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Just Stop Oil: What is it and what does it want? Just Stop Oil: What is it and what are its goals?
(2 months later)
Just Stop Oil has carried out a series of high-profile protests, including disrupting play at Wimbledon and Lords. Just Stop Oil has carried out many high-profile protests, including blocking roads, stopping play at sports matches and halting theatre productions.
The group is campaigning for more action on climate change, but its tactics - which have also included blocking major roads - have faced criticism. It wants action on climate change, but its tactics have faced criticism.
What is Just Stop Oil? What is Just Stop Oil and what are its aims?
Just Stop Oil is an environmental activist group founded after Extinction Rebellion and Insulate Britain, with organisers from both at the helm. Just Stop Oil wants the UK to stop allowing the production of fossil fuels, which are a major cause of climate change.
It first came to attention following a series of protests in March 2022. This included pitch invasions at several Premier League football grounds. It wants the government to "immediately halt all future licensing and consents for the exploration, development and production of fossil fuels in the UK".
What does Just Stop Oil want? However, in July 2023, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak announced that 100 new North Sea licences had been granted.
Unlike Extinction Rebellion, which campaigns on the single big issue of climate change, Just Stop Oil has a more specific focus. Just Stop Oil is linked to other environmental groups, including Extinction Rebellion and Insulate Britain.
It describes itself as "a coalition of groups working together" to demand that the government "immediately halt all future licensing and consents for the exploration, development and production of fossil fuels in the UK." What does net zero mean?
In October 2022, the government announced plans to licence up to 100 new oil and gas projects by 2025.
The group also wants greater investment in renewable energy, and better building insulation.
A really simple guide to climate change
Where does the UK get its energy and electricity?Where does the UK get its energy and electricity?
Is the UK on track to meet its climate targets?Is the UK on track to meet its climate targets?
What are Just Stop Oil's tactics?What are Just Stop Oil's tactics?
Just Stop Oil activists have staged a series of high-profile protests in recent months. Many of these closed roads, including the M25 motorway. Just Stop Oil activists have staged a series of high-profile protests. They have:
They have also: Closed roads, including the M25 motorway
interrupted a BBC Proms concert at the Royal Albert Hall, in London Stopped a theatre performance of Les Miserables in London
stopped play at Wimbledon by throwing orange-coloured confetti and jigsaw pieces on to Court 18 at the All England Club in London Interrupted a BBC Proms concert at the Royal Albert Hall
disrupted the second Ashes Test, at Lord's cricket ground in London Stopped play at the Wimbledon tennis championships
interrupted play at the World Snooker Championship in Sheffield Disrupted the second Ashes Test at Lord's
attempted to disrupt the British Grand Prix in Northamptonshire Interrupted play at the World Snooker Championship
targeted the RHS Chelsea Flower Show in London Thrown soup at Vincent van Gogh's Sunflowers, at the National Gallery
thrown soup at Vincent van Gogh's Sunflowers, at the National Gallery in London Activists interrupted Les Miserables during a performance of its famous protest song Do You Hear The People Sing?
The snooker match between Robert Milkins and Joe Perry, at the Crucible, in Sheffield, was abandoned after the interruption Like Extinction Rebellion and Insulate Britain, Just Stop Oil says it uses "non-violent civil resistance" to make its point.
Like Extinction Rebellion and Insulate Britain, Just Stop Oil activists say they are willing to use "non-violent civil resistance" to make their point in public spaces. The group says it will end protests when the government comes up with a solution to end fossil-fuel production.
The group says it is committed to ending its protests as soon as the government comes up with a solution to end fossil-fuel production. Is it legal for Just Stop Oil to block roads?
Is it legal for Just Stop oil to block roads?
No. The maximum penalty for the wilful obstruction of a highway in England and Wales is 51 weeks in prison. Offenders can also be fined.No. The maximum penalty for the wilful obstruction of a highway in England and Wales is 51 weeks in prison. Offenders can also be fined.
Several transport bodies, including National Highways and Transport for London, have sought High Court injunctions to prevent protesters disrupting major roads.Several transport bodies, including National Highways and Transport for London, have sought High Court injunctions to prevent protesters disrupting major roads.
Those in breach of an injunction can be held in contempt of court and could face imprisonment, an unlimited fine and seizure of assets. Anyone breaching an injunction can be held in contempt of court, and could face imprisonment, an unlimited fine and seizure of assets.
