The Leading News & Information Service For The Facilities, Workplace & Built Environment Community

Extinction Rebellion Vandalise Shell Building In Planned Week Of Protest

Extinction Rebellion activists have escalated their environmental campaign to include an attack on a Shell building in London
15 April 2019
 

With thousands of people taking to the streets of London to block high-profile locations across the capital, Extinction Rebellion activists have escalated the campaign to include arrestable disorder.

Around nine activists decided to accuse Shell of ecocide and daub its premises with paint and graffiti.

According to the highly motivated and organised environmental movement  which arranges warm-up events and training prior to its demos, ecocide describes 'human activities that cause extensive damage to, destruction of or loss of ecosystems and which diminish the health and well-being of species within these ecosystems including humans'.

 

Glued to the windows

Multiple activists glued themselves on to the windows and blocked the doors of the Shell building in support of Stop the Ecocide campaign. A mob also smashed the glass of the revolving doors, with others climbing a scaffolding at the premises. A banner was attached to the scaffolding reading ‘Shell Knows’. Marchers carried banners that said ‘Fossil fuels are killing us – zero carbon now’, plus placards with Shell logos demanding the company 'Tell the Truth'.

The activists also spray painted walls with the word ‘Lies’.

 

Damage target

By intentionally causing more than £6,000 worth of damage, the activists aim to get the case into the Crown Court to put their case to a jury rather than have the case heard in a Magistrate’s court where judges sit alone.

 

Attenborough

The Extinction Rebellion London blockade, either by plan or coincidence, will take part in the same week an 'Urgent' documentary by Sir David Attenborough will again show what climate change is doing, whilst warning that the world is at the last point in time that it can realistically make the changes that will allow climate destruction to be reversed.

 

Rationale

An Extinction Rebellion spokesperson told ThisWeekinFM: "Shell has spent millions of pounds lobbying against action and has actively undermined renewable targets that could steer us away from the worst effects of ecological breakdown."

Another activists stated: “Climate negotiations have failed to prevent the escalating harm. You can’t negotiate with hurricanes, or melting ice caps. A criminal law against ecocide would impose a legal duty on governments to protect the planet’s biosphere.  Realistically, it’s the only reliable way to force industry and society to change direction.

“The only way to realise this in the limited window we have left for effective adaptation is to take high-profile non-violent direct action to catapult the issue into the public arena and put pressure on both government and industry.”

 

Why criminal activity?

Simon Bramwell, the ex-builder and co-founder of Extinction Rebellion told an audience: “Our laws need to prioritise nature, unfortunately our government is handling this crisis worse than its dealing with brexit… we need to change the law and send a clear signal to Shell that business as usual can no longer mean destroying lives or trashing the planet."

In something of a contradictory statement, Bramwell also claimed: "Extinction Rebellion engages in peaceful, non-violent, civil disobedience to draw attention to the most pressing issue of our time. Intentional arrests for criminal damage allow us to take this issue into the courts.

"When witnesses take the stand they promise to “tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth”. Extinction Rebellion takes that oath extremely seriously. Trials that result from acts of criminal damage provide an opportunity to tell the courts that without an urgent and radical change of course, the consequences for humanity and life on earth are likely to be catastrophic."

Picture: Extinction Rebellion activists have escalated their environmental campaign to include an attack on a Shell building in London.

Article written by Brian Shillibeer | Published 15 April 2019

Share



Related Articles

Stuck Into Stock Exchange - Protesters Glued To Entrances

Thirteeen Extinction Rebellion members glued themselves to front and back entrances at the London Stock Exchange on the morning of Thursday April 25  as the...

 Read Full Article
Monday, Bloody Monday - ER In Attack Plan As Thunberg Calls Strike

Plans are underway for a global strike - centred in the UK - of union workers and concerned citizens to call for action on climate change while Extinction Rebellion have...

 Read Full Article
XR Closes Tube On Thursday - Arrest Rate Still Rising

The arrest rate of Extinction Rebellion protestors continues to rise despite a London-wide ban on their activities. The Rebels and associated groups plan to close down...

 Read Full Article
In Pictures – Shell’s First EV Charging Hub in the UK

Shell Fulham features nine high-powered, ultra-rapid 175kW charge points which can charge most vehicles within ten minutes. A global pilot, this is the first time the...

 Read Full Article
Shell Proposes to Move Head Office to UK

Oil giant Shell is proposing to its shareholders that its headquarters should move to the UK. The proposal states that the company wishes to hold its board and...

 Read Full Article
Refusing to Fly – Heathrow Third Runway Shot Down Again

Plans to build the first full-length runway in the South-East since the second world war have hit the buffers once again.   It is nearly 18 years since a...

 Read Full Article
Union To Make April Fools Out Of OCS And Engie

Having just been awarded contracts with a total value of £1.1 billion, OCS and Engie will be disappointed to learn that strike action could be called before they...

 Read Full Article
Extinction Back - For Election Week Blues

They're back again! The morning of December 6 saw Extinction Rebellion activists block roads - with the threat to cause more and more disruption misery...

 Read Full Article
Free (And Compensated) To Do What They Want Any Old Time

Extinction Rebellion have won the legal challenge to a ban on their protests - meaning the organisation can again bring disruption to streets and offices with virtual...

 Read Full Article
At It Again - IWGB Move for Strikes At UCL

The IWGB's campaign against London universities has moved from University of London to focus on University College London. The union is balloting hundreds of...

 Read Full Article