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House of Lords votes against flagship Bill!

Peers deliver several blows to government’s anti-protest bill

House of Lords votes against flagship public order bill on day when Extinction Rebellion protesters disrupted proceedings in chamber

Police with a climate activist who had locked himself to a railing at parliament in September. Part of the bill refers to offences such as locking-on, tunnelling and blocking roads. Photograph: Rex/Shutterstock

Tom Ambrose

Mon 30 Jan 2023 22.53 GMT

A government bill aimed at cracking down on protest has suffered a number of setbacks in the House of Lords, setting the stage for a tense showdown between parliament’s two chambers.

Peers inflicted a number of defeats on the wide-ranging public order bill, which is aimed at curbing guerrilla tactics used by protest groups.

The draft legislation’s first defeat in the Lords came when peers voted by a majority of 22 (243-221) in favour of a higher threshold before police can intervene in protests.

It means a stricter definition of “serious disruption” will be required to prevent protests by groups such as Just Stop Oil, Insulate Britain and Extinction Rebellion.

Their tactics have included blocking roads during rush hour periods.

Arguing for a higher bar before the bill’s provisions are triggered, Labour peer Vernon Coaker said: “We are going to pass legislation here where protests that all of us would regard as reasonable, all of us would regard as acceptable, are going to be illegal.”

In response, the Home Office minister Andrew Sharpe said: “What we are trying to ascertain is the point to which protesters can disrupt the lives of the general public. And the government position is clear – we are on the side of the public.

“The government wants to protect the rights of the public to go about their daily lives without let or hindrance.”

A further defeat came as a government-backed move to prevent protesting about “an issue of current debate” being used as a reasonable defence was narrowly rejected by 224 votes to 221. This part of the legislation referred to offences such as locking-on, tunnelling and blocking roads.

The defeats have set the stage for a tussle between the unelected chamber and the Commons over the proposed law, known as parliamentary ping-pong.

The debate came on a day of drama in the Lords, in which 12 Extinction Rebellion protesters disrupted proceedings, leading to a temporary adjournment.

The BIG ONE - April 21st?

 

Fossil-fuel invasion?

It beggars belief that the UN thought it a good idea to allow an authoritarian petro-state to host an already compromised Cop28

• Bill McGuire is professor emeritus of geophysical and climate hazards at UCL

‘Last week, the chief of the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company, Sultan Al Jaber, was paraded as the president of Cop28, making the triumph of the fossil-fuel sector complete.’ Photograph: Karim Sahib/AFP/Getty Images

Mon 16 Jan 2023 15.00 GMT

493

There is a battle raging over the heart and soul of the UN Cop conferences, which have taken place every year since 1995. On one side are the climate scientists, policymakers, and representatives of countries most under threat from global heating and of nations that simply “get” the disastrous effects of the climate crisis. On the other side is the fossil-fuel industry.

The battle has largely been fought under the radar, but it has been going on for some time. And those who fly the fossil-fuel flag are on the brink of victory. The attack began seriously to gain ground at Cop25. First Jair Bolsonaro’s Brazil withdrew its offer to host the event, then stand-in Chile pulled out due to civil unrest. The Spanish government stepped up at the last minute, and so did its fossil-fuel corporations. The Spanish energy giants Iberdrola and Endesa – the latter one of the country’s biggest greenhouse gas emitters – paid wads of cash to become major sponsors and buy the right to have their logos plastered all over the conference venue.

At Cop26 in Glasgow in 2021 the fossil-fuel invasion continued, this time taking the form of more than 500 delegates representing oil, gas and coal interests. These were lobbyist shock troops charged with ensuring that their industry wouldn’t be hindered in its quest to use more fossil carbon. Last year, at Cop27 – hosted by Egypt at the Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh – the fossil-fuel sector consolidated its position by hiking its contingent to a whopping 636 delegates.

The 2023 climate conference, Cop28, will be held a few weeks before Christmas in the United Arab Emirates, and the fossil-fuel lobby already knows it is getting the best present it could ever wish for. Last week, the chief of the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (Adnoc), Sultan Al Jaber, was paraded as the president of Cop28, making the triumph of the fossil-fuel sector complete. It’s like a big tobacco CEO hosting a cancer conference, except this time the health of the whole planet is at stake.

