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| Just Stop Oil: What is it and what are its goals? | Just Stop Oil: What is it and what are its goals? |
| (25 days later) | |
| Just Stop Oil activists have sprayed orange powder paint on parts of Stonehenge. | Just Stop Oil activists have sprayed orange powder paint on parts of Stonehenge. |
| The environmental campaign group has carried out many high-profile protests, including blocking roads, stopping play at sports matches and halting theatre productions. | The environmental campaign group has carried out many high-profile protests, including blocking roads, stopping play at sports matches and halting theatre productions. |
| It wants action on climate change, but its tactics are controversial. | It wants action on climate change, but its tactics are controversial. |
| What is Just Stop Oil and what are its aims? | What is Just Stop Oil and what are its aims? |
| Just Stop Oil (JSO) wants the UK to stop approving new fossil fuel projects, which are a major cause of climate change. | Just Stop Oil (JSO) wants the UK to stop approving new fossil fuel projects, which are a major cause of climate change. |
| However, in July 2023, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak announced that 100 new North Sea licences had been granted. | However, in July 2023, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak announced that 100 new North Sea licences had been granted. |
| And in November, he said further licences would be awarded annually. | And in November, he said further licences would be awarded annually. |
| The group says it uses "non-violent civil resistance" and will stop protesting when the government announces an end to fossil-fuel production. | The group says it uses "non-violent civil resistance" and will stop protesting when the government announces an end to fossil-fuel production. |
| Just Stop Oil is linked to other environmental groups, including Extinction Rebellion and Insulate Britain. | Just Stop Oil is linked to other environmental groups, including Extinction Rebellion and Insulate Britain. |
| Why is the world getting warmer? | Why is the world getting warmer? |
| 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? |
| The group came to prominence when its activists shut down major roads such as the M25 and Dartford crossing in November 2022. | The group came to prominence when its activists shut down major roads such as the M25 and Dartford crossing in November 2022. |
| Since then, JSO has also targeted several major sporting events, including the Wimbledon tennis championships, the second Ashes Test at Lord's cricket ground and the World Snooker Championship in Sheffield. | Since then, JSO has also targeted several major sporting events, including the Wimbledon tennis championships, the second Ashes Test at Lord's cricket ground and the World Snooker Championship in Sheffield. |
| The World Snooker Championship match at the Crucible, in Sheffield, was abandoned after Just Stop Oil's intervention | The World Snooker Championship match at the Crucible, in Sheffield, was abandoned after Just Stop Oil's intervention |
| Cultural events, including a performance of the musical Les Miserables in London and a BBC Proms concert at the Royal Albert Hall, have also been disrupted. | Cultural events, including a performance of the musical Les Miserables in London and a BBC Proms concert at the Royal Albert Hall, have also been disrupted. |
| In the National Gallery, supporters threw tomato soup over Vincent Van Gogh's painting Sunflowers and smashed the protective glass screen on Diego Velazquez's Rokeby Venus. | In the National Gallery, supporters threw tomato soup over Vincent Van Gogh's painting Sunflowers and smashed the protective glass screen on Diego Velazquez's Rokeby Venus. |
| JSO protesters also damaged the case around the Magna Carta, at the British Library. | JSO protesters also damaged the case around the Magna Carta, at the British Library. |
| In June 2024, two activists were arrested on suspicion of damaging Stonehenge, a United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (Unesco) world heritage site. | In June 2024, two activists were arrested on suspicion of damaging Stonehenge, a United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (Unesco) world heritage site. |
| Just Stop Oil said the orange powder paint was cornflour and would "wash away with rain". | Just Stop Oil said the orange powder paint was cornflour and would "wash away with rain". |
| English Heritage chief executive, Dr Nick Merriman, said there appeared to be "no visible damage" after experts cleaned the site. | English Heritage chief executive, Dr Nick Merriman, said there appeared to be "no visible damage" after experts cleaned the site. |
| But Mr Sunak said it was a "disgraceful act of vandalism", while Labour leader Keir Starmer called it "outrageous" and JSO "pathetic". | But Mr Sunak said it was a "disgraceful act of vandalism", while Labour leader Keir Starmer called it "outrageous" and JSO "pathetic". |
| Is it legal for Just Stop Oil to block roads? | Is it legal for Just Stop Oil to block roads? |