Several videos on social media have shown the anger of some motorists stopped from driving by Just Stop Oil activists.
The man angrily confronted the protesters - Credit: Dominic ConquestThe man angrily confronted the protesters - Credit: Dominic Conquest
The man angrily confronted the protesters - Credit: Dominic ConquestThe man angrily confronted the protesters - Credit: Dominic Conquest
Business Secretary Grant Shapps called the M25 protests "completely outrageous". "Don't go disrupting other people's lives," he told LBC. What does it cost to police Just Stop Oil protests?
In July, the Metropolitan Police said attending the group's 515 protests in London since April had cost it £7.7m, the equivalent of 23,500 officer shifts. In July 2023, the Metropolitan Police said attending the group's 515 protests in London since April had cost it £7.7m, the equivalent of 23,500 officer shifts.
During the period, the Met issued 420 Section 12 orders to clear roads and more than 270 people were arrested. During the period, the Met issued 420 Section 12 orders to clear roads, and arrested more than 270 people.
The Met also spent £7.5m policing the group's activities between October and December 2022.The Met also spent £7.5m policing the group's activities between October and December 2022.
"This isn't protest, this is crime - and there is a difference," Met Assistant Commissioner Matt Twist said. "This isn't protest, this is crime - and there is a difference," said assistant commissioner Matt Twist.
But Just Stop Oil activists point to a Supreme Court ruling in 2021 which found there should be a "certain degree of tolerance to disruption to ordinary life, including the disruption of traffic", as a result of non-violent protest. But Just Stop Oil points to a Supreme Court ruling in 2021 which found there should be a "certain degree of tolerance to disruption to ordinary life, including the disruption of traffic", as a result of non-violent protest.
A spokesman told BBC News the group "will continue to resist until the government agrees to end new oil and gas".
What else is the government doing to tackle protests?What else is the government doing to tackle protests?
Home Secretary Suella Braverman condemned the Wimbledon protests as "unacceptable".
Writing on Twitter, she said she had chaired talks at Downing Street with representatives of various sports organisations "to help tackle serious disruption of this kind".
Dealing with these protests has proved difficult for the authorities, despite arrests and court action.
In May and June 2023, Parliament passed new anti-protest legislation under the Public Order Act.In May and June 2023, Parliament passed new anti-protest legislation under the Public Order Act.
The laws grant new powers to prosecute someone who interferes with the operation or use of key national infrastructure in England and Wales - including roads, railways, and air transport. This gives new powers to prosecute someone who interferes with the operation or use of key national infrastructure in England and Wales - including roads, railways, and air transport.
Under previous legislation, the police could generally restrict a protest only if they could show it may result in "serious public disorder, serious damage to property or serious disruption to the life of the community". Previously, the police could generally only restrict a protest if they could show it may result in "serious public disorder, serious damage to property or serious disruption to the life of the community".
But the new legislation lowers the threshold for "serious disruption", allowing police to respond to action causing more than a minor delay or preventing day-to-day activities such as completing a journey. The new legislation lowers the threshold for "serious disruption", allowing police to respond to action which prevents or delays day-to-day activities such as completing a journey.
The Public Order Act also made locking-on - whereby protesters attach themselves to buildings, objects or other people - a criminal offence. It also made "locking-on" - whereby protesters attach themselves to buildings, objects or other people - a criminal offence.
The government unsuccessfully tried to introduce some of these laws under the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act in 2022.
How will the Police and Crime Bill change protests?
Just Stop Oil protesters in London in October
Who funds Just Stop Oil?Who funds Just Stop Oil?
According to its website, most of the funding for Just Stop Oil comes from the Climate Emergency Fund - a US network set up in 2019 to fund climate activism. According to its website, most of its money comes from the Climate Emergency Fund - a US network set up in 2019 to fund climate activism.
The Climate Emergency Fund is itself part-funded by Aileen Getty, a US philanthropist whose grandfather was petroleum tycoon J Paul Getty. That is part-funded by US philanthropist Aileen Getty, the granddaughter of petroleum tycoon J Paul Getty.
Just Stop Oil says it also receives donations from the public and other organisations concerned about climate change.
Related TopicsRelated Topics
Extinction RebellionExtinction Rebellion
UK climate change protestsUK climate change protests
Climate changeClimate change
Insulate BritainInsulate Britain
Just Stop OilJust Stop Oil
Carbon neutrality