Activists at Cop27 in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt. Photograph: Peter Dejong/AP

It beggars belief that the UN thought it a good idea to allow an authoritarian petro-state to host such a critical meeting at the height of the climate emergency. Given the UAE’s huge investment in oil and gas, it was always likely that there would be serious tensions at Cop28 between action on climate and the fossil-fuel industry. Handing the presidency to Al Jaber has compromised the conference beyond repair, reinforcing concerns that the whole Cop process simply isn’t fit for purpose.

Since the first Cop in Berlin in 1995, there have been 27 climate conferences (there were two Cop6s), and despite discussion and debate, promises and pledges, warnings and entreaties, emissions have just kept on going up. While early Cops welcomed a few thousand attenders, the latest had a whopping 35,000 delegates, and it is difficult now to view the events as anything other than bloated travelling circuses that are increasingly ineffectual.

Typically, once the ceremonials and photoshoots are out of the way, the first week or so of a Cop is taken up with manoeuvring and posturing on the part of national delegations. Things get a bit more focused in the second week, then panic sets in with a day or two to go, when it begins to dawn on the hosts that they need some sort of agreement to announce to the world. Quite frankly, any will do.

Last year, it was an admittedly encouraging deal on “loss and damage”, which seeks to ensure that developing nations affected by climate breakdown receive financial assistance. The year before, it was the grandly titled Glasgow climate pact, effectively code for “we will seek to do better, honest”. The promises never sound anything less than authentic, but they are rarely binding and there is no guarantee that they will end up doing what they say on the tin.

Such is the combined might of the oil, gas and coal lobbies. Looking ahead, one thing you can guarantee is that any agreement to cut back on fossil-fuel use is extremely unlikely, and certainly won’t happen in the UAE. Fossil-fuel cutbacks have been the elephant in room since the beginning, and the closest to an accord has been a vague and frankly meaningless understanding at Cop26 to “phase down coal”.

The reality may be that – in terms of providing a way to bring emissions to heel as the science demands – the annual Cop carnival is dead. It has become a carcass to which the fossil-fuel flies are attracted and buzz in ever greater numbers. The UAE conference will bring the total number of days of Cop wrangling to almost 12 months’ worth.

Surely, this would be a good place to stop, replacing the yearly media jamboree with something else. Perhaps smaller, separate Cop standing bodies would do a better job, working behind closed doors to address the key issues – energy, transport, deforestation, loss and damage, and so on. Alongside the biggest polluters, representatives of those most affected and vulnerable to climate breakdown could have seats at the table, and powers to negotiate binding agreements would give them clout. Continuing with the status quo will do nothing less than cement the fossil-fuel takeover of the Cop process and ensure that the industry continues to get away with murder.

• Bill McGuire is professor emeritus of geophysical and climate hazards at UCL, and the author of Hothouse Earth: an Inhabitant’s Guide

Public figures speak out!

Public figures speak up for protesters in prison

January 06, 2023 by Extinction Rebellion

Brian Eno, David Gilmour, Nick Hornby, A L Kennedy, Robert Macfarlane, Ben Okri, Chris Packham, Helen Pankhurst, Miranda Richardson, Sir Simon Schama, Kamila Shamsie, Lemn Sissay, Ali Smith, Juliet Stevenson and Dame Emma Thompson are among those who have signed a letter which begins: ‘We are writing in solidarity with all those in the UK who have recently been imprisoned for taking part in nonviolent protests.’

This letter – co-ordinated by Writers Rebel and published in the Guardian – is published after a year in which over 100 protesters have been imprisoned in Britain, and in which more punitive legislation against protest has been passed.

‘We are writing in solidarity with all those in the UK who have recently been imprisoned for taking part in nonviolent protests. Right now, many people who are deeply concerned about the climate and environment are turning to civil disobedience. While it is understandable that the state wishes to limit the disruption this may cause, it is vital that the right to protest is protected. Protest plays an essential part in our society in raising public awareness and enabling change. Let us not forget the urgency of the situation that environmental protesters are highlighting. The resilience and stability of our climate and our whole ecosystem are at risk. As António Guterres has said, ‘Climate activists are sometimes depicted as dangerous radicals. But the truly dangerous radicals are the countries that are increasing the production of fossil fuels.’ We stand with all those who are trying to sound the alarm and to protect our beautiful world.’

