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Just Stop Oil: What is it and what are its goals? Just Stop Oil: What is it and what does it want?
(about 1 month later)
A protester blocking the road Just Stop Oil has repeatedly hit the headlines in recent months after a series of high-profile protests.
Just Stop Oil has hit the headlines in recent months after a series of protests. The group is campaigning for more action on climate change but its tactics, which have included blocking major roads, have faced criticism.
The group is campaigning for more action on climate change but its tactics, which include blocking busy motorways, have faced criticism.
What is Just Stop Oil?What is Just Stop Oil?
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 is an environmental activist group founded after Extinction Rebellion and Insulate Britain, with organisers from both at the helm.
The movement first came to attention following a series of protests in March. This included pitch invasions at several Premier League football grounds, with one activist tying himself to a goalpost. The movement first came to attention following a series of protests in March 2022. This included pitch invasions at several Premier League football grounds, with one activist tying himself to a goalpost.
There have been other notable protests since then, including disruption at oil terminals and on some of the country's busiest motorways.There have been other notable protests since then, including disruption at oil terminals and on some of the country's busiest motorways.
What does Just Stop Oil want?What does Just Stop Oil want?
The group wants the government to halt new licences for the exploration of oil and other fossil fuels in the UK.The group wants the government to halt new licences for the exploration of oil and other fossil fuels in the UK.
It describes itself as "a coalition of groups working together to ensure the government commits to halting new fossil fuel licensing and production." It describes itself as "a coalition of groups working together to ensure the government commits to halting new fossil fuel licensing and production".
The government plans to license more than 100 new oil and gas projects by 2025.The government plans to license more than 100 new oil and gas projects by 2025.
A protest in London
Unlike Extinction Rebellion, which campaigns on the single big issue of climate change, Just Stop Oil's protests have a more specific focus.Unlike Extinction Rebellion, which campaigns on the single big issue of climate change, Just Stop Oil's protests have a more specific focus.
As well as calling for an end to fossil fuels, the group also wants renewable energy investment and for better building insulation to avoid energy waste. As well as calling for an end to fossil fuels, the group wants greater investment in renewable energy, and better building insulation.
Activists target MI5 and Home Office buildings A really simple guide to climate change
Why protesters are tying themselves to goalposts Where does the UK get its energy and electricity?
Protesters glue themselves to Constable masterpiece Is the UK on track to meet its climate targets?
What are Just Stop Oil's tactics?What are Just Stop Oil's tactics?
In the past few months, protesters from Just Stop Oil have thrown soup at Van Gogh's Sunflowers at the National Gallery, attempted to disrupt the British Grand Prix and caused the closure of the M25 with a series of demonstrations. Just Stop Oil activists have staged a series of high-profile protests in recent months. Many of these closed roads, including the M25 motorway.
A Just Stop Oil banner hangs on the QEII Bridge between Kent and Essex They have also:
thrown soup at Vincent van Gogh's Sunflowers, at the National Gallery
glued themselves to other paintings
interrupted play at the World Snooker Championship
attempted to disrupt the British Grand Prix
targeted the RHS Chelsea Flower Show
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 activists claim to be willing to use "non-violent civil resistance" to make their point in public spaces.Like Extinction Rebellion and Insulate Britain, Just Stop Oil activists claim to be willing to use "non-violent civil resistance" to make their point in public spaces.
According to Just Stop Oil, its supporters have been arrested nearly 2,000 times since April, with five of their supporters currently in prison. 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 to block roads? Is it legal for Just Stop oil to block roads?
Put simply - no.Put simply - no.
The maximum penalty for the wilful obstruction of a highway is 51 weeks in prison. Offenders can also receive a fine.The maximum penalty for the wilful obstruction of a highway is 51 weeks in prison. Offenders can also receive a fine.
The government is also trying to put through new legislation to crack down on these types of protest. Several transport bodies, including National Highways and Transport for London, have sought High Court injunctions to prevent protesters disrupting major roads.
