A retired child psychiatrist from West Yorkshire named Manny McKenzie, 63, said: “I am taking action for the first time because it is clear to me that, given the urgency of the worsening climate crisis, and the inaction, paralysis, and denial we are seeing from our political leaders, there is now no alternative.”
I feel that stopping new oil and gas projects is such a no-brainer. Allowing more oil and gas to be burned will cause a climate and ecological disaster, putting billions of people in danger of starvation and death. In contrast, decarbonizing energy, transport, and agriculture will safeguard us, improve our quality of life by fostering greater community and environmental sustainability, and serve as a model for others to follow.
And grandma and Hebden Bridge store owner Sally Hayes, 66, said: “We have two to three years left to take significant action to avert a really catastrophic collapse of the climate system.” By issuing permits for more fossil fuel extraction in defiance of every scientific advice, this administration is acting in a criminally irresponsible manner.
“I can’t simply watch as this magnificent planet and the lives of all our children are destroyed.” I find it unbearable to consider the life that lies ahead for my adorable little granddaughter.
We each have our lives, and we are all accountable for this disaster. How can we treat our kids like this?
More than 357 people have been arrested over the 13 days straight of sit-in protests by Just Stop Oil campaigners, including the one today.
Two Just Stop Oil activists, 25 members of Insulate Britain, who had been absent from the streets for 13 months, and a blockage in Parliament Square were all detained yesterday.
According to Just Stop Oil, more than 1,600 arrests have been made since the campaign’s launch on April 1.
According to a spokesperson, this is not a one-day event; rather, it is an act of resistance against a criminal government and their plan to kill as many people as possible. No new oil or gas in the UK is what we are demanding, therefore our supporters will be back today, tomorrow, the next day, the day after that, and every day until we get our wish.
“We won’t be deterred by legal reforms, and we won’t be prevented by private injunctions that aim to quiet peaceful protesters. When weighed against widespread famine, killing, the loss of our rights, freedoms, and communities, our supporters see that these are unimportant.
Yesterday, the highest police official in the UK expressed his irritation at not being able to stop protests from obstructing highways and emphasized that cops should not provide tea to demonstrators.
Sir Mark Rowley, the new Metropolitan Police Commissioner, said that he would “love to” swiftly put an end to demonstrations without having to devote “enormous” resources, but he lacks the legal authority to do so.
He complained to a London Assembly committee about how police had to wait until demonstrations by organizations like Just Stop Oil and Extinction Rebellion were judged to have caused “significant disruption” in accordance with the law before intervening.
Sir Mark claimed his police could not have been “more proactive” despite Just Stop Oil protestors obstructing traffic in Knightsbridge on Tuesday, their eleventh day of unrest, which delayed an ambulance, a fire engine, and a vehicle transporting a sick infant to the hospital.
Activists have closed down The Mall in front of Buckingham Place, fastened themselves to the top of a police vehicle near Piccadilly Circus, and barricaded bridges and highways in Westminster.
However, according to the legislation, before the police may disperse them, the Metropolitan Police’s partners, Transport for London and the local council, must certify that it causes “severe disturbance” to individuals in surrounding neighborhoods.When asked whether police should provide demonstrators mugs of tea, Sir Mark said, “I don’t believe we should do that.” This is not our problem.
He said, “Over the last 11 days, this procedure has been incredibly challenging.” And I find it irksome how much time and resources it takes away from neighborhood police.
We have invested 2,156 officer days in accomplishing this over the course of 11 days, or around 200 policemen each day.
“That’s a significant amount of police resources that aren’t dealing with problems that are important to local communities, aren’t dealing with knife crime, aren’t dealing with violence against women and girls,” the author writes.
The law is very clear that simply blocking a road is not a serious disruption in and of itself, and while it is committing some offenses in terms of obstruction of the highway, those are not prosecutable if it is a lawful protest as long as it does not go beyond reasonable bounds, he told the committee.
Police officers have to make decisions like that all the time.
“I don’t welcome the fact that I’ve been sending 200 cops a day to police this; it’s not helpful for London’s neighbourhoods, to be honest.” But I have to adhere to the rules of the law.
“I would love to be able to close these down more quickly and use fewer police resources on it at the moment, and as soon as partners who have the knowledge to assess the impact on the road network and the road services, as soon as they say this is heading towards crossing the line, we’ll be in there right away,” said the speaker. However, I don’t have the legal authority to do it till then.
Home Secretary Suella Braverman said on Tuesday that she expects police to make use of the “full powers” granted to them by the government.
She referred to the protesters’ activities in Knightsbridge as “self-defeating” and “absolutely unacceptable.”
