Four people have been occupying a critical piece of Shell's oil and gas equipment for six days now, as it’s being transported to the North Sea. [1]
Today, climbers from Germany and France joined them, scaling Shell’s 34,000 tonne oil platform. And another separate vessel carrying people from Africa, the Middle East and Europe who are being impacted by the climate crisis joined to bear witness to the protest. [2] They all brought the same message - Stop Drilling. Start Paying.
Shell has hit Greenpeace International with an injunction, threatening up to TWO YEARS jail time for a peaceful protest. If they feel inconvenienced by this, imagine what it feels like to be on the frontlines of the climate breakdown they’re causing.
Shell and the rest of the fossil fuel industry are knowingly driving the climate crisis whilst continuing to make billions in profits without paying fair taxes on those profits. [3] As their shareholders line their pockets, everyone else around the world is suffering.
People in countries that have contributed the least to the climate crisis are being impacted the most. They are facing unprecedented storms, floods, drought, wildfires and sea level rise that could submerge their major cities within a decade and are costing billions in damage. [4]
Words cannot express the pain being felt by these communities, and none of this is new. The fossil fuel industry is built upon colonialism and injustice. [5] So it is only fair that Shell takes responsibility for the lives, livelihoods and cultures that are being lost.
Today activists turned up the pressure on Shell at sea, now can you increase the pressure on land by sending a postcard to their new CEO? He’s only been in the role since January, so this is the perfect time to show him that our movement is only getting stronger.
