UK government had to foot the bill, even though BAE Systems was the design authority for Type 45 destroyers.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Type_45_destroyer#Characteristics
https://ukdefencejournal.org.uk/cost-type-45-destroyer-fix-revealed/
BAE Systems is the Design Authority for the Type 45, a role traditionally held by the Ministry of Defence.
https://www.naval-technology.com/projects/type-45-destroyer
In March 2018, UK MoD awarded a £160m ($226.5m) contract to BAE Systems for power and propulsion system of Type 45 destroyers as a part of power improvement project (PIP).
BAE have a large presence at Farnborough Air Show
https://www.baesystems.com/en/cybersecurity/event/farnborough-international-airshow
Meet BAE Systems in Hall 5 (FIVE exhibition hall)
The UK courts are concerned about who BAE Systems are prepared to sell arms to.
In 2017 two protesters were arrested having gained access to BAE Systems’ Warton base. They were about to damage Typhoon jets due to be exported to Saudi Arabia, where they believed they would be used in the war in Yemen.
They were acquitted. One of the protesters said - “Our acquittal was a vindication of the position we took, and a condemnation of the hypocrisy that lies at the heart of UK foreign policy.”
The UK government is trying to reduce its reliance on BAE Systems
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Type_31_frigate#National_Shipbuilding_Strategy
Nuclear Weapons and climate change
https://icanw.org.au/wp-content/uploads/Nuclear-weapons-and-our-climate-Sept-2019.pdf
The United Nations have ratified a worldwide ban on nuclear weapons, the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW) which came into force on 22nd Jan 2021. The UK has not ratified this treaty as the rest of the world calls for the end of nuclear weapons. Of the 51 countries that have ratified the treaty 48 are in the global south. This includes Thailand, Vietnam, Malawi and Ghana, countries that are most affected by climate & ecological breakdown.
International Campaign Against Nuclear Weapons https://www.icanw.org/the_treaty
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 demands are:
Press Release : Extinction Rebellion stops work on aviation fuel pipeline to Heathrow.
Extinction Rebellion South East UK
Photographs, please click here
Livestream from around 10.00am and available afterwards
https://www.facebook.com/XRSouthEastUK/
Updates on twitter https://twitter.com/XrSouthEastUK
For Immediate Publication
— START —
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.
PRESS RELEASE 21 May 2022
STRICTLY EMBARGOED FOR PRIOR RELEASE
Link to images below, available from 7.30am Saturday 21st May 2022 and throughout the day
https://show.pics.io/xr-global-media-breaking-news/search?tagId=6287a77655c6330012b0e1c7
Videos and Livestreams taking place from around 8.30am. Available to view afterwards.
https://www.facebook.com/XRSouthEastUK/
Press contacts:
XR South East Media Team : xrsoutheastmedia@gmail.com
Social Media : #FlyingToExtinction : #PrivateFlightsCostTheEarth : #StopPrivateFlightsNow
Updates on social media https://twitter.com/XrSouthEastUK : https://www.instagram.com/xrsoutheastuk/
Extinction Rebellion blockades Europe's premier private jet facility near London.
Eco-activists barricade Farnborough airport to demand end to private flights and tax-free fuel for the rich
Protest comes as world’s political and business elite prepare to fly by private jet to the Davos World Economic Forum
Extinction Rebellion is blockading the key entrances to Farnborough Airport today (21 May) to demand the UK government stops private flights now, because the rich and powerful are flying us all to extinction.
The protest comes as world leaders, influential business executives and selected billionaires prepare to fly out by private jet to meet at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, where climate action is supposedly at the top of the agenda.
Yet Davos is reknowned as the world's largest annual gathering of private jets, highlighting the sheer hypocrisy of the political and business elites attending this annual event.
Flying is the fastest way to burn fossil fuels and aviation fuel is exempt from any taxes almost everywhere on the planet, in stark contrast to the price paid for fuel at UK pumps.
In protest against this gross abuse of privilege by private flyers, Extinction Rebellion is blockading key airport entrances at Farnborough Airport today with activists locked on to an extraordinary "Tableaux of Extravagance", numerous jet fuel barrels and atop a huge tripod.