Police eventually responded to Just Stop Oil protestors blocking a major roundabout today with a no-nonsense approach, getting out of a vehicle, asking the demonstrators, “Hello buddy, are you alright?” before handcuffing them.
Scotland Yard claimed today that it had launched a “rapid intervention” to detain 20 protesters after receiving criticism from drivers for their delayed reaction over the 13 days in a row of action by the environmental organization in London.
Today’s demonstration in St. George’s Circus in Southwark started at the tail end of rush hour at 9 a.m., and it continued until the roads were cleared at 10.40 a.m., with some protestors choosing to glue themselves to the ground to postpone their removal.
The stronger approach follows yesterday’s remarks by the senior police officer in the UK, who expressed his dissatisfaction at not being able to stop the protests that were blocking highways and emphasized that cops should not provide demonstrators mugs of tea.
Sir Mark Rowley, the new Metropolitan Police Commissioner, had said that he would “love to” swiftly put an end to the Just Stop Oil demonstrations without having to devote “enormous” resources, but he lacked the legal authority to do so.
On their thirteenth day of demonstrations, which have already led to more than 350 arrests, the demonstrators sparked a major bust-up among vehicles while blocking the crucial crossroads in South London.
Before a second witness said, “Don’t touch him, oi, leave him alone,” one guy shoved a demonstrator. What the f*** do you think you’re doing? Allow the cops to handle it. Where are the f***ing cops then, the guy said.
However, the other guy retorted: You can’t f***ing attack them like that, touch them, or physically assault them. foolish c*** ‘ Additionally, passersby tore flags from the gathering before others returned them.
In order to obstruct access to the St. George’s Circus intersection, which is situated between Lambeth North and Elephant and Castle Underground stations, the protesters set up a number of barricades starting at 9 a.m. this morning.
A video of an ambulance that was responding to an emergency call today seemed to indicate that it was also obstructed by the demonstration. The distance from St. Thomas Hospital to the intersection is around a mile.
As he was being brought away by police this morning, one protester addressed the camera and said, “I do not need the government, and no one needs the government to sign off new oil projects that will poison and kill people for the rest of our lives.” I need the government to stop issuing new oil licenses right now.
We don’t need to do any of this, we really don’t.
People are signing up to have to pick between heating and food in winter, while the Shell firm over there at the end of Waterloo Road will make billions of dollars.
“I’m not going to put up with it, and I’m going to stay here as long as I can until the cops come and take me away.” I want others to come along. Anyone can influence things. No fresh gas and oil. Come to Just Stop Oil. I’m grateful.
A biker then approached the protesters, gave them a fist bump, and said, “Thanks, great one, thank you guy, thank you, cheers, buddy. I live around here, and I really appreciate this.” the sludge that is discharged. I’m very grateful.
As they continued their campaign asking that the government freeze all new oil and gas licences and consents, the protestors continued to sit on the highways with banners and some even glued themselves to the tarmac.
One witness who supported the protestors remarked in a video posted by Just Stop Oil: “It’s great. Five minutes ago, it wasn’t there. Once everyone had queued up the exits, the Metropolitan Police had suddenly filed in front of each exit in massive numbers. They’re pulling people and forcing them to move, and I have no idea what they’re going to do.
However, they aren’t moving and are really sitting rather firmly, which is amazing. However, they are really lifting and transporting individuals. About five minutes ago, there was nothing here at all, and suddenly it all simply dropped. It occurred so rapidly. Traffic is heavy all the way back. However, they’re working really hard.
‘The Met has promptly responded to today’s demonstrations in St George’s Circus near Blackfriars at 9.30am,’ a Metropolitan Police spokeswoman stated at 10:20am. So far, police have detained 11 individuals. Access to Westminster Bridge Road is limited.
To reopen traffic, officers are moving as rapidly as they can. Some demonstrators have used adhesive to adhere to the ground. Our specialized personnel are on the spot and working swiftly to get rid of them.
When the road was finally cleared at 10.40am, the police department updated the public by stating: “As of 10.40am, fast action by officers resulted in the removal and arrest of all 20 Just Stop Oil demonstrators, including ten who had glued themselves to the road.”
At St. George’s Circus, all lanes are now open, and traffic is moving once more.
A retired social worker from Bradford, West Yorkshire, named Jane Thewlis, 60, who was one of the protestors, said: “My life’s work has been to care after people and I can’t stand to watch the misery caused by climate collapse.”
People are compelled to use food pantries because they cannot afford to heat their houses. The fact that this administration is making their misery worse while granting tax breaks to the wealthiest depresses me greatly.
No more oil and gas licenses is the clear message sent by Just Stop Oil. Let’s begin building a society where everyone is cared for.