London – Page 6 – Earth First!

Fracking Lord’s Chelsea Mansion Drilled

The Big Rig Revolt kicked off at 8am Saturday with Frack Off London paying a surprise visit to the Chelsea Mansion owned by Lord Browne of Riverstone and Cuadrilla. The Fracking Lord’s malign influence has spread throughout the government since he was appointed to the role of recuiting business leaders to advise government departments. A variety of other actions are planned across the country throughout the day.

Unconventional gas, including Shale Gas, Coal Bed Methane (CBM) and Underground Coal Gasification (UCG), are threatening to spread thousands of wells across the British Isles. The first application for an unconventional gas development in Britain, 14 sites with 22 wells and over 20km of pipelines, was submitted to Falkirk Council by Dart Energy. Most areas off the country face some sort of threat and the climate implications of these processes are frightening.

Dressed in orange boiler suits and wearing gas masks 6 campaigners from Frack Off London erected a 20ft drilling rig outside the home of Lord Browne to highlight the peer’s involvement in UK unconventional gas development. The government has just announced that they are ending their gentleman’s agreement with Cuadrilla to suspend fracking operations in Lancashire and it could start again in Lancashire within months.

The government has plans to sell off large parts of the country next year for unconventional gas exploitation. The Chancellor, George Osborne, is also expected to announce the setting up of an Office of Shale Gas to expidite the process of fracking the country. The government is also plotting to short circuit local planning proceedures and green-light applications directly from central government, ensuring local communities have no chance to object.

WAKE UP CALL TO PROTECT THE COUNTRYSIDE FROM NEW PLANNING LEGISLATION

THE LOOSE ANTI OPEN-CAST NETWORK

WAKE-UP CALL TO PROTECT THE COUNRTYSIDE FROM LARGE SCALE MINERAL DEVELOPMENT ISSUED BY CAMPAIGN GROUP

THE LOOSE ANTI OPEN-CAST NETWORK

WAKE-UP CALL TO PROTECT THE COUNRTYSIDE FROM LARGE SCALE MINERAL DEVELOPMENT ISSUED BY CAMPAIGN GROUP

PR 2012 -15 28/1/12

Does a company want to dig a big hole near you? Is it interested in trying to extract sand, clay. gravel, stone or coal? If it is, and the site is going to be more than 100 hectares, then why not suggest to the owner that they can sidestep going to the Local Authority and have the planning application considered by a new ‘fast- track’ method. Label it a ‘Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project’ and it can then be decided on, in a year, by a Planning Inspector who, unlike local people and locally elected representatives, will not know the site, will not be affected and will not know you.

Far- fetched ideas? Unfortunately not. These ideas are part of the proposals in the Government’s Growth and Infrastructure Bill now before Parliament. It will enable secondary legislation to be passed that, in its present form , will allow an applicant to by-pass the local democratic decision making process and have their application treated as a Major Infrastructure Project. The Government have initiated a public consultation process on the proposal entitled ‘Nationally significant infrastructure planning: extending the regime to business and commercial projects: consultation’ which can be downloaded from here.

https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/nationally-significant-infrastructure-planning-extending-the-regime-to-business-and-commercial-projects

The Loose Anti Opencast Network (LAON) has analysed what the effect would be if the legislation was in place now on opencast mine proposals. There are 11 possible or actual proposals for opencast mines in England currently. Under these proposals, decisions about the four largest could be taken out of the hands of the Local Authority and given to a single unelected person to decide. Our Briefing Note “ Growth and Infrastructure Bill: Proposed 100 Hectare Threshold” published along with this Press Release @

http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2012/11/503382.html

outlines further why The Loose Anti Opencast Network argues against this proposal and urges other community and environmental groups to urgently study these proposals and voice their objections.

All responses, on forms provided in the consultation document, have to be in by 7/1/13.

About LAON

The Loose Anti-Opencast Network (LAON) has been in existence since 2009. It functions as a medium through which to oppose open cast mine applications. At present LAON links individuals and groups in N Ireland (Just Say No to Lignite), Scotland (Coal Action Scotland), Wales (Green Valleys Alliance, The Merthyr Tydfil Anti Opencast Campaign), England, (Coal Action Network), Northumberland, (Whittonstall Action Group, Halton Lea Gate Residents)) Co Durham (Pont Valley Network), Leeds, Sheffield (Cowley Residents Action Group), Kirklees, (Skelmansthorpe Action Group) Nottinghamshire (Shortwood Farm Opencast Opposition), Derbyshire (West Hallum Environment Group, Smalley Action Group and Hilltop Action Group) , Leicestershire (Minorca Opencast Protest Group) and Walsall (Alumwell Action Group).