Here is a full list of the signatories, in alphabetical order:

Sulaiman Addonia, Patience Agbabi, Amir Amirani, Josh Appignanesi, Chloe Aridjis, Ros Barber, Devorah Baum, Ned Beauman, Ian Bostridge, Frankie Boyle, Susie Boyt, Valerie Brown, Noam Chomsky, Julie Christie, Joe Corré, Lindsey Coulson, Jill Dawson, Jeremy Deller, Tishani Doshi, Cath Drake, Stella Duffy, Joe Dunthorne, Sharon Eckman, Rachel Edwards, Inua Ellams, Brian Eno, Paul Ewen, Jane Feaver, James Flint, Bella Freud, Uri Fruchtmann, Romola Garai, Maggie Gee, Zoe Gilbert, David Gilmour, Linda Grant, Neil Griffiths, Anouchka Grose, Xiaolu Guo, Mark Haddon, Chris Hedges, Peter Hobbs, Stewart Home, Nick Hornby, Philip Horne, Tansy Hoskins, Andrew Michael Hurley, Bianca Jagger, Carsten Jensen, Liz Jensen, Alice Jolly, Sadakat Kadri, A L Kennedy, Roman Krznaric, Olivia Laing, Nick Laird, Deborah Levy, Daniel Lismore, Toby Litt, Alex Lockwood, Dara McAnulty, Tom McCarthy, Robert Macfarlane, Diana McCaulay, Jarred McGinnis, Adam McKay, Jean McNeil, Tessa McWatt, Adam Marek, James Miller, Blake Morrison, Timothy Morton, Tom Mustill, Julie Myerson, Courttia Newland, Gregory Norminton, Andrew O’Hagan, Ben Okri, Susie Orbach, Chris Packham, Ruth Padel, Cindy Palmano, Helen Pankhurst, Laline Paull, Marie Phillips, Joanna Pocock, Max Porter, Chris Power, Irwin Rappaport, Kate Raworth, Miranda Richardson, Adam Roberts, Monique Roffey, Meg Rosoff, Minoli Salgado, Polly Samson, Roc Sandford, Sir Simon Schama, Anakana Schofield, Kamila Shamsie, Shelley Silas, Lemn Sissay, Ali Smith, Simon Stephens, Juliet Stevenson, Clover Stroud, Peter Tatchell, Nick Taussig, Adam Thirlwell, Rupert Thomson, Dame Emma Thompson, Matt Thorne, Jeremy Till, Matthew Todd, Jessica Townsend, Dale Vince, Ed Vulliamy, Dame Harriet Walter, Natasha Walter, Dame Marina Warner, Alex Wheatle, Sarah Winman, Karen McCarthy Woolf, Naomi Wood, Louisa Young

A few of the signatories wanted to let us know why they signed.

AL Kennedy, writer, said: ‘In the chaos and ruin the pseudo-Conservative regime has created in the UK, we have seen many treasures and values dear to most Brits destroyed. Our NHS, our beaches and rivers, our inner cities and national monuments, our arts, our transport and education systems and so much more are all on the brink of collapse. While Brits maintain their empathy and humanity, they struggle against a government with neither. Perhaps worst of all is the dogged lawlessness of those who rule us and their slow imposition of antidemocratic legislation to suppress dissent. That the UK now has political prisoners, incarcerated for defending sustainable life on Earth is yet another national disgrace.’

Ben Okri, writer, said: ‘Why is it easier to punish people who are trying to save our world than to face the causes of the environmental disaster hanging over the human race?’

Helen Pankhurst, writer and campaigner, said: ‘At Bow Street Magistrate Courts in 1908 my great grandmother Emmeline Pankhurst defended the Suffragettes’ actions by saying: “We are here, not because we are law-breakers; We are here in our efforts to become law-makers.” The same applies to the actions of climate activists today.  They have my support both because the barriers to protest that they are increasingly facing demonstrates the dangers to democracy when protest is silenced and because climate change is an existential threat that those with power must do more to confront.’ 