Other protesters, from across the South East of England and further afield, are at the iconic Whittle Gate with flags and banners proclaiming Flying To Extinction; Private Flights Cost The Earth; Stop Private Flights Now.
The 30,000 private flights to and from Farnborough Airport each year carry an average of just 2.3 passengers with each passenger being responsible for the emission of nine times as much carbon as an economy flight to the US and 20 times that to Spain.
Despite a key recommendation of the Climate Assembly UK to ban polluting private jets and helicopters, Farnborough Airport has been given permission to increase flight movements to 50,000 a year and has set it's goals on unsustainable expansion.
A £35 million ($47 million) hanger is scheduled to open in 2024 doubling the available temperature controlled hangar space plus a new partnership with UK-based Vertical Aerospace aims to offer a luxury four-passenger eVTOL aircraft service.
All this, as private jet use overall has seen growth rates of up to 25% whilst ordinary UK citizens are having to choose between heating and eating.
Finlay Asher, 31, aircraft engineer from Glasgow said: "Aviation is the pinnacle of climate injustice and emissions inequality... and private aviation is the absolute peak of those injustices"
Danielle McHallam, age 33, a protester from Farnborough added: “I cannot continue to sit by and watch the rich and powerful benefit from untaxed aviation fuel whilst those on low incomes are struggling to pay their energy bills or fill up their cars; 57% of the cost to fill up a car is paid in fuel duty whilst aviation fuel is not taxed at all!
“The continued overuse of private jets just underpins the breakdown of the social contract in today’s society, where the ‘elite’ can continue to operate ‘business as usual’ without any regard for the environmental or social damage they are causing."
Mike Grant, 61, a former serviceman, from Rosewell near Edinburgh said: "Davos brings together the world’s largest annual gathering of private jets, a hypocrisy of the worst order from so-called business and societal leaders when climate action is supposedly at the top of their agenda"
Dr. Ines Smyth, 72, a development and humanitarian worker from Oxford explained:
"Because of my work I travelled frequently by plane. I used to think this was justified by the nature of my job but then I started to question that. I flew on regular flights, but the justifications for private jet use are very few indeed given they're 10 times more carbon intensive than airliners.
“Many people, like myself, have stopped or limited their flying already but the recent warning from the UK Met Office that we have a mere 50 per cent chance to stay within 1.5 warming in the next 5 years makes it obvious that much more must be done about aviation. Let's start by imposing a fuel tax for private jets and then ban them all together."
Teresa, 59, a charity worker, from Oxford said
“Now is the time that every single one of us has to step up and demand the changes that are needed if we, and future generations, are to have a future”
One of the key recommendations made to the government by the Climate Assembly UK in its report The Path to Net Zero is to ban polluting private jets and helicopters. They also called for frequent fliers and those that fly further to be made to pay more. The government has shown no sign of acting on either demand. Now, a damning report commissioned by the AEF published on 16th May condemns the UK Government’s ‘Jet Zero’ plans as "techno-optimism" putting emissions targets at risk by reliance on uncertain solutions. COP26 President Alok Sharma MP acknowledged earlier this week that failure to act on the promises made at the Glasgow COP26 climate summit last year would be “an act of monstrous self-harm”
Aviation has contributed more to global heating than entire continents and the need for climate justice must be recognised. Overall 80% of the world's population have never flown, and it is the uber-rich of the wealthiest countries that cause the most harm as the people of the majority world suffer the most from the climate crisis. The UK Government holds the presidency of COP26 and has the responsibility to show leadership, the Prime Minister must act immediately to stop the harm and start by taking the first step:
Stop private flights now, they are costing us the Earth.
