Hello John
This summer, three quarters of areas in the UK broke heat records. The planet had its hottest day on record. Greece, Hawaii and Canada saw massive wildfires. There was flooding across Europe, Asia, the Americas and most recently Libya, where thousands of people have died.
Yet the UK Government is increasing its support for fossil fuels and trying to overturn environmental protections. Are you ok with this? We’re not. XR groups across the UK have taken part in more than 90 actions in the first few weeks of September alone.
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Last weekend, we marched for an end to fossil fuels. We were part of a global coalition of organisations demanding a fair, fast and forever transition. We took action in Scotland, London, Cambridge, Manchester, Exeter, Ilkley, Bournemouth, Brighton, Belfast, Edinburgh and more.
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Investing in new fossil fuel projects is “moral and economic madness” according to the UN Secretary General. Yet there are plans to open Rosebank, a new oil field in the North Sea that would be the UK's largest; expand oil drilling at Cloghan Point in Northern Ireland; and open a new coal mine in West Cumbria. XR groups are resisting.
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These projects can not go ahead without insurance and financing. We targeted fossil fuel backers like Barclays, HSBC and Lloyd's of London. Lloyd’s have since said they will not back a new coal mine in West Cumbria.
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XR UK activists joined Dutch rebels at the A12 blockade in The Hague. Tens of thousands of people are demanding an end to the €40–46 billion of subsidies that oil and gas companies receive every year from the Dutch government. Despite being removed every day, the protest is now on its 11th day. There have been more than 5,000 arrests.
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Mothers rebellion, a movement active across 25 countries, organised a global week of action. UK actions took place in London, Leeds, South Shields, Oxford and Barnstaple.
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Last Sunday hundreds of pairs of childrens’ shoes were placed outside the entrance to the Defence & Security Equipment International Arms Fair. The UK sells weapons to 29 of the 30 countries that the Foreign Office lists as having serious human rights concerns.
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The UK Government continues to allow the use of a banned bee-killing pesticide. Though prohibited across Europe and responsible for massive ecological harm, the Government have decided it's ok to use here. XR groups in the Midlands took the protest to the MP who signed off use of the pesticide.
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Barclays Bank are the biggest funder of fossil fuels in Europe, having invested nearly $200 billion since 2016. XR Exeter protested against Devon County Council’s banking with Barclays.
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XR Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole took their protest against oil firm Perenco to its London headquarters. Perenco caused a spill in Poole Harbour earlier this year, days after the regulator had warned them about neglectful practices resulting in over 400 overdue repairs in the UK. Protesters are in solidarity with activists in Colombia and the Democratic Republic of Congo, who are also protesting against Perenco.
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Growing the movement remains a key aim for this summer and autumn. Lots of groups did outreach, including a day of street theatre, poetry & rhythms at Bridgnorth Green Festival in Shropshire.
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Christian Climate Action led 13 climate pilgrimages across the UK to call upon the government to stop oil and gas expansion. The pilgrimage were in Brighton, Bristol, Durham, Epsom, Glasgow, Newbury, Merseyside, Oxford, York and 4 in London.
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And yesterday, we went to Labour Party HQ to demand a manifesto on climate breakdown that puts an end to new licences and commits to a transition to renewables.
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Love and Rage,
XR UK
PS Missed the Open Call on Sunday? Catch up here and learn about our plans for the rest of the year.
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