How appropriate that Big Oil is being quizzed on April Fools Day In Washington. As five senior executives get hot under the collar infront of Edward Markey’s committee, international actions are taking place today to mark what has been dubbed “Fossil Fools Day”.
The Day got off to early start today in London, when activists from Rising Tide issued the Football Association with a Red Card for accepting sponsorship from E.ON – a utility company proposing to build new coal-fired power plants in the UK.
“We are taking action to prevent the fossil fuel industry from destroying our future,” said Brian Kelly from Rising Tide. “Vested interests in business and government are bent on pursuing economic growth at all costs. We need to shrink, not protect, the fossil fuel economy if we are to survive climate change.”
They were followed by other activists who blockaded the UK’s largest off shore gas terminal at Bacton in Norfolk. 40% of the UK’s domestic gas comes ashore here, is processed and distributed by pipeline.
Then protestors halted work at one of the biggest opencast coal mines in Europe, on the outskirts of Merthyr Tydfil in Wales. They intend to remain on the site for several days.
Finally at 7:30 this morning 30 people blockaded the entrances to E-on’s offices in Nottingham City Centre. People covered in green paint to represent E-on’s greenwash, locked onto the front entrance to E-on’s office and stood in front of other entrances preventing E-on workers from getting to work.
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