Notes for Editors:
Link to images below, available from 7.30am Saturday 21st May 2022 and throughout the day
https://show.pics.io/xr-global-media-breaking-news/search?tagId=6287a77655c6330012b0e1c7
Videos and Livestreams taking place from around 8.30am. Available to view afterwards.
https://www.facebook.com/XRSouthEastUK/
Press contacts:
XR South East Media Team : xrsoutheastmedia@gmail.com
Social Media : #FlyingToExtinction : #PrivateFlightsCostTheEarth : #StopPrivateFlightsNow
Updates on social media
https://twitter.com/XrSouthEastUK : https://www.instagram.com/xrsoutheastuk/
Key facts about private flights
World Economic Forum - Davos
Farnborough Airport - Hampshire,, South East UK
Countering Farnborough Airport’s greenwash on Sustainable Aviation Fuels SAF
Other references and resources:
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 demands are:
It is the intention of Extinction Rebellion to continue protesting at Farnborough Airport.
Announcements may, or may not, be made public in advance on our social media.
Extinction Rebellion is a non-violent movement and at all times we will act in accordance with our Principles and Values using non-violent strategy and tactics to bring about change.
Our reason for protest should be clear, the Earth, our home, is dying. The icecaps are melting, the forests burning as carbon emissions from fossil fuels rise, polluting the atmosphere - this is the cause of climate breakdown. The Secretary General of the United Nations has stated that we stand at “Code Red” for humanity.[1]
A mere 1% of the world’s population causes half of aviation’s emissions.[2] These are the “polluter elite”. Each private flight from Farnborough is estimated to create the same volume of CO2 emissions as nine ordinary UK citizens in a whole year. And there’s less tax to pay on aviation fuel than that paid by any driver filling up with petrol to get to work.
This must not continue, private flights are costing us the Earth.
We will not be bystanders.
References
[1] https://news.un.org/en/story/2021/08/1097362
[2]https://www.theguardian.com/business/2020/nov/17/people-cause-global-aviation-emissions-study-covid-19
[3] Extinction Rebellion activists block all major entrances to Farnborough Airport in Hampshire (2nd October 2021)
https://xr-southeast.uk/extinction-rebellion-blockades-uks-largest-private-airport/
Amazon’s fulfilment centre at Dartford, Kent is being blocked by climate activists who are disrupting the company’s business on its busiest day of the year. The action is intended to draw attention to Amazon’s exploitation of its workers and environmentally destructive and wasteful business practices on Black Friday.
The group is blocking the entrances using bamboo structures, lock-ons, and banners with the words ‘AMAZON CRIME’ and ‘INFINITE GROWTH, FINITE PLANET’ on them. They intend to stay for at least 48 hours.
The blockade is part of an international action by Extinction Rebellion targeting dozens of Amazon fulfilment centres in the UK, US, Germany and the Netherlands aimed at highlighting Amazon’s “crimes”.
Rob Callender, 31 a yoga instructor from Uxbridge said
“We need to make Amazon pay for the damage its doing to the environment, for the harm Jeff Bezos does trying to create and exploit a market for the mega-rich to get high on space tourism; and Amazon should pay for the terrible damage hyper-consumerism is doing to our planet, creating emissions, poisonous waste and burned out workers who are denied the right to unionise in most places. Black Friday is a dark day for the planet. The fact Bezos is so rich is all the proof we should need that he has used Amazon as a vehicle to exploit his way to the top, taking advantage of cheap labour, cheap financing, cheap resources, cheap oil, cheap tax havens and the impulse for convenience. Amazon must pay - the cost is our children's futures.”
Alistair, age 72 who is retired explained
“The scientists have told us in detail the consequences of climate change. Every day I wake knowing that governments and industry have agreed this is an emergency but are failing to act, ignoring the horrific consequences for my beautiful grandchildren and the millions of young people around the world. I cannot collude with this ecocide”
Extinction Rebellion says that Amazon, one of the world’s largest companies, is responsible for a long list of widely recognised “crimes” - from tax avoidance to the exploitation of workers, to rampant wastefulness and ecological destruction - while making its founder and largest shareholder Jeff Bezos one of the richest men on earth. The action aims to expose Amazon’s crimes and the wastefulness of Black Friday while holding it up as an example of a wider economic system designed to keep us hooked on buying things we don’t need, at a price the planet cannot afford. [1]
AMAZON’S CRIMES:
This list is not exhaustive.
