‘Paint the town orange!’ – Just Stop Oil wins first demand Press / July 10, 2024
Four Just Stop Oil supporters have painted Parliament Square orange to celebrate winning Just Stop Oil’s original demand, that the UK Government commit to ending all new licences and consents for fossil fuel exploration and extraction. [1]
At around 8:30 this morning, four supporters began pouring orange cornstarch-based children’s powder-paint across three intersections leading into Parliament Square. Cars proceeded to drive through the paint spreading it around the road that encircles the square.
One of those taking action this morning is Sheila Shatford, 69, an NHS nurse and grandmother from Bristol, who said:
“Just Stop Oil has won their demand for no new oil and gas, however this is not enough. Now we must demand internationally coordinated action to phase out fossil fuels. Labour must commit to cancelling all oil and gas licences granted by the Tories in their final arson spree before they left office.”
“To our new government: we have put our trust in you to keep us safe. It’s time to work with other countries to sign an international, legally binding treaty to end the extraction and burning of oil, gas and coal by 2030. Oil Kills. It’s time to protect our country and our communities. Sign the treaty!”
Today’s action comes in the wake of the new governments’ commitment to end new oil and gas licensing, in line with Just Stop Oil’s original demand, which was first issued to the UK government on 14th February 2022. During April and August 2022, Just Stop Oil supporters engaged in two rounds of disrupting the flow of oil out of key terminals around the country, causing many service stations to run out of petrol and diesel. By the 25th September 2022, the Financial Times reported Keir Starmer had pledged to end new oil and gas. This was reaffirmed on the 24th Oct 2022 when Just Stop Oil supporter, Fiona Atkinson, spoke to Keir Starmer on Nick Ferrari’s program on LBC, where the Labour leader re-stated his commitment to ending new oil and gas. Throughout 2022, mentions of ‘Just Stop Oil’ were up 400% and the campaign reached 92% name recognition nationally by November 2022. [2][3]
Throughout 2023, the saliency of the topic continued to increase, with press mentions of ‘new oil and gas’ increasing a further 23% during the year. This culminated in Rishi Sunak committing to ‘max out’ North Sea oil and gas- a story which made the front pages of The Guardian, Mirror, Telegraph, Times and The Metro on 1st Aug 2023, with the Mirror running “Just Stop Sunak” as their main title. By November 2023, polling demonstrated that Just Stop Oil actions create a positive ‘radical flank’ effect, by building support for more moderate groups, through the use of radical tactics. [4][5]
Throughout the past 2 1/2 years evidence has continued to mount that disapproval of disruptive tactics utilised by climate defenders, has had no negative impact on support for the cause itself, whilst forcing the issue to the top of the political agenda, through a process known as ‘agenda seeding’. [6]
Also taking action today is Deborah Wilde, 68, a retired teacher from London who said:
“The evidence is in, and disruptive civil resistance gets the goods! For two and a half years, Just Stop Oil supporters have been taking action to force the debate around new oil and gas up the news agenda and to the forefront of voter’s minds. We appreciate the new governments’ commitment to ending new oil and gas, but there is already enough carbon in the atmosphere to wreak havoc to our society and economy in the coming years. Labour must cancel all fossil fuel licences green-lit by the Tories and sign the fossil fuel treaty to end burning of oil, gas and coal by 2030.”
Civil resistance works. In the past year we have seen victories in Sweden and the Netherlands and now the UK. However, as long as political leaders fail to take swift and decisive action to protect our communities from the worst effects of climate breakdown, Just Stop Oil supporters, working with other groups internationally, will take the proportional action necessary to generate much needed political pressure. This summer, areas of key importance to the fossil fuel economy will be declared sites of civil resistance around the world. Sign up to take action at juststopoil.org. [7][8]
[1] Just Stop Oil is a coalition of groups working together to demand that the government immediately halt all future licensing and consents for the exploration, development and production of fossil fuels in the UK. Just Stop Oil is a member of the A22 Network of civil resistance projects. Just Stop Oil ‘Blue Lights’ policy: our policy is, and has always been, to move out of the way for emergency vehicles with siren sounding and ‘blue lights’ on. [2] https://www.ft.com/content/331a0465-4125-49d7-bf79-d4eaf90ce60c [3]
Meet the Labour Government’s New Climate Team Introducing the key politicians tasked with delivering the government’s energy transformation plans – and the jobs at the top of their intrays. By Phoebe Cooke, Adam Barnett and Joey Grostern onJul 10, 2024 @ 07:29 PDT
Top row (l-r) Steve Reed, Loiuse Haigh, Kerry McCarthy, Ed Miliband, Patrick Vallance, Lord Philip Hunt, Sarah Jones. Bottom row (l-r): Michael Shanks, Chris Stark, Miatta Fahnbulleh, Jonathan Reynolds. Credit: House of Commons official portraits. Design by Adam Barnett.
Labour has wasted no time in appointing its climate team, who are tasked with getting the UK back on track to meet its net zero targets.
As a record 335 new MPs take tours of (and selfies in) their new place of work, we take a look at those responsible for getting the UK to net zero emissions by 2050, and protecting our environment.
