As part of a campaign to persuade the government to eliminate its dependency on fossil fuels, over 30 protesters halted the Esso West oil facility in west London. Extinction Rebellion and Just Stop Oil activists launched a statewide action on Friday. It is to target oil terminals and refineries across the UK. They foresee that there will be more commotion in London starting on April 9. Climate change activists from the Extinction Rebellion group said on Monday they had blocked the entrance to an oil facility near London’s Heathrow Airport on their fourth day of action.
“We’re here to say that climate action cannot wait,” Andrew Smith from Extinction Rebellion said. “Right now, governments are choosing to exploit the crisis in Ukraine to hand out oil licenses and continue the fossil fuel economy that’s destroying us.”
“We know what is happening and what needs to be done. By acting in favor of corporate interest over the will of the people, the government is showing contempt for the people who elected them. How long ago did our prime minister say COP26 was our last chance to save humanity? And now they’re sidelining climate policy once again. This is not living in reality,” he added.
Further action is likely in London’s Hyde Park on April 9th
In a statement, the Extinction Rebellion said campaigners were blocking the entrance with two bamboo structures and two large banners. It said “Join Us – London 9th April” and “Stop Fossil Fuels Now”. As the Easter holidays approach, the action at the facility near Heathrow comes as the airport confronts a slew of aircraft cancellations and longer passenger wait times.
The Extinction Rebellion ascertained they were obstructing the Esso West London Oil Terminal’s gate, stopping tanks from making deliveries. However, there were no early reports of delays in or out of Heathrow. Further action is likely in London’s Hyde Park on April 9th, according to the group. Just Stop Oil shut down oil depots in Grays, Purfleet, Buncefield, Tamworth, and central Birmingham over the weekend. Over the weekend, more than 80 people were detained in Essex, with 14 being held in Staines, Surrey. In Birmingham, six people were detained.