The Public Order Bill would grant new powers to prosecute someone who interferes with the operation or use of key national infrastructure in England and Wales - whether on the roads, railways, or air transport infrastructure.
High Court injunctions have been sought by several transport bodies, including National Highways and Transport for London, 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.Those in breach of an injunction can be held in contempt of court and could face imprisonment, an unlimited fine and seizure of assets.
But 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" caused by non-violent protest. Several videos on social media have shown the anger of some motorists stopped from driving by Just Stop Oil activists.
Dealing with these protests is proving very difficult for the authorities, despite arrests and court action. Just Stop Oil has said it will demonstrate "every day" until the group's demand for no new oil and gas in the UK is met. The man angrily confronted the protesters - Credit: Dominic Conquest
The 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.
The Metropolitan Police has also bemoaned the number of officer shifts spent policing Just Stop Oil protests.
"These are officers who would otherwise be dealing with issues that matter to local communities, such as knife crime, safeguarding and responding to burglaries," Assistant Commissioner Matt Twist said.
But the group's 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.
What else is the government doing about these protests?
Dealing with these protests is proving very difficult for the authorities, despite several arrests and court action.
As a result, the government is trying to push through new anti-protest legislation.
The Public Order Bill would grant new powers to prosecute someone who interferes with the operation or use of key national infrastructure in England and Wales - whether on the roads, railways, or air transport infrastructure.
Under existing legislation, the police can generally restrict a protest only if they can show it may result in "serious public disorder, serious damage to property or serious disruption to the life of the community".
No 10 wants the police to be able to shut down a protest before it causes disruption.
But the House of Lords has removed this proposal from the bill. And ministers cannot reinstate it when the bill returns to the House of Commons.
How will the Police and Crime Bill change protests?
Just Stop Oil protesters in London in OctoberJust Stop Oil protesters in London in October
Why do motorways close when protesters climb gantries?Why do motorways close when protesters climb gantries?
The M25 was disrupted after protesters climbed gantries at multiple locations in November.The M25 was disrupted after protesters climbed gantries at multiple locations in November.
Part of the road was shut for the "safety of everyone involved" Surrey Police said. Part of the road was shut for the "safety of everyone involved", Surrey Police said.
Former Metropolitan Police traffic sergeant Mike Rawson agrees that closures are necessary in such situations: Former Metropolitan Police traffic sergeant Mike Rawson agrees that such closures are necessary:
"It's a health and safety issue. The police cannot risk a demonstrator falling from the gantry and onto a vehicle beneath". "It's a health and safety issue. The police cannot risk a demonstrator falling from the gantry and on to a vehicle beneath".
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 the funding for Just Stop Oil comes from the Climate Emergency Fund - a US network set up in 2019 to fund climate activism.
The Climate Emergency Fund, is in turn part-funded by Aileen Getty, a US philanthropist whose grandfather was petroleum tycoon J Paul Getty.The Climate Emergency Fund, is in turn part-funded by Aileen Getty, a US philanthropist whose grandfather was petroleum tycoon J Paul Getty.
What have critics said about Just Stop Oil?
Videos on social media over the past few months have shown irate motorists stopped from driving by Just Stop Oil activists sitting in the road.
Recent disruption at several points along the M25 motorway was described as "completely outrageous" by Business Secretary Grant Shapps.
"Don't go disrupting other people's lives," he said during an interview with LBC.
The Metropolitan Police said it had dedicated more than 10,000 officer shifts to policing Just Stop Oil protests since the start of October.
"These are officers who would otherwise be dealing with issues that matter to local communities, such as knife crime, safeguarding and responding to burglaries," Assistant Commissioner Matt Twist said.
Related TopicsRelated Topics
Extinction RebellionExtinction Rebellion
UK climate change protests
Climate changeClimate change
Insulate BritainInsulate Britain
Just Stop OilJust Stop Oil