Intro: "Greenpeace activists shut down 74 Shell petrol stations in Edinburgh and London in a protest against the company's plans to drill for oil in the Arctic that saw 24 campaigners arrested on Monday."
Dressed as polar bears, Greenpeace protesters targeted Shell petrol stations across the UK to protest the company's plans to drill for oil off the coast of Alaska. (photo: BBC News)
Greenpeace Activists Shut Down 74 Shell Gas Stations
18 July 12
reenpeace activists shut down 74 Shell petrol stations in Edinburgh and London in a protest against the company's plans to drill for oil in the Arctic that saw 24 campaigners arrested on Monday.
The campaigners are attempting to shut off petrol to London's 105 Shell stations and Edinburgh's 14. Seventy-one have been closed in London and three in Edinburgh.
There have been 24 confirmed arrests, 18 in London and six in Edinburgh. The police in Edinburgh have reportedly parked cars outside all Shell stations across the capital.
Protesters have scaled the roof of the Shell station on Queenstown Road near Battersea Park in London and on Dalry Road in Edinburgh, with police and fire crews attending the scene in Edinburgh.
Activists arrived at the Battersea Park branch at 6.45am and used the station's barriers to close down the forecourt. They have since covered the Shell sign with a Save the Arctic banner and positioned a life-sized polar bear model on the station's roof.
The activists are shutting down the stations by using an emergency shut-off switch to stop petrol going to the pumps and then removing a fuse to delay it being switched on again. The organisation has since posted a picture of an activist posting one of the fuses to Shell's head of Arctic drilling, with the message: "We're being careful not to destroy property. Even the carefully removed components will go back to Shell."
The protest is part of Greenpeace's Save the Arctic campaign, which is aiming to prevent oil drilling and industrial fishing in the Arctic by having the region recognised as a world park. The organisation understands that Shell is going to begin drilling in the Alaskan Arctic in the coming weeks, with the Russian oil company Gazprom also due to work in the region.
The campaign group's website is running a TV talkshow-style live broadcast covering the protest and showing interviews and videos about the Arctic campaign.
Sara Ayech, a campaigner at the Battersea Park station, said: "It's time to draw a line in the ice and tell Shell to stop. That's why today we're going to shut down all of Shell's petrol stations in the capital cities of London and Edinburgh. We've got dozens of people who will hit over 100 Shell garages throughout the day."
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Comments
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I don't know, what's the difference between the brands of gasoline. There is not much choice betwween the more expensive Shell gas and the less expensive gas from Arco that's owned by BP the company responsible for the Gulf oil spill a few years back? One is just as good as the other to make the car run.
Choose one polluting Oil Welfare King over the other. I go for the lowest price....
As for buying fuel people need to try travelling on foot/public transport/cycle /motorcycle/sha re a lift or work from home. Okay so the vast majority don't want to give up their independence. Well maybe they had better take a look at the consequences of maintaining that independence? Or maybe they are far to secure in their comfort zone and feel its up to someone else to make the sacrifices? Not a good outcome on any of these points.
It would be good if folks could afford alternate forms of transportation. Getting parents to trade in for a motorcycle totally out of the question. Ah, well. Good suggestions, Kev C.
Oil is a fungible commodity. There is no way to stop the industry, and with the cooperation of the U.S. government, et al., there is no way to stop the drilling. I just wish I lived in Alaska so I could protest on site. Symbolic only, probably, but worth it.
Thanks Glen for the voice of reason. I appreciate the intent of the protesters but you are correct that it will only hurt the minimum wage workers at the stations. All Shell need do is raise the prices one cent at all their other stations and they will be made more than whole.
Gotta get it right. We must all be realistic about what is happening in the world today.
TIME TO FIGHT BACK! Good work, Greenpeace! More power to you! This run-amok corporate madness has got to be kept in check - ONCE AND FOR ALL!
OK, back to reality. Why do we pay for fuel to begin with? TO ENRICH THE FUEL SELLERS BEYOND MEASURE.
And why do we enrich the fuel sellers beyond measure? If your answer is 'wait, shouldn't we be paying more?' then don't bother answering. Just shovel out all your money to them for no particular reason.
Until we demand an end to fuel based economies, and an end to vehicles that waste fuel, this bravo chap stuff is horse feathers.
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