A blockade in Gothenburg, Sweden, on 7 September, where a gas terminal was just denied its final permit on climate grounds. Photo: Gastivists

John,

We’re seeing the surge of people power from September’s Global Climate Strike translate in to real change.

Targeted campaigns have achieved big wins in the last two weeks, from a fossil gas terminal blocked in Sweden, to oil and gas exploration held off near one of Brazil’s sensitive coral reefs.

But our work isn’t over — and tragedies like Typhoon Hagibis remind us of the urgency of this moment. If we’re going to keep scoring wins against the fossil fuel industry, we have to continue to ride this momentum.

Enjoy this edition of Fossil Free News, and we’ll be back in two weeks with more climate movement news from around the world — and ways you can get involved.

Onwards,
Nicole

P.S. Do you have friends or family that would like this newsletter? Invite them to read too: they can sign up here. 

In Case You Missed It

Activists outside the 10 October oil and gas auction in Rio de Janeiro. Photo: Gabriel Paiva - Agência o Globo

No deal: A pristine ocean area in Brazil is safe from oil and gas exploration, after the government failed to auction four blocks affecting Abrolhos National Park. Oil executives admitted they did not make any offers because of pressure from environmental activists. Outside the auction itself, protesters demanded an ocean without oil. More

Photo: @ChannelNewsAsia

Japan: Typhoon Hagibis devastated central Japan, claiming over 75 lives as levees broke and floodwaters rose. The damage reveals that existing infrastructure is not enough to protect people in this era of more intense storms fuelled by climate crisis. More

Bank Junction in London. Photo: XR Tower Hamlets

Rebel: The International Rebellion has struck cities across the globe with an array of disruptive actions. In London, the 20,000-strong Extinction March was organized as a funeral procession to mourn ongoing ecocide, while hundreds in Prague blocked afternoon traffic. Read more about the Rebellion day by day, city by city.

EIB stalls: On Tuesday, the European Investment Bank postponed its decision on whether to end fossil fuel finance, after last-minute lobbying from the gas industry. Its draft policy would have, if approved, ended funding of fossil fuel projects by 2020. Activists have been fiercely campaigning for months – expect them to keep pressure up until the new vote in November. More

You can demand EU Finance Ministers approve this bold new fossil free path and send a signal to banks around the world: 

The Inside Story

In a huge win, the Swedish government decided last week to deny the EU-backed Gothenburg gas terminal its final permit on climate grounds. Read this inspiring letter from Fossilgasfällan, the local group that made it happen with years of resistance and a hundreds-strong blockade in September.

Do you want to start your own local group to fight the fossil fuel age? There are plenty of resources to help you get started.

Podcast Corner 

On this 10-minute episode of The Indicator, Bill McKibben talks about the beginnings of the divestment movement and why it’s necessary to ‘follow the money’ to end fossil fuel finance. Listen

The One to Watch

‘Canto al Agua’ was composed by Catalina Torres, a Colombian musician and organizer, for the Climate Strikes in Colombia. She brought 60 people together to sing it in chorus and is encouraging youth to keep using art and creativity to fight climate breakdown. Watch and listen

Use Your Power

Need more ideas for ways to get involved? Find out how you can keep up the pressure, whoever and wherever you are.

You can also take the survey to let us know how you’ve been using your power over the last two weeks.