With the overarching aim of stopping the UK government from passing new oil and gas licenses, Just Stop Oil supporters have climbed M25 gantries 4 days in a row. Coined by the group as “civil resistance”, the campaign is still in full force.
In a press release on the 7th of November 2022, Just Stop Oil lined out their plans to climb on M25 gantries with the aim of halting the traffic. Taking up position in both clockwise and anti-clockwise lanes traffic quickly came to a stop.
The night before the campaign, the group contacted Metropolitan Police and National Highways Ltd to warn them of their plan and advise a 30mph speed limit be put in place.
Due to health and safety risks, Police have no choice but to close the roads. This is how Just Stop Oil wants to get across its message.
Ahead of the M25 blockage Indigo Rumblelow said:
“What did you expect? This government is complicit in an illegal and unconstitutional plan to issue more licenses and consents for new oil and gas. A plan that will take the world over 1.5C, resulting in the collapse of ordered society, the loss of our rights and freedoms and the death of millions of people”
Indigo Rumblelow, spokesperson for Just Stop Oil. Press Release 7th of November 2022.
Happening at the same time as COP27 (the UN Climate Change Conference) the core values to combat the rapid rates of climate change are the same yet Just Stop Oil choose activism to make their point.
M25 Collison on the 9th of November: 3rd Day of Protest
On the morning of the 9th of November 2022, 2 lorries collided injuring a police officer. As well as disruption, the M25 protest is now responsible for the injury.
In a statement, Just Stop Oil acknowledged the “awful situation… it should never have come to this.” However, the group went on to say “the failure of our politics has left us with no other option”. With the Conservative party still in a turbulent state, it seems the government is coming under scrutiny from all angles.
What Happens Now?
The M25 protest comes at the end of 4 weeks of civil resistance from Just Stop Oil. During this time 678 people have been arrested.
Currently 5 Just Stop Oil supporters are in prison on remand or serving sentences.
On the 18th of October 2022, the High Court granted an interim injunction to ban protestors from blocking traffic on 17 TfL roads. On Sunday, the High Court Granted an injunction preventing M25 protests and Essex Police have confirmed that three people in connection to the protest have been charged with public nusiance.
The government is trying to pass new legislation to combat this type of protest. Currently, the maximum penalty for wilful obstruction of a highway is 51 weeks in prison. However, in response to this, Just Stop Oil has made it clear that they “will not be intimidated by changes to the law.”
Just Stop Oil says:
“Our supporters understand that [private injunctions] are irrelevant when set against mass starvation, slaughter, the loss of our rights, freedoms and communities”
Just Stop Oil Press Release 8th of November 2022.
The activist group is determined to make a change.
“The government can end this, immediately, by ending dirty new oil and gas.” With disruption still in full force, the UK government faces long-term unrest. Just Stop Oil is adamant this is the way to make a difference. At some point, something will have to give.
