… on a quiet day, I can hear her breathing

Category: Climate Crisis

  • Two Just Stop Oil activists have smashed the glass cover of a painting once famously slashed by a suffragette. 

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    Just Stop Oil break protective glass on The Rokeby Venus at the National Gallery 6 Nov 2023.
    Just Stop Oil break protective glass on The Rokeby Venus at the National Gallery 6 Nov 2023.

    The Rokeby Venus was famously slashed in the National Gallery by the suffragette Mary Richardson in 1914. Richardson left seven slashes on the painting, causing particular damage to the area between the figure’s shoulders, however, all were successfully repaired. Richardson’s action was in resistance to the UK government’s imprisonment of Emmeline Pankhurst at the time. She explained her actions after the incident- “I have tried to destroy the picture of the most beautiful woman in mythological history as a protest against the Government for destroying Mrs. Pankhurst, who is the most beautiful character in modern history.”

    Rokeby Venus damaged by suffragette Mary Richardson using a meat cleaver.
    Rokeby Venus damaged by suffragette Mary Richardson using a meat cleaver.

    Two young Just Stop Oil activists smashed the glass cover of a painting this morning. They are demanding the government immediately halt all new oil and gas projects in the UK. They then addressed the gallery by saying: “Women did not get the vote by voting; it is time for deeds not words. It is time to Just Stop Oil.” They added: “Politics is failing us. It failed women in 1914 and it is failing us now. New oil and gas will kill millions. If we love art, if we love life, if we love our families we must Just Stop Oil.”

    One of those taking action today, Hanan, 22 a student from London, said:

    “Over 100 years ago, the suffragette Mary Richardson attacked the Rokeby venus portrait for the unjust imprisonment of Emmeline Pankhurst. Today I have used similar methods in the fight for climate justice.”

    “As a kid I saw myself growing up to be an astronaut or a singer. I saw a future, however ridiculous it was. Now, those day-dreams have ended. The future we are heading for doesn’t allow space for them anymore.”

    “It’s always been down to ordinary people to tell their governments when they’ve crossed a line. Civil resistance worked for the suffragettes and it will work for us.”

    Also taking action today is Harrison Donnelly, 20, a student from Nottingham. He said:

    “Emmeline Pankhurst said: you have to make more noise than anybody else, you have to make yourself more obtrusive than anybody else, you have to fill all the papers more than anybody else.”

    “The suffragettes are proof these methods work to achieve social change. That is why we have taken this action today. New oil will destroy everything we love. I do not want to be here, but I cannot continue to see this government fail all of us.”

    A Just Stop Oil spokesperson said:

    “Emmeline Pankhurst once said: ‘The argument of the broken window pane is the most valuable argument in modern politics’. Disappointingly little has changed since 1914. From governments destroying the most beautiful character in history, to governments destroying our home, our families and our institutions in order to enrich criminal oil barons and corporations. The only thing that has ever stood in their way is ordinary people, taking to the streets to demand change. We invite everyone to join us.”

    18.45

  • Ministry release music video for “Just Stop Oil”

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    Corporate greed. Sharky politicians. Climate out-of-control. Questionable government interests. All of it comes to a head in Al Jourgensen‘s latest diatribe against the system, “Just Stop Oil.” The brand-new track – from Ministry’s upcoming 16th studio album HOPIUMFORTHEMASSES – is shared today alongside a visually stimulating music video that begs for action for the benefit of our collective future.

    Jourgensen shared:

    Ministry approves this message and the movement behind it. ENOUGH is ENOUGH!

  • Green Party urges Rishi Sunak to focus on environment and climate in King’s Speech

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    Green Party co-leader Adrian Ramsay has called for next week’s King’s Speech to tackle the climate and nature emergencies. 

    Green Party Co-leader Adrian_Ramsay. Wikipedia CC.
    Green Party Co-leader Adrian_Ramsay. Wikipedia CC.

    Ramsay said: 

    “Rishi Sunak has decided when in a climate hole keep digging. Pushing ahead with new oil and gas drilling licences is an act of environmental vandalism. Especially at a time when the country is reeling from hugely damaging storms and floods, which scientists warn will become more frequent, ferocious and destructive as our planet heats.  

    “It seems fossil fools are driving government energy policy – pushing a false narrative that extracting more climate-wrecking oil and gas out of the North Sea will lead to energy security and lower bills. Nothing could be further from the truth. 