| The maximum penalty for the wilful obstruction of a highway in England and Wales is 51 weeks in prison. Offenders can also be fined. | 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. |
| Anyone breaching 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. |
| The man angrily confronted the protesters - Credit: Dominic Conquest | The man angrily confronted the protesters - Credit: Dominic Conquest |
| How else is the government tackling Just Stop Oil protests? | How else is the government tackling Just Stop Oil protests? |
| In 2023, Parliament passed new anti-protest legislation under the Public Order Act. | In 2023, Parliament passed new anti-protest legislation under the Public Order Act. |
| This gives 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 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. |
| 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". | 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". |
| The new legislation, external 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 new legislation, external 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. |
| It 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. |
| Many Just Stop Oil activists have used this tactic. | Many Just Stop Oil activists have used this tactic. |
| In May 2024, BBC News reported a review into tackling political violence, by Lord Walney, would suggest "extreme protest groups" such as JSO could be banned in a similar way to terrorist organisations. | In May 2024, BBC News reported a review into tackling political violence, by Lord Walney, would suggest "extreme protest groups" such as JSO could be banned in a similar way to terrorist organisations. |
| The plan could limit the activities of organisations that have a policy of using criminal offences or causing serious disruption to influence government or public debate. | The plan could limit the activities of organisations that have a policy of using criminal offences or causing serious disruption to influence government or public debate. |
| At the time, the Home Office said ministers would consider the recommendations - but the general election was called a few weeks later and it is now unclear when or if Lord Walney's report will be published. | At the time, the Home Office said ministers would consider the recommendations - but the general election was called a few weeks later and it is now unclear when or if Lord Walney's report will be published. |
| In response, JSO said the government were the "dangerous radicals that are endangering all of us", through its climate policies. | In response, JSO said the government were the "dangerous radicals that are endangering all of us", through its climate policies. |
| What does it cost to police Just Stop Oil protests? | What does it cost to police Just Stop Oil protests? |
| In December 2023, the Met Police said it had spent £20m policing JSO protests and the time spent on the group equated to roughly 300 officers being removed front-line policing each day. | In December 2023, the Met Police said it had spent £20m policing JSO protests and the time spent on the group equated to roughly 300 officers being removed front-line policing each day. |
| It said the group "refused to engage" with police when planning protests. | It said the group "refused to engage" with police when planning protests. |
| "Our desire is that Just Stop Oil come forward and speak with us, so we can actually work with them," Cdr Kyle Gordon said. | "Our desire is that Just Stop Oil come forward and speak with us, so we can actually work with them," Cdr Kyle Gordon said. |
| "We absolutely understand and support the fundamental right to protest within a democratic society - but what we've got to do is balance that right with the rights of everybody else who is using this city." | "We absolutely understand and support the fundamental right to protest within a democratic society - but what we've got to do is balance that right with the rights of everybody else who is using this city." |
| In the past Just Stop Oil has quoted a 2021 Supreme Court ruling 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. | In the past Just Stop Oil has quoted a 2021 Supreme Court ruling 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. |
| Who funds Just Stop Oil? | Who funds Just Stop Oil? |
| According to its website, most of its money comes from the Climate Emergency Fund, external - a US network which has supported climate activism since 2019. | According to its website, most of its money comes from the Climate Emergency Fund, external - a US network which has supported climate activism since 2019. |
| That is part-funded by US philanthropist Aileen Getty, the granddaughter of petrol tycoon J Paul Getty. | That is part-funded by US philanthropist Aileen Getty, the granddaughter of petrol tycoon J Paul Getty. |
| Just Stop Oil says it also receives donations from the public and other organisations concerned about climate change. | Just Stop Oil says it also receives donations from the public and other organisations concerned about climate change. |