Young climate activists, who came together under the name of the Just Stop Oil campaign in the UK, have occupied about 10 oil terminals in various parts of the UK since Friday.
Earlier today, protesters entered Navigator, one of the largest oil terminals in the southeast of England, to cease operations, climbed onto the roof of the facility’s loading area and locked themselves in pipes.
Members of the mostly young group, who are protesting to demand that the government phase out and ban fossil fuels such as oil, gas and coal, say their futures are at stake and are therefore taking action to disrupt the installations that supply power to much of the country, including London.
The group’s tactics are based on “non-violent acts of civil disobedience” to make their demands more visible in the public sphere, similar to the Extinction Rebellion and Insulate Britain movements.
Activists have long- and short-term demands, such as the transition to renewable energy and better isolation. The group’s website states, “We urgently need to end our dependence on fossil fuels to prevent irreversible changes in the world’s climate system.”
“I’m so scared for my future”
More than 200 people were detained in protests organized by the group, which gained hundreds of followers in a short time, since Friday.
Police cited crimes of blocking the highway, disrupting public order and damaging public and private spaces for their detention.
Speaking in the video shared by the group on Twitter during the protest at the Navigator terminal today, 23-year-old Hannah, who is among the occupants of the facility, says, “I am very afraid for my future. I am 23 years old and the only way to get people to listen to me is to lock myself in the pipes of this fuel station.”
“Boris Johnson is destroying my future by subsidizing new oil and gas ventures, supporting £25m a day. They can take my freedom, but they can’t take my courage.”
Calling attention to movement and disrupting order
Since Friday, activists have glued themselves to roads, oil drums and each other in many parts of the UK to block access to oil refineries and storage and distribution terminals, and to halt operations at the facilities.
In the Essex area over the weekend, activists aimed to stop traffic by digging tunnels under roads as well as closing intersections on roads leading to Inter Terminals and Navigator.
ExxonMobil UK, the UK’s largest private underground oil pipeline distribution network, reported that it had to close three of its terminals due to protests, but resumed normal operation after police intervention.
“We respect everyone’s right to protest in accordance with the law,” said Ben Smith, Deputy Chief Constable for Warwickshire.
Just Stop Oil group entered the field, tied, handcuffed and glued themselves to the goalposts in order to draw attention to their movements and disrupt the order in the Premier League games watched by millions of people last month.
The group had gone to the BAFTA Awards as well as the sporting events.
However, the group’s tactics of action were criticized by many for disrupting people’s lives.