At the helm are former Labour leader Ed Miliband, heading up the UK’s net zero and energy security portfolio, and environment and farming secretary Steve Reed.
Chris Stark, the former chief executive of the government’s advisory body, the Climate Change Committee, was on Tuesday appointed the head of Mission Control for Clean Power, in charge of decarbonising the UK’s electricity by 2030.
The scale of the challenge is enormous. Labour plans to overhaul planning laws, and massively expand the grid to transport electricity in pylons across the country from dozens of new solar and wind farms.
Despite ditching its £28 billion climate pledge in February, the party’s attitude to tackling climate change is far more positive and engaged than the Conservatives, whose attacks on net zero appear to have cost the party votes ahead of the election.
Former environment and climate secretaries Therese Coffey and Claire Coutinho are among the 171 Conservative MPs to be leaving Parliament, along with a host of net zero sceptics.
Meanwhile Caroline Lucas, Westminster’s most vocal climate champion, has retired from politics, with four new Green MPs entering the fold.
On the flipside, Nigel Farage’s anti-net zero Reform UK party, now with five MPs in the Commons, has pledged to scrap the UK’s legally binding commitment to a 2050 climate target altogether.
Labour’s path will not be smooth. Ministers face a number of difficult decisions on hydrogen, nuclear and carbon capture and storage. They will also need to make a call on everything from allowing the “carbon neutral” Cumbria coal mine to proceed, and continued subsidies for the wood-fired power station Drax.
With briefs on climate, the environment, transport and science, the following 14 ministers are charged with kicking off Labour’s emission-reductions programme:
Has Labour just announced an immediate ban on new North Sea oil and gas licences?
Energy chief Ed Miliband's plans for the future of the sector in the north-east are already sparking controversy days after the election.
Justin Bowie By Justin Bowie July 11 2024, 3:32 pm
Labour’s plans for the future of the oil and gas industry in the north-east have already sparked controversy days after Sir Keir Starmer took power.
It has been reported the party has announced an immediate ban on new North Sea licenses.
But UK Government energy chief Ed Miliband is maintaining policy set out by Labour ahead of the election.
But does that mean there will be an immediate ban for any new oil and gas fields, or is the picture much more complicated than that? What is Labour’s stance on the energy sector?
Before the election Labour said it would not grant any new licences to proposed oil and gas fields which have not already been given approval.
Sir Keir’s party has said it will let existing oil rigs continue operating until the end of their lifespans, while upcoming projects given the green light will not be revoked.
So even though extra licences will not be approved down the line, the 100 new projects approved by Rishi Sunak last year are not being shelved. Labour’s oil and gas policies have proven controversial. Image: Michal Wachucik/Equinor
Mr Miliband has confirmed this will remain Labour’s policy going forward now the party is in power at Westminster.
A spokesperson said: “As previously stated, we will not issue new licences to explore new fields.
“We will also not revoke existing oil and gas licences and will manage existing fields for the entirety of their lifespan.”
Industry insiders were relaxed by Labour’s comments, regarding it as a continuation of the status quo. Why has this caused a fresh backlash?
The Telegraph reported Mr Miliband had overruled government officials to order an immediate ban on new drilling.
An energy spokesperson said: “This piece is a complete fabrication – it invents meetings and decisions that have not taken place.”
But Labour’s decision to stick by its plans to grant no additional licences sparked fears among those who want to see drilling continue.
Ex-Labour Councillor Barney Crockett, who quit the party over its energy policies last year, said there had been hope Mr Miliband would U-turn.
He said: “The feeling will be growing in the north-east that Mr Miliband has been given licence to declare war on the oil and gas industry in a way that’s calamitous for Aberdeen.
“Locally Labour has been saying they were confident they would change the policy once elected.” SNP Westminster leader Stephen Flynn. Image: Kami Thomson/DC Thomson.
SNP Westminster chief Stephen Flynn, an Aberdeen MP, told the Press and Journal he wants to meet Mr Miliband.
He said: “The Labour Party promised workers that there would be no cliff-edge, but I fear this is precisely that and it’s ultimately our workforce in the north-east who will pay the heaviest price.”
Aberdeenshire Tory MP Andrew Bowie said: “This reckless move by Ed Miliband confirms that Labour are no friends of Scotland’s vital oil and gas industry.” What is Scottish Labour saying?
Aberdeen Labour leader Tauqeer Malik defended his party, saying the new government’s stance was made perfectly clear prior to the election.
He told us: “This announcement has been well trailed by Labour before the election.
“This does not mean that fields such as Rosebank and Campbell cannot move forward as they can and will move forward.” Aberdeen Labour leader Tauqeer Malik. Image: Kenny Elrick/DC Thomson
Speaking on Times Radio, Scottish Labour chief Anas Sarwar said there will be no “cliff-edge” for the industry.
He added: “We are going to ramp up that transition to make sure we have a plan that works for Aberdeen.
“All of our energy policies are rooted in those principles of protecting jobs and creating more jobs.”
One Labour insider said: “It’s the same people who didn’t like the policy before who don’t like it now we’re in government.”Tell your story; Ask a question; Interpret generously http://storybythethroat.wordpress.com/tell-ask-listen/
on July 12, 2024, 7:16 pm