JUST STOP OIL

 

         

               

On October 14th, two Just Stop Oil activists entered the National Gallery in London to throw tomato soup on Van Gogh’s famous painting “Sunflowers” before sticking their hands to the museum wall. The striking gesture went around the world bringing the spotlight on the environmental movement which, despite its recent creation, has been making headlines in the United Kingdom for months, not without criticism. 

                                                                                            

 But who are the Just Stop Oil activists and what they want?

 

 As the name suggests, Just Stop Oil activists are calling for an end to the use of fossil fuels in the United Kingdom. Specifically, that the British government immediately block all future licenses for the exploration, development and production of fossil fuels, in line with the recommendations of the International Energy Agency.                                                                                                                        

Over the months since its foundation, the group’s requests have expanded, asking the British government for subsidies for public transport, new taxes on major polluters and satisfaction of basic energy needs for all citizens in difficulty.                                                                                                 

Where does Just Stop Oil come from? 

The activist group stormed into the scene in April 2022 whit a plan to block the distribution of gasoline and other fossil fuels in southern England.

The group was born as a coalition of different groups taking inspiration in particular from Extinction Rebellion and Insulate Britain, other British environmental groups known for their participation, evolving the model into one of “civil resistance”.   

 “Extinction Rebellion and Insulate Britain have proven that civil disobedience works” reads the official Just Stop Oil website, “we need to do much more to stop the greatest crime against humanity. This is why we are entering the phase of civil resistance: it is no longer a question of a single project or campaign, it is a question of resisting a government that is damaging us, our freedoms, our rights and our future”.

Just Stop Oil’s civil resistance campaign

In the few months of activity since its foundation, Just Stop Oil has launched a series of aggressive actions of “civil resistance” to carry out its objectives.

 In April, the activists intervened by blocking petrol stations, roads, oil tankers and oil plants causing, according to the British newspaper Guardian, distribution drops in several areas of England of up to 40%

Over the last few months, supporters of this association have tried, often successfully, to block sporting events, now targeting museums and art galleries as well. The association aims to block the road system in the capital London throughout the month of  October.

 The extreme interventions of Just Stop Oil, from the road block, to the interruption of demonstrations up to soiling of works of art and to sticking hands to walls and asphalt to slow down the intervention of the police, have done and are causing discussion leading to polarized reactions also among other environmentalist associations between supporters and those who instead believe that the protest method is excessive and counterproductive for the entire movement to combat the climate crisis. To date, around 1600 Just Stop Oil activists have been arrested and more than  70 have ended up in prison.  

READ MARIA'S OPINION ON JUST STOP OIL CAMPAIGN

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  Alessia, 5scB