Amazon is fast becoming a global monopoly and already controls 15% of global online retail sales and 34% of the world’s cloud-computing capacity. By controlling these essential pieces of infrastructure, Amazon can privilege its own products and services and set the terms by which other companies have access to these markets. This is proving a disaster for small independent businesses and leading to an extraordinary concentration of wealth and power.[10]
These business practices have helped Amazon's founder and largest shareholder Jeff Bezos to become the world's richest man. According to Forbes, Bezos personal wealth amounts to $177bn.[11]
Amy Pritchard, age 36 a Care Worker from London said
"We pause to reflect on the social injustice of tax avoidance, of exploiting workers, the immoral pushing of unnecessary, relentless consumption, which the natural world bears the cost of. We are creating an interruption to call out distracting greenwash and empty green promises in a climate and ecological emergency situation, and to create conversations about what has to change.”
Dr Alexander Penson, 38, Cancer Biologist from Croydon said
“Governments have been completely unwilling or unable to stop Amazon from exploiting workers, dodging taxes and acting like a monopoly. We’re here to fight for people over profit.”
Selma, age 21 a Student from Portsmouth explained
“I am taking action because business as usual is killing us. Every year millions of people are encouraged to go out and buy environmentally damaging items and abide by the system of capitalism. Amazon is one of the many corporations which are accelerating the climate crisis and causing huge amounts of waste and greenhouse gas emissions, as well as providing awful working conditions and contracts for their employees. Our actions and consumption in the global north is impacting the lives of the global majority who are disproportionately already.”
The Extinction Rebellion action coincides with a global day of action against Amazon in over 20 countries by the Make Amazon Pay Coalition which has issued a call to action asking workers and activists to participate in strikes, protests and actions to Make Amazon Pay [12]
Notes for Editors
[1] Black Friday has a carbon emissions problem
[2] Amazon says carbon emissions rose 19% in 2020
[3] Amazon says its carbon footprint grew 19% last year
[4] Amazon's growing ties to oil industry irks some employees
[5] Apple and Disney among companies backing groups against US climate bill
[6]
Amazon Employees Describe Working for Jeff Bezos' Company During Peak
Amazon accused of treating UK warehouse staff like robots
[7] Amazon workers criticize company’s record on climate change
[8] Amazon warehouses trash millions of unsold products, media reports say
[9] Amazon shifts up to £8.2bn of UK revenues to Luxembourg, report finds
Amazon had sales income of €44bn in Europe in 2020 but paid no corporation tax
Do Amazon pay tax in the UK? Boris Johnson meets Bezos
[10] Amazon global e-commerce market share 2019 l Statista
Amazon Doesn’t Just Want to Dominate the Market—It Wants to Become the Market
Amazon’s ‘Total Surveillance’ Supermarkets Have Arrived – and Could Have Dangerous Consequences
[11] Forbes Billionaires 2021: The Richest People in the World
AMAZON.COM, INC. : Shareholders Board Members Managers and Company Profile | US0231351067
[12] Make Amazon Pay
Amazon Will Face Black Friday Strikes and Protests in 20 Countries
Two Olympians use pink boat to blockade main entrance to Fawley Oil refinery as other activists swarm into site and scale two 50 foot oil silos
Protestors demand Government listens to the people and bans all fossil fuels investments NOW
Eco-campaigners have broken into ExxonMobil’s Fawley Oil terminal in Hampshire today (28 October), just three days before the COP26 Climate Summit, to demand that the Government listens to the people and stops all fossil fuel investments NOW.
The protestors, who include British Olympians Laura Baldwin and Etienne Stott, are also calling for Exxon Mobil to stop its major expansion plans at Fawley Oil Refinery. The refinery, owned by ExxonMobil subsidiary Esso Petroleum Company, is the UK’s largest oil refinery, supplying 20% of all UK fossil fuels.
Around 15 Extinction Rebellion activists gained entry to the site early this morning, under cover of darkness, cutting the electrified perimeter fences surrounding the terminal and spreading across the site in small groups to lock on to structures across the site.
Seven of the protestors have scaled two 50 foot oil silos and unfurled two banners which proclaim: “Climate Emergency” and “No Future in Fossil Fuels”.
