Keep it up! Looks like opposition is really mounting...

Today a group of people occupied the city of london offices of the European Bank of Reconstruction and Development and demanded that the bank refuse to provide public money for the Baku Ceyhan oil and gas pipeline.

The Baku Ceyhan pipeline is a BP led scheme to get new oil reserves from the Caspian sea to western europe, through Azerbaijan, Georgia and Turkey. The concerned and besuited individuals entered the city of london and vaulted over the marble barriers and made for the 12th floor of the extravagant HQ of the EBRD. They gained access to the offices of people involved in approving the project – gaining access to files which prove that the bank has already made its mind up to fund the pipeline, and that they haven’t considered a no pipeline option in their “objective” assessments. At that very time a meeting about the pipeline was in progress in the building, with the President of the bank and the board of directors present. This was interrupted as the uninvited guests settling into the corner-office-with-panaoramic-london-view had to be “dialogued”.

The head of Environment, Communications and Finance were subject to questioning about the pipeline project, and challenged about:

 why the climate impact of the actual oil flowing through the planned pipeline (1 million barrels a day predicted) is not included in any of the bank’s assessments
 how supporting a mega fossil fuel project fits with their own (or anybodys) description of the bank’s activities as being inline with “sustainable development” and that all projects are “environmentally sound”
 their assertion that the pipeline would be fair and beneficial to local people, when this has clearly not been the case as far as all pipelines in poor countries are concerned – asked to name one oil pipeline that had delivered such promises, they couldn’t
 the associated militarisation and human rights abuses of such oil pipeline projects – BP funded paramilitary groups around its OCENSA pipeline in Colombia… will its actions be different in Turkey?

Find out more yourself about this pipeline project!!!
For more information see www.bakuceyhan.org.uk
To find out about direct action resistance see www.risingtide.org.uk

After leaving the offices, many workers were leafleted on their way home, with a “Stop Baku Pipeline” banner across the main entrance to the bank. Many workers were interested to find out what had been happening and what the protest was about. Many were sick to see us.


The offices of greenwash BP environmental consultants to the pipeline, ERM, have been occupied in London and Manchester, and today the financiers have begun to be seen. Consultation on the finance has already been delayed 6 motnhs by the lobbying of the Baku Ceyhan Campaign. We can stop this pipeline.

Get informed, get involved, be part of stopping the pipeline. No new oil – keep it in the ground!!

4 February, US-called day of action at all and any petrol stations – oil & war, make the links.

London Action Resource Centre (larc -www.londonarc.org; 020 7377 9088),
62 Fieldgate St, London, E1

The teach-in will focus on the key issues of the
Baku-Ceyhan Pipeline campaign in the morning ­
covering climate change impacts, human rights issues, the role of international financial institutions, timescales, BP's plans, similar pipeline projects elsewhere, and the international campaign around this issue.
The afternoon will focus on our window of opportunity to effect change ­ which has just been extended by 6 months - practical campaigning ideas and next steps for local campaigning.
If you're wanting to find out more about the issues and get involved with the campaign, this day is a must. For further details and to confirm attendance contact
 info@risingtide.org.uk or tel. 01865 241097.

London Rising Tide can be contacted at
 London@risingtide.org.uk