A selection of news articles about about climate protests today.

XR activists including Olympians climb on oil tanker in London

Six people have been arrested after Extinction Rebellion activists, including two Olympians, scaled an oil tanker in west London.

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Stott said: “I am acting to try to disrupt the toxic fossil fuel industry that is destroying everything we hold dear. I am hoping we can slow it down long enough to create a moment where everyone can stop and think where we are going and change course.

“I am aware that my actions will cause anger to many people and I am prepared to be held accountable. But our government should also be held to account for its decisions which are destroying our planet’s ability to support human civilisation.”

The Olympic sailor Laura Baldwin, who also took part in the protest, said: “This is the most critical time in the history of humanity and I feel I must do all that I can to raise the alarm.”

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“Extinction Rebellion is calling on all peaceful, loving and determined people to step into rebellion and resistance now.”

Eco-mob cause chaos in London with protestors glued to limo and DJ’s blocking roads

Extinction Rebellion protesters have caused chaos in central London today as campaigners swamped London’s Marble Arch, to glue themselves to a limousine.

Protesters descended on Hyde Park on Saturday for “highly disruptive mass action” following several days of protests against new fossil fuel investments.

The group had prepared the disruption ahead of time, getting hold of a black limousine and parking it to block the road whilst activists to glue themselves to it.

During the “mass action” some climate campaigners were spotted playing on DJ decks whilst other lit flares, played bongos and climbed the 45-foot-tall Marble Arch.

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Essex Police make 461 Just Stop Oil protest arrests after Thurrock demonstrations

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Officers have charged a total of 23 people in connection with incidents of trespass in Thurrock. Within the last 24 hours, an additional 37 people have been arrested.

This takes the total number of arrests since the early hours of April 1 to 461.

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Hunger-striking XR activist taken from police cell to hospital

A marine biologist held by police for more than 48 hours over a climate crisis protest was taken from her cell to hospital in an ambulance.

Emma Smart, 44, one of nine scientists affiliated with Extinction Rebellion who were arrested at the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS), had gone on hunger and thirst strike to protest against the conditions in which she was being held.

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On Friday night, police called an ambulance to Charing Cross police station to take Smart to hospital. According to her supporters, she was keen not to waste hospital resources and accepted rehydration treatment, then was taken back into police custody. She was released on Saturday after appearing at Westminster magistrates court.

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9.30 update

There is very little reporting of Extinction Rebellion events at Hyde Park / Marble Arch, as if it’s censored.

18/4/22 I think muted rather than censored as a consequence of a combination of events e.g. a bank holiday weekend, news event not promoted so well, etc.