Another group of activists, including British Olympians Laura Baldwin and Etienne Stott, are chained to a pink boat, The Beverly Geronimo, on a trailer which is blockading the main entrance to the site.
Laura Baldwin, Olympic sailor, coach and environmental protector, from Portland, said: “I am a deeply protective mother, moved to take direct action in a desperate bid to force this suicidal system to change in time to limit the climate crisis worsening and slipping past the point of no return. Watching the news this summer was horrifying and heartbreaking, witnessing catastrophic climate impacts killing people on every continent of the globe. That we, as tax payers are actually funding, through subsidies, the toxic and deadly oil industry is beyond absurd and it must stop now.”
Etienne Stott, 42, Olympic Gold Medallist at London 2012,who lives in Nottingham, added: “I think it’s totally wrong that oil companies continue to put their profits ahead of everyone’s right to a future on a living planet. We need our government to rein in these rogue companies as a matter of urgency and show to the world ahead of COP26 that the U.K. is prepared to take a genuine leadership position.”
“Watching Joe Lycett’s documentary on Channel 4 this week made me realise just how dishonest these fossil fuel giants are being and motivated me to get onboard with this action today to continue to highlight the corruption and apply pressure where it’s needed.”
The protestors are demanding the government listens to the people. They point to mounting evidence the public want more radical action than the Government is offering to tackle climate breakdown.
This month the Climate Consensus, a survey of over 22,000 people across the UK, commissioned by Demos, revealed that between 77% and 94% of respondents back a carbon tax on polluting industries, higher levies on flying and grants for heat pumps to help tackle the climate crisis. A speed limit of 60mph on motorways and a campaign to reduce meat eating by 10% were also among the most popular measures.
A YouGov survey for Global Witness shows that more than two thirds (67%) of the British public across all sectors of the population, want to see the UK as world leader on climate change, with 65% wanting the Government to shift the subsidies it provides to domestic oil and gas companies to support the expansion of renewable energy and improve the energy efficiency of people’s homes. Only 7% opposed these measures.
Yet still the government turns a deaf ear to the electorate, with Chancellor Rishi Sunak’s Budget speech this week almost devoid of any reference to the climate crisis and, just three days before the UK hosts the crucial Cop26 climate summit, he announces the halving of taxes on domestic flights, which are already far cheaper and more polluting than trains, a £21bn in funding for roads, a paltry £1.5bn for public transport and the continued freeze on fossil fuel duty.
The Fawley activists are demanding the Government listen to the nation and raise the bar as the host of the Cop26 Climate Summit next week by announcing an immediate end to all fossil fuel investment, a move which would strengthen its hand in demanding radical action from world leaders.
Scientific evidence shows we are approaching the point of no return. Earlier this year UN secretary general, António Guterres warned that the recent IPCC report on the climate crisis is nothing less than “Code Red” for humanity. He added: “We are at the verge of the abyss.”
The International Energy Agency (IEA) has also warned that exploitation and development of new oil and gas fields and the building of coal-fired power stations must stop this year if the world is to stay within safe limits of global heating and meet the goal of net zero emissions by 2050.
The campaigners also condemn ExxonMobil’s massive expansion of its diesel production facilities at Fawley, despite the banning of all combustion powered vehicle sales by 2030, and the laying of a new, larger bore pipeline to supply Heathrow and other airports with ever greater quantities of fossil fuel, despite the unequivocal science that states we need to drastically reduce emissions.
Irrefutable evidence shows that ExxonMobil has known about the devastating effects of fossil fuel production on the environment for over 40 years, concluding in 1979that it "will cause dramatic environmental effects” in the coming decades and saying “the potential problem is great and urgent”.
However, instead of acting responsibly on that knowledge, they've spent tens of millions funding climate denial and misinformation and obstructing a transition to cleaner energy sources. A senior ExxonMobil lobbyist recently admitted that the company was aggressively fighting against some of the science.
Activist Hannah Hunt, 22, a student and sailor from Brighton, warned: "We are speeding towards an unprecedented humanitarian crisis. The government must ban any new fossil fuel investment. Anything less and we fall off the cliff and condemn the next generation to the greatest level of suffering in human history and the greatest injustice. For the health of our planet, for the health of our children: science cannot be disputed, so now is the time to act."
