On the UK’s biggest highway, the M25, eco-protesters stopped service stations and vandalised pumps this morning, enraging drivers during rush hour.
Nine individuals have been detained in an effort to persuade the government to take immediate action on fossil fuels by destroying gas stations so that “no gasoline is accessible.”
Since yesterday, at least 32 Just Stop Oil activists have allegedly obstructed services at Clacket Lane, Cobham, and Thurrock, as well as stopped local depots from supplying gasoline and fuel. The impacted depots were Kingsbury, Navigator, and Grays.
So far, nine persons have been detained on suspicion of causing criminal damage.
Surrey Police said in a statement that protesters had allegedly vandalised petrol pumps and tied themselves to the forecourts.
Both sides of Clacket Lane and Cobham’s services are now out of fuel.
In an effort to get the government to act more quickly to address the climate issue, Just Stop Oil has undertaken a number of activities in recent months.
In the past, protesters have stopped highways and other gas stations around the nation. Last month, they even taped themselves to many expensive works of art in London’s museums.
Peach Trees in Blossom by Van Gogh and The Hay Wain by John Constable were two works that were targeted.
Due to their persistent obstructions of the M25, several activists are now being prosecuted in UK courts.
While they wait for their trial, which is expected to take months, a number of protestors who the organisation claims behaved peacefully have been detained in detention.
After criminal barristers decided earlier this week to strike starting in September, this might be postponed even more.
Since before the pandemic, climate activists have caused massive Extinction Rebellion protests to target London and other major cities, Insulate Britain protesters to blockade roads, and more recently, Just Stop Oil protesters have sabotaged fuel pumps and depots as part of their campaign against fossil fuels.
The organisation has come under fire online for its conduct; in a tweet this morning, an irate social media user called the activists “morons.”
Some people expressed fear that such moves would cause gasoline costs to increase again, however there is no evidence to support this.
Just Halt Oil said in a tweet sent out this morning that protests “will continue to be staged around the UK until Downing Street makes a serious commitment to stop all NEW oil and gas developments.”
Social media users weren’t entirely in agreement with the demonstrators, either. Well done, Just Stop Oil, one person wrote. I hope you don’t have to spend too much time with the cops. Continue your wonderful job.
Starting at 5 a.m. this morning, the group blocked the entrance to the gas stations at the service stations while displaying banners that read: Just Stop Oil.
Adam 53, from Gloucestershire, gave an explanation of his decision to interrupt gasoline deliveries today in a statement posted on the group’s website.
He said: “I don’t want to have to tell my grandkids that I simply stayed at home and worried about it in 20 years when they point out that we knew about the havoc and misery that the climate issue will bring.
I want to be able to say to them that I tried my best.
The organisation said, “This climatic disaster is developing as the largest global famine since the 1930s strikes, with millions of people thrown into poverty while oil and food industries post record profits.
The Just Stop Oil Coalition has issued a “Enough is Enough” call to action, urging everyone whose futures are being wrecked, who is now experiencing poverty, and who is angry by yet another betrayal by the continued reliance on oil and gas to rise up and take action.
Ending the use of fossil fuels is this generation’s “mission,” according to Sophie Sharples, a student from Brighton who is 22 years old.
“We have such a little window of time to act to prevent the total annihilation of all we know and love,” she said.
“I have to do all I can for the love of mankind and all life, and with my privilege I am able to face arrest, so I will.”
At two locations in Surrey, Clacket Lane between Junctions 5 and 6 and Cobham between Junctions 9 and 10, police have been seen at the scene attempting to get the protesters out of the way.
The third location, which is in Essex, has not yet received an update.
The organisation said in a statement posted on social media that governments all over the globe, including our own, are fully aware of the negative impacts of burning fossil fuels yet nevertheless do so.
We are now left with no choice than to aggressively thwart them. We won’t sit idly by and allow avoidable harm to occur.
‘We are now in presence at Clacket Lane & Cobham services on the M25 after allegations of protesters breaking gasoline pumps & glueing themselves to the forecourts,’ stated Surrey Police, who are responding to the Clacket Lane and Cobham locations.
There is no gasoline available at any station, including on either side of Clacket Lane, due to the damage.
We recognise the inconvenience this is creating and are moving as swiftly as we can to evict the protestors from the gas stations.
There have been nine arrests for alleged criminal damage. Through our channels, we’ll keep you informed going forward.