Contacting LAON

Steve Leary LAON’Ss Co-ordinator, at infoatlaon@yahoo.com

You can now follow LAON on Twitter @ http://twitter.com/Seftonchase

‘Tar Sands Oil Orgy’ blockades Canada House in London

Canada-EU Energy Summit disrupted as Canada’s aggressive lobbying threatens EU climate legislation

This morning an ‘oil orgy’ performance-protest disrupted the Canada Europe Energy Summit, at Canada House, in London. The annual energy summit was hosted by Canadian High Commissioner Gordon Campbell and featured top officials from Shell, Total and Enbridge, along with Conservative Energy and Climate Minister John Hayes (who has recently received media attention for an alleged plot to promote the anti-wind farm agenda in the Coalition Government). The aim of the event was to promote Canada’s tar sands in Europe, and discussions included how to deal with ‘public policy risks’ such as impending European transport legislation which would discourage imports of highly-polluting fuels like tar sands into the EU market.

At 8.30am, half an hour before the event was due to start, 30 protesters rushed to the steps of Canada House and blocked the entrance with their bodies and a huge banner saying ‘Stop tar sands’. They then held a tongue-in-cheek ‘oil orgy’, featuring dancing shadowy representatives of the oil industry, and speech bubbles with ironic pro-oil statements such as ‘Destroy the Fuel Quality Directive’, ‘Canada: emerging energy supervillain’, and ‘Gag climate scientists’. The main entrance was blockaded until after the event was due to start, forcing delegates to be diverted around the protest through a back door.

“Tar sands extraction is devastating ecosystems and trampling on Indigenous rights. Worryingly, London has become a hotbed of collusion for the Canadian Government’s ‘dirty diplomats’ to schmooze with oil giants and promote tar sands in Europe,” said Suzanne Dhaliwal, from the UK Tar Sands Network. “With Europe negotiating new climate legislation which would threaten the highly carbon-intensive tar sands industry, Canada’s lobbying has become increasingly aggressive.”

The Canadian Government has recently been exposed as mounting an unprecedented lobbying campaign to undermine the EU Fuel Quality Directive (FQD), which aims to reduce emissions from transport fuel by 6% by 2020, and would label tar sands-derived fuel as highly polluting. “The Canadian Government is working overtime to undermine climate policies in Europe so that they can barrel forward with unfettered tar sands expansion,” said Hannah McKinnon of Climate Action Network Canada (see Dirty Oil Diplomacy: The Canadian Government’s Global Push to Sell the Tar Sands). “There is no doubt that the tar sands are standing in the way of Canada’s climate promises, but they shouldn’t stand in the way of Europe’s as well.”

The UK Coalition Government has been documented as supporting these attempts by the Canadian Government and British oil giants BP and Shell to undermine the FQD.

“We are already seeing the impacts of climate change around the world, and want to see the kind of leadership the European Union is taking to reducing emissions from transport fuels. But the UK Government is cosying up to Canada to sabotage key climate legislation,” said Philippa de Boissière from People & Planet. “We need to see the UK Coalition Government take action on reducing emissions rather than staying tangled in their twisted love affair with big oil.”

The protest at Canada House was organised by UK Tar Sands Network, London Rising Tide, People & Planet, Climate Justice Collective, Climate Rush, Occupy Energy, Environment and Equity Group, and Corporate Watch, as part of a global week of climate action which included actions against the Keystone XL tar sands pipeline in Washington DC and Texas.

Today’s performance-protest follows a mass action by People & Planet two weeks ago, which saw 400 students call on Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg from his Sheffield Hallam constituency, to support the FQD (‘No more sorries Nick’ mass action and e-action).

anti BP sponsorship flashmob at british museum – report & pics

this afternoon, the 'reclaim shakespeare company' ran through some of their best performances in the great court hall of the british museum, cheered on by a flashmob of up to a hundred climate activists.

click photo for large version. some rights reserved. free for credited non-commercial radical useage. otherwise contact author.

today's show marked the end of a series of guerilla performances which took place this year at various venues linked by their acceptance of BP sponsorship. these included the tate, the stratford royal shakespeare company, the national portrait gallery and the royal ballet.

the british museum has been hosting a "shakespeare: staging the world" exhibition which is BP-sponsored. activists see oil company sponsorship as an attempt to greenwash their brands and to mitigate the immense destruction caused by the deepwater horizon spill, the exploitation of the arctic, and the expansion of fracking and tar sands extraction.