Sarah Webb, aged 50, a special educational needs tutor from Oxfordshire, added: “I am here to stand up for what is right. Our Earth, our home is on fire, and all we hear from our Government is 'blah, blah, blah' - empty promises and failed targets. If you want a liveable future, I encourage you to stand with us."
Jonathan Kennedy, 42, mechanical engineer, Sussex, said he had acted in fear for his children’s future. He said: “We have two young children. It breaks my heart to think how our collective failure to act on the climate crisis is going to impact their generation. The government’s action is not enough. I can't stand by. I have to do what I can.”
Only protective decarbonisation of our economies can even begin to set limits on the scale of death, destruction and mass extinction that climate change brings.
At the very least there must be no new investment in fossil fuel infrastructure. This is Extinction Rebellion’s IMMEDIATE DEMAND to government: Stop all fossil fuel investment NOW.
Notes for Editors:
COP26
It’s three days before COP26. Governments around the world have a duty of care to protect the lives and well-being of their citizens. They are failing.
COP1 was set-up by the UN to deal with climate change in 1995. Since then, there have been 25 meetings. After nearly 40 years of warnings and 30 years of international climate negotiations, carbon emissions from burning fossil fuels have increased by over 50% since 1990. Meanwhile fossil fuels are subsidised at $11m a minute. Now we are at COP26 and we need action.
The climate crisis
Emissions are still rising. In fact they are rising so much that it’s predicted that instead of 1.5°C we are on a path to 3.2°C increase this century. The world is going to become a terrifying, dangerous place if we reach 3.2°C of heating.
We are already facing climate and ecological breakdown. One million animal and plant species are now threatened with extinction. People, principally those in the Global South who have done the least to create the damage are suffering and dying today and at COP26 their voices must be heard.
Sweeping changes are needed to the nature of our economy, the form of democracy, and the way we share our planet. The UK Climate Assembly showed that citizens will step up to make the tough decisions necessary to move towards a greener, fairer world if they are enabled to do so. People want change.
But, before we begin to repair the damage, we need to stop making the crisis worse. There’s no time left to lose, aiming at net zero by 2050 will mean a death sentence for millions. Denial and greenwashing must cease.
Fawley Refinery
Fawley refinery, the largest in the United Kingdom, produces 270,000 barrels of crude oil a day and supplies 20% of all UK fossil fuels. It has a multi-million pound expansion programme planned.
The refinery is owned by Esso Petroleum Company Limited, a subsidiary of Exxon Mobil Corporation who are investing a billion dollars to expand diesel production despite that all combustion powered vehicle sales will be banned in 2030.
A further development is the Southampton to Heathrow Pipeline (SLP) project replacing and expanding 90km of the underground aviation fuel pipeline. Flying cannot easily be decarbonised and the industry has no credible route to zero emissions. In fact, the UK plans to grow air traffic 60% by 2050 a completely unsustainable prospect – they fly, we die.
ExxonMobil knew
ExxonMobil knew about the overwhelming scientific consensus on man-made climate change from at least the mid-1960s, and responded by sponsoring climate science denial. This has enabled them to continue fossil fuel extraction despite knowing it causes mounting harm to people and planet. Their denial and greenwashing has continued ever since. And, as we act today, with love and humility, in defence of our beautiful planet, Exxon’s CEO is called to give testimony to the US Senate.
Listen to the People
Pink Boat: The Beverly Geronimo
The pink boat used to blockade the main gate at Fawley oil refinery is named after Beverly Geronimo, an activist murdered in the Phillipines. Beverly, 27, was an active member of the Tabing Guangan Farmers Association (TAGUAFA) and the Parents-Teachers’ Community Association (PTCA) of the Mindanao Interfaith Services Foundation Inc. (MISFI) Academy.
Since 2009, Beverly had experienced harassment, intimidation and coercion from soldiers present in their community. She was staunchly opposed large scale mining companies such as OZ Metals and Agusan Petroleum.
ends
Extinction Rebellion (AKA XR) is a non-violent direct action protest group with the goal of preventing further mass extinction and damage to the climate. The group has three main demands.