Juliet Stevenson, actor, said: ‘The science is irrefutable, and the devastating effects of climate change can now be seen all around us. It is not those who are in prison for protesting who are behaving irresponsibly, but our government, which has persistently refused to take appropriate action. Instead of locking up those who take to the streets in protest, the government should act now on climate change.’

Get SHELL out of British Cycling protest!

Today 4 members of British Cycling took a banner reading “Get Shell out of British Cycling” in the Wales Velodrome during the @British Cycling National Track Cycling Championships.

The oil giant Shell has agreed a sponsorship deal with British Cycling, the UK’s main governing body of cycle sport.

Sahrah, British Cycling Breeze Champion from Aberystwyth is one of the protesters. “We tried to talk to British Cycling at their AGM, but they blocked us by moving the meeting online and refusing to let us speak, but we’re not going away. Shell is one of the biggest contributors to climate breakdown, but British Cycling is helping them to pretend they’re a good, green company.” 55 year old Sahrah added “We’ll follow them round the country if we have to, to tell them that Shell shouldn’t have anything to do with cycling and to show other sporting organisations that there are consequences to taking money from one of the world’s biggest polluters.”

Tomorrow, Sunday 29th, velodrome spectators will be approached outside the Velodrome by climate protesters to raise awareness of Shell’s sponsorship deal, and asked on a survey board if they approve of the deal.

Brian Facer was the CEO of British Cycling who brokered the deal with Shell. He announced “We’re looking forward to working alongside Shell UK over the rest of this decade to widen access to the sport, support our elite riders and help our organisation and sport take important steps towards net zero – things we know our members are incredibly passionate about.”

Amidst a massive backlash against this deal just three weeks after this announcement Facer suddenly stepped down from his job.

Climate Protestors spared jail after smashing Barclays Bank windows!

Six women from Extinction Rebellion who broke the front windows of Barclay's Bank in Canary Warf in April 2022 were spared jail today! They were convicted of criminal damage and given suspended sentences. They allegedly had caused £100k worth of damage but were not ordered to pay damages but each were told to pay £500 court fees!

The Judge said that "the consensus of scientific opinion supports your view that the world faces great danger and urgent action is needed".

Barclays Bank are one of the largest fossil fuel investors in Europe having financed $5.6bn for new projects since January 2021! HSBC and Standard Charter Banks are similarly guilty!

The scary 'Heating' trend?

This image shows how temperatures have risen since 1880 and how they have accelerated in recent decades!

Our Government is not serious about the Climate Emergency!

The UK climate minister – who recently stated not all fossil fuels were the “spawn of the devil” – received campaign donations from one of the largest fuel distributors in the UK as well as an aviation consultant and recruiter, it has emerged.

Graham Stuart, the Conservative MP for Beverley and Holderness, was appointed climate minister by Rishi Sunak in September. He has responsibility for net zero strategy and low-carbon generation, and is the Commons lead for clean heat.

Stuart has confounded some during his short tenure as climate minister with claims that a fresh round of oil and gas licensing are “good for the environment” and more recently stating not all fossil fuels should be “viewed as the spawn of the devil”.

Now it has emerged that, in 2019, Stuart received a £10,000 donation towards his re-election campaign from JR Rix & Sons, a Hull-based business primarily involved in the distribution and sale of fuel, including heating oil, diesel and petrol.

Among JR Rix & Sons’ group of companies is Rix Petroleum, as well as Rix Heating, which specialises in the supply and maintenance of oil tanks and boilers; Rix Shipping, which operates a fleet of oil tankers; and Maritime Bunkering, one of the largest suppliers of marine fuels on the Humber estuary.

In addition to the fossil fuel-focused subsidiaries, Rix said it is also involved in the maintenance of offshore windfarms and carbon measurement, and is developing capabilities in low-energy lighting, solar and electric vehicle charging.

In addition, Stuart received a £2,000 donation from Bostonair, a Hull-based aviation consultant. Bostonair said 95% of its sales are in overseas markets so UK climate policy would not likely affect its business.

Source: Guardian Newspaper