earlier this year, the 'reclaim shakespeare company' infiltrated the exhibition and launched into a short performance leading to the staged ejection of the BP logo (aided by museum security) – see the video at http://vimeo.com/46968930

(Short Edit) Reclaim Shakespeare Company at BP-sponsored British Museum from rikki indymedia on Vimeo.

today, the group repeated that performance, along with other short activist plays previously seen on the stratford stage and other venues. the flashmob, which at its peak grew to more than a hundred spectators, many pre-armed with scripts, joined in the chorus "out damned logo", as the actors playing BP execs were lifted and carried out of the hall.

unlike previous performances, the museum was aware of today's plans, which had been made public.

as a result, visitors had to queue to enter via a specially erected security tent, and as well as a huge number of security staff, there were also more than a dozen police officers, including members of the forward intelligence team (dressed in normal uniform). museum staff photographed the actors and flashmob, both on the ground and from the galleries. other plain clothed characters were spotted, presumably from the corporate spy company employed by BP to keep tabs on the activist groups.

despite the huge security operation, the performances were allowed to continue, drawing the crowd round the grand court. the opening act was signalled by a drummer, and the unfurling of a large tar sands banner. visitors to the museum stopped and watched and took leaflets, and the shakespeare exhibition itself was closed by security for a while as a precautionary measure.

after around 20 minutes and some final speeches, everyone left peacefully.

today also marked the 12th anniversary of the global climate activist network, rising tide, so celebrations were held in a local pub.

for more info and to join future actions:
bp-or-not-bp.org
risingtide.org.uk
risingtide.org.uk/london
artnotoil.org.uk
no-tar-sands.org
rikki
e-mail: rikkiindymedia[At]gmail(d0t)com

Activists disrupt Shell greenwashing event

Rising Tide activists have invaded the stage tonight at a Shell-sponsored lecture at the Geological Society!

The title of the lecture – "Geological Aspects of Renewable Energy"; the *only* speaker – a Shell employee. Coincidence? Or perfect opportunity for serious greenwashing?

(The banner says – "Shell Tar Sands = 55 years First Nations treaty violations")

Frack Off (London) Stage Die In Outside Shale Gas Conference

Members of the group Frack Off (London) staged a die in outside the Responsible Shale Conference in London. [1] The conference held at Hogan and Lovells explores the benefits of shale gas and informs investors of its challenges. Speakers include members of the shale gas industry from the United States as well as senior members from StatOil, IGas and the British Geological Society. It is believed that they are preparing for the British Geological Society’s latest estimate of shale gas within the country. [2]

The demonstration comes within days of protest group No Dash for Gas’s ending their record occupation of the West Burton gas power station. [3] Both these demonstrations are part of the ongoing debate over the UK’s energy future. Last week Energy minister John Hayes entered the fray by suggesting that there are enough wind turbines in the UK and that we need to invest in shale gas. [4]

The group says that the die in was to highlight the fact that burning gas is not a clean fuel and that it will lead to us not meeting our climate change targets. Gideon George, a participant in the demonstrations says “Building more power stations to run on shale gas only leads to more coal being burned as the price drops on the global market. Instead of continuing to invest in dangerous fossil fuels, the government needs to continue to invest in renewables so that we can tackle climate change. Otherwise droughts and extreme storms like Hurricane Sandy will become commonplace.”

Fracking uses water and a mixture of chemicals to extract shale gas from the ground. The process is credited with reducing the price of gas in the United States. However in the UK the process caused two minor earthquakes in Lancashire.

END

Notes for Editor
All photos are courtesy of Guy Bell. Please contact him for high resolution photos – guy@gbphotos.com

[1]http://www.responsibleshale.co.uk/
[2]http://uk.reuters.com/article/2012/10/16/uk-shale-idUKBRE89F0JW20121016
[3]http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2012/nov/05/no-dash-for-gas-end-occupation
[4]http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/energy/9644558/Death-knell-for-wind-farms-Enough-is-Enough-says-minister.html

Frack Off (London) is a peaceful direct action group campaigning against all forms of unconventional fossil fuel extraction. They have performed street theatre outside DECC and co-hosted last year’s ‘frack mob’ outside the unconventional gas conference.

EF! Winter Moot 2013: 22-24th February, near Preston

A weekend get-together for people involved in ecological direct action, from fighting opencast coal, fracking, GM, nuclear power to road building. There’ll be discussions and campaign planning – with the emphasis on the tactics and strategies we use, community solidarity and sustainable activism.

Update: full transport details and programme at link below.