    “Green lighting energy giants to exploit fossil fuel reserves they then sell on the global market at global prices cannot provide either security or cheaper energy bills. This can only come from ramping up cheaper and abundant renewable resources such as solar and onshore wind together with a mass home insulation programme.  

    “That’s why Green MP Caroline Lucas has set out five Bills that the government ought to introduce to tackle the climate and nature emergencies and address the cost-of-living crisis, including a Just Fossil Fuel Phaseout Bill and a Green New Deal Bill.   

    “The attack on road safety measures is a further deplorable and desperate attempt to pick up a few votes through creating a culture war. But the fact that the Conservatives need to go to such extremes to create a wedge issue with Labour shows that Labour simply aren’t offering the bold alternative or hopeful vision that our communities so desperately need.  

    “It is clear, whoever forms the government after the next general election, we are going to need more Green MPs pushing legislation that will lead to a greener, fairer, healthier and safer country.” 

  • Just Stop Oil supporters refuse to cooperate as 40 arrested

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    Just Stop Oil protest London 1 Nov 2023. Image: Just Stop Oil.
    Just Stop Oil protest London 1 Nov 2023. Image: Just Stop Oil.

    Just Stop Oil supporters from the Midlands and East of England began marching on Cromwell Road in West London today. After approximately 10 minutes, Metropolitan Police officers arrived on the scene and called for backup, demanding that protestors leave the road. Within the next 22 minutes, approximately 40 of the marchers were arrested under Section 7 of the Public Order Act 2023.

    Slow marching with Just Stop Oil today Rachel White 53, a mental health worker from Rochford said:

    “I have tried standing as a candidate for the Green Party, I have tried signing petitions, writing to MP’s, attending COP 26, but nothing’s changed. In fact it’s gotten worse, and so I can no longer be a bystander. I want my granddaughter and grandson to know I tried to do something. I want them to know their grandmother was not complicit with the crimes of this government.”

    “MPs are well informed and they know that the scale of suffering that has begun is an unprecedented crime against humanity, and that the suffering will only worsen if we do not stop oil & gas emissions, yet they’ve just green-lit Rosebank, which will emit more carbon into the atmosphere than 28 whole countries.”

    Rebecca Narracott, 46, a teacher from Norwich said:

    “I have three brilliant teenagers who I want to see grow and thrive in a healthy and safe world, but on our current trajectory, this will not be their reality. I am taking action this week because I am privileged enough to be able to, therefore it is my moral obligation to at least try.”

    “I am speaking out against our morally bankrupt and broken system of politics and governance; people have power and we must use our voices and bodies to say ‘not in our name.’ It’s time to take to the streets, join us on a slow-march, sign up at juststopoil.org.”

  • BP accused of putting ‘profit before people and planet’ as fossil fuel investments revealed

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    Extinction Rebellion protests at BP
    Extinction Rebellion protests at BP. Banner reads big profits before planet

    https://leftfootforward.org/2023/11/bp-accused-of-putting-profit-before-people-and-planet-as-fossil-fuel-investments-revealed/

    The energy giant BP has been accused of prioritising its profits over people and the planet after making £2.7 billion in profit over the last quarter, while investing £2 billion in fossil fuels.

    Leading think tank IPPR said now was a time when energy companies should be urgently responding to climate change, but instead BP has “doubled down on its oil and gas business to reap enormous profits.”

    For every £1 BP spent on low carbon investments in the last quarter, they invested £11 in fossil fuels it was revealed. And since the energy price shock began two years ago, BP has put nine times more into fossil fuels as renewables.

    BP also completed more than £14.8 billion of buybacks from surplus cash flow whilst announcing a new round of share buybacks, which will transfer £1.2 billion to shareholders.

    “It’s clear that oil and gas companies are prioritising their shareholders at the expense of the transition to clean energy, so the UK government must now take the reins by investing in renewables,” said Joseph Evans, IPPR researcher.

    Although BP’s profits have actually fallen on last year, when the oil company saw mega earnings following the rise in oil prices after the Russian invasion of Ukraine, £2.7 billion profit between July and September remains extremely high as organisations ask why ordinary people are still facing high energy bills.

    “The government has had countless opportunities to bring down our bills and emissions. Instead, all we’ve had are weakened green policies and massive tax breaks for oil and gas giants,” Friends of the Earth responded.

    …

    https://leftfootforward.org/2023/11/bp-accused-of-putting-profit-before-people-and-planet-as-fossil-fuel-investments-revealed/