1. Tell the truth - Government must tell the truth by declaring a climate and ecological emergency, working with other institutions to communicate the urgency for change.
2. Act Now - Government must act now to halt biodiversity loss and reduce greenhouse gas emissions to net zero by 2025.
3. Go Beyond Politics - Government must create and be led by the decisions of a Citizens’ Assembly on climate and ecological justice.
TARGET YOUR LOCAL FOSSIL FUEL ENABLERS! DOWNLOAD THE CUT THE TIES ACTION PACK HERE CAMPAIGN OVERVIEW Behind the fossil fuel industry lies a shady network of corporations and organisations that legitimise and enable the activities of an industry that is killing us. These can be in the form of finance, insurance, legal, engineering, construction, PR, […]
Mass action across London targeting web of organisations propping up the fossil fuel economy · Thirteen sites hit, including those of BP, JP Morgan, the Institute of Economic Affairs, BAE Systems and the Church Of England · Protestors call for organisations to CUT THE TIES with the fossil fuel […]
Scientists and young climate campaigners are barricading multiple private airports across thirteen countries today (10 November), including Farnborough Airport and London Luton Airport’s Harrods Terminal, to demand a total ban on all private jets and a tax on frequent flyers.
PRESS RELEASE 21 May 2022 STRICTLY EMBARGOED FOR PRIOR RELEASE Link to images below, available from 7.30am Saturday 21st May 2022 and throughout the dayhttps://show.pics.io/xr-global-media-breaking-news/search?tagId=6287a77655c6330012b0e1c7 Videos and Livestreams taking place from around 8.30am. Available to view afterwards.https://www.facebook.com/XRSouthEastUK/ Press contacts: XR South East Media Team : xrsoutheastmedia@gmail.com Social Media : #FlyingToExtinction : #PrivateFlightsCostTheEarth : #StopPrivateFlightsNow Updates […]
The SLP, ExxonMobil's new Southampton to London Heathrow aviation fuel pipeline, is cutting a swathe of destruction across South East England; putting planet and people before profit and enabling our government's ecocidal airport expansion plans.
Press Release : Extinction Rebellion stops work on aviation fuel pipeline to Heathrow. Extinction Rebellion South East UK Photographs, please click here Livestream from around 10.00am and available afterwardshttps://www.facebook.com/XRSouthEastUK/Updates on twitter https://twitter.com/XrSouthEastUK For Immediate Publication — START — Funeral cortege of eco-protestors invade site to dig grave and mourn the climate destruction that the project […]
STRICTLY EMBARGOED FOR PRIOR RELEASE Link to images below, available from 9.30am Monday 18th July 2022 and throughout the day:https://xrb.link/E6Nu86 Videos and Livestreams taking place from around 8.30am. Available to view afterwards. https://www.facebook.com/XRSouthEastUK/ Press contactxrsoutheastmedia@gmail.comHashtags : #InvestInLifeNotDeath : #OurChildrensFuture : #ClimateChangeBringsConflict : #WarIsEcocide Updates on social media https://twitter.com/XrSouthEastUK : https://www.instagram.com/xrsoutheastuk/ Invest in Life not Death. […]
It is the intention of Extinction Rebellion to continue protesting at Farnborough Airport.Announcements may, or may not, be made public in advance on our social media. Extinction Rebellion is a non-violent movement and at all times we will act in accordance with our Principles and Values using non-violent strategy and tactics to bring about change. […]
Amazon’s fulfilment centre at Dartford, Kent is being blocked by climate activists who are disrupting the company’s business on its busiest day of the year. The action is intended to draw attention to Amazon’s exploitation of its workers and environmentally destructive and wasteful business practices on Black Friday.
Farnborough airport barricaded by activists locked to a stretch limousine, fuel barrels and a giant steel tripod in call for polluter elite to cut their emissions Extinction Rebellion activists have blocked all major entrances to Farnborough Airport in Hampshire today (2nd October) to protest against the shockingly high levels of CO2 that private flights emit per […]