Video: Canadian Minister and Shell embarrassed over tar sands at climate conference

Watch the Canadian Environment Minister and Shell's UK Chairman having their London conference speeches hijacked by our anti-tar sands stage invaders.

Watch the Canadian Environment Minister and Shell's UK Chairman having their London conference speeches hijacked by our anti-tar sands stage invaders. See conference delegates laughing as the minister is called "an agent from a rogue petro-state", and Shell's speech referred to as "world-class greenwash".

Tar Sands Street Theatre Pictures

campaigners from the UK Tar Sands Network staged a dramatic piece of street theatre outside Chatham House. Conference attendees, including Peter Kent himself, were greeted by the disturbing spectacle of black-clad masked figures representing Canada and Shell literally ‘strangling’ climate activists. The campaigners handed out flyers and spoke to the conference attendees, questioning whether genuine solutions to climate change that would end our dependence on fossil fuels, promote climate justice and penalise highly-carbon-intensive companies could really be on the table for discussion at an event sponsored by Shell and featuring Peter Kent as a keynote speaker.

Activists disrupt speeches by Canadian Minister and Shell Chairman

Today at a high-level conference on climate change at Chatham House, London, two activists interrupted first Peter Kent, Canada’s Environment Minister, then Shell’s UK Chairman Graham van’t Hoff, as they got up to make speeches.

The first activist, Danny Chivers, accused Peter Kent of being a ‘dangerous radical’ and asked for him to be removed from the stage. The audience responded to the tongue-in-cheek speech – in which Kent was also referred to as an ‘agent from a rogue petro-state’ – with a mixture of laughter and heckling, and the protester was able to speak for several minutes before being removed by security.

During the intervention, Mr Chivers explained that Kent had clearly got into this climate change conference under false pretences. Far from being a leader on the issue, Kent is dedicated to promoting the highly destructive tar sands – despite the industry’s negative impact on local indigenous communities, and its potential to emit enough greenhouse gas to tip the world over the edge into runaway climate change. Kent also pulled Canada out of the Kyoto Protocol and his country continues to lobby fiercely against the inclusion of tar sands in the EU Fuel Quality Directive, which aims to reduce emissions from transport and has stalled as a result of Canada’s interference.

The second activist, Sophie Preston, then rose as Graham van’t Hoff was about to speak. She accused Shell – the sponsor of the event – of being a ‘world-class greenwasher’ whilst energetically lobbying against genuine national and international climate action. Shell is one of the largest operators in the tar sands and plans to double its production despite a legal challenge from the Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation who claim their treaty rights have been violated. She too was removed by security.

Earlier that morning, campaigners from the UK Tar Sands Network staged a dramatic piece of street theatre outside Chatham House. Conference attendees, including Peter Kent himself, were greeted by the disturbing spectacle of black-clad masked figures representing Canada and Shell literally ‘strangling’ climate activists. The campaigners handed out flyers and spoke to the conference attendees, questioning whether genuine solutions to climate change that would end our dependence on fossil fuels, promote climate justice and penalise highly-carbon-intensive companies could really be on the table for discussion at an event sponsored by Shell and featuring Peter Kent as a keynote speaker.

The protest follows a series of damaging revelations about how closely the Canadian government, oil companies such as Shell and BP, and some British politicians are working together to further the highly-polluting tar sands industry’s aims. Earlier this year the Fuel Quality Directive – a key piece of EU climate legislation that would discourage tar sands imports to Europe – stalled after intensive lobbying by Canada and the oil industry resulted in key member states, including the UK, not supporting it. Two weeks ago, Vince Cable, formerly Shell’s chief economist, was revealed to be ‘Contact Minister for Shell’ within the UK Coalition Government, following a Freedom of Information Request.

Danny Chivers, said ‘Inviting Peter Kent and Shell to speak at a climate change event is like asking the Cookie Monster and Homer Simpson to address a conference on healthy eating. We know that in order to have a chance of preventing runaway climate change, we need to leave the tar sands in the ground, yet Canada and Shell are intent on heavily promoting this insanely destructive industry. They are part of the problem and certainly should not be held up as experts in a discussion about effective climate solutions.’

Sophie Preston, who is a Climate Change and Policy student, said: ‘I have been to Canada and seen first-hand the devastating effects of tar sands oil extraction on the local environment and Indigenous communities whose rights are being violated. So I am very distressed to find that lobbying by Canada and Shell is now also scuppering attempts to make effective climate policy in the EU and internationally. Until it has halted all plans to expand the tar sands, Canada should be treated as a climate pariah, not invited to the table to skew the debate.’