BP headquarters blockaded by climate activists
Written by News on 20/05/2019
Climate activists say they have “shut down” BP’s headquarters in central London and plan to blockade the building for at least a week.
Greenpeace set out a list of demands after a team descended on the property in St James’ Square in the early hours of Monday.
The activists encased themselves in five containers that were placed in front of entrances using a crane.
Others abseiled down the front of the building to block windows and unfurl banners that read: “climate emergency” in bold letters.
The action took place just weeks after protesters carried out a similar operation targeting Shell’s headquarters at the height of the Extinction Rebellion campaign.
BP said of the demonstration: “We welcome discussion, debate, even peaceful protest on the important matter of how we must all work together to address the climate challenge, but impeding safe entry and exit from an office building in this way is dangerous and clearly a matter for the police to resolve as swiftly as possible.”
The Greenpeace demonstration was timed to coincide with the energy firm’s AGM on Tuesday.
The campaign group said it was demanding that “BP immediately ends all exploration for new oil and gas and switches to investing only in renewable energy.
“If BP does not do that …it should wind down its operations entirely and go out of business.”
Activist, Paul Morozzo, said: “BP is fuelling a climate emergency that threatens millions of lives and the future of the living world.
“The science is clear – we must stop searching for new oil and gas if we want a liveable planet. BP must clean up or clear out.”
He added: “At their AGM tomorrow BPs Bob Dudley has a choice – he can immediately end oil exploration and start switching to 100% renewables or wind down the company.
(c) Sky News 2019: BP headquarters blockaded by climate activists
