Speaking in defence of peaceful resistance

Many of your readers may be aware of the ongoing campaign groups Insulate Britain and Just Stop Oil.

And they may also know that I remain actively involved with both campaigns and that I have recently endured two prison sentences, so strongly do I feel about the threat of climate breakdown.

Whilst many of the media channels prefer to focus on the people involved and the disruption caused, they often overlook the actual aims of the campaigns and the reasons why normal, everyday citizens feel such a compulsion to take such radical steps.

Contrary to the popular press, who always describe us in negative terms (eco terrorists, louts, vandals, self-serving nutters, unwashed hippies etc), all of the people I have taken part in actions with include some of the most intelligent and caring humans I have ever met.

Doctors, nurses, teachers, scientists, retired members of the clergy (three on the Kingsbury Oil depot action), grandparents, parents, councillors (I am not the only councillor on these campaigns), engineers and students, to name a few: these are people with great social conscience and they act because they know time is running out.

Not only is the government not doing enough, fast enough, it is actually exacerbating the dire and dangerous situation we are in by issuing up to 130 new oil, gas and fracking licences off the UK, some of them off our Yorkshire coastline.

In a country that has just witnessed 40° heatwaves, fires, floods and an ongoing drought that could yet see the devastation of next year’s crops, this is all but a death sentence.

We don’t need more gas andoil.Itwillkillus.Instead of subsidising fossil fuel corporations, the government should incentivise renewables and focus on reducing energy demand.

It has shut its eyes to the horror of the climate emergency, but ours, as citizens of conscience, should remain open.

It takes courage to face the terrifying implications of climate and societal collapse but we can come together in civil resistance and stop these lethal policies.

Doing nothing is a choice I can no longer justify.

If we can’t say no now in the face of our own extinction, when can we?

Picture shows the Just Stop Oil protesters at a demonstration at Kingsbury Oil depot (submitted).

Image of Theresa Norton (photo credit: Denise Laura Baker)