Over 200 climate activists are imprisoned

Protesters have forced the closure of a number of facilities as they call on the UK government to halt new oil and gas projects, with one activist telling a news agency that “civil disobedience will only escalate until we see change.”

For the third day in a row, some 100 protestors have shut down vital oil terminals in England.

On Sunday, activists from the environmental advocacy organisation Just Stop Oil forced a number of facilities to close.
Protesters want the UK government to put a stop to future oil and gas developments.

Over the course of the night, more than 30 members of Just Stop Oil tented outside the Buncefield oil port in Hertfordshire.

Twelve activists got entry to the premises and entered the facility in the early hours of Sunday morning.

Some sat outside the gates to block tankers from leaving, while others stood on gasoline trucks with banners refusing to come down.

“This is a continuing campaign, therefore there is no end date to it,” Ronan, a protester who spent overnight at the site, told Sky News.

Our message is that direct action and civil disobedience will continue to escalate until we see positive change.

“It’s just extremely unfortunate that it takes action like this to push change, but activists will stand up and demand change as long as we don’t see change.”

When questioned if now is the correct moment to take action like blocking gasoline delivery in the middle of a cost-of-living crisis, Ronan answered he doesn’t think so.

“Do we go through mild disruption now to quickly transition away from fossil fuels – or do we plough ahead and end up with huge flooding and maybe global hunger when crops fail?” This isn’t a stretch.”

Since the early hours of the morning, Hertfordshire Police and paramedics have been on the scene, arresting 27 persons. Officers used drones to fly over the scene, and there is still a huge exclusion zone in place.

Just Stop Oil targeted Buncefield’s terminal as one of seven locations over the last three days, arresting more than 200 individuals since Friday.

Police detained 54 persons at the Kingsbury Oil Terminal in Warwickshire for criminal damage, impeding the roads, and disrupting public order.

“We fully recognise every person’s right to engage in legitimate protest,” said Assistant Chief Constable Ben Smith, who is overseeing the operation. “However, when that demonstration becomes unlawful and excessive in character, we will intervene to defend the rights of others.”

Tunnellers have been blocking the gates to the Navigator and Grays terminals in Thurrock, Essex, since Friday, and 35 additional persons were detained on Sunday.

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