This morning a group of 15 climate change activists from protest group Food Not Fuel entered the BioFuel Expo & Conference taking place at the Newark Showground and took over the keynote speech. Oliver Mace, CEO of BP Fuels, the lead sponsors of the event recieved a cream pie in the face. Another campaigner was D-locked to the podium and various alarms were placed around the place. The hall was emptied and talks were canceled. There were no arrests.
BP Executive pied as Europe's largest BioFuels Event disrupted
Date: 17th October, 2007
Embargo: Immediate Release
CONTACT: 07880 937 511
Newark Showground, Newark, Nottinghamshire
This morning a group of 15 climate change activists from protest group Food Not Fuel entered the BioFuel Expo & Conference taking place at the Newark Showground and took over the keynote speech. Oliver Mace, CEO of BP Fuels, the lead sponsors of the event recieved a cream pie in the face. Another campaigner was D-locked to the podium and various alarms were placed around the place. The hall was emptied and talks were canceled. There were no arrests.
They were protesting against planned expansion of biofuels citing its contribution to deforestation and the fact that it will continue to contribute to climate change. The activists complained that biofuels on a large scale is greenwash and companies such as BP are ignoring its negative impacts on the environment.
Protester Michelle Lynch said, "What they are promoting is a replacement to fossil fuels, but the reality is that they are little better. Large scale plantations are not the solution; reducing our consumption is the only realistic way forward."
Another protester, Thomas Bradshaw pointed out, "Biofuels will be taking food from the mouths of the hungary when there are already 800 million people suffering from malnutrition. These corporations are effectively encouraging the erosion of valuable ariable farmland and rainforests vital for combating climate change."
-end-
Notes for editors:
1. The protestors can be contacted at 07880 937 511. Their critique argues that radical social change is needed to deal with the impact of peak oil and climate change, and that seeking solutions such as carbon trading and biofuels are not the answer, as the real problem is unsustainable economic growth.
2. The BioFuels Expo & Conference (www.biodiesel-expo.co.uk) is the largest of its kind in Europe, and brings together big industry players such as BP Fuels, Deloitte & Touche and many chemcial, agricultural and manufacturing companies.
3. A comprehensive critique of biofuels can be found at BioFuels Watch (www.biofuelwatch.org.uk) who are a distinct group from Food Not Fuels, but are hosting their own demonstration against the Conference.
4. Text of leaflet distribute to attendees.
Biofuels & Fossil Fuels: Biofuels that are not produced by recycling waste oil are the direct product of large scale monoculture. Currently the amount of fossil fuels required to produce biofuels is greater than the amount of fuel you get out: you have to make the fertilizer, run the agricultural machinery, transport the feedstocks and fuels, and refine the plant matter into fuel.
Biofuels & Food: The land that is used to farm biofuels has to come from somewhere. If it is agricultural land used for food then there will be less food. Maize, Mexico's staple crop, have increased massively due to American demand for bioethano. Adding to the number of people living below the poverty line.
Biofuels & Land use: If not agricultural land, then biofuels will be grown on virgin rainforest or wetland. 1/3 of all greenhouse gas emissions come from the destruction of living carbon sinks. The Amazon rainforest is the largest driver of the climate on the planet and expanding bioethanol plantations will push it to extinction. Wetlands, eg peat, contain more carbon that the whole atmosphere and cover just 1% of the worlds surface. The largest peat bogs in the world, in Indonesia, are currently being drained for palm oil plantations. If greenhouse gas emissions continue as they currently are we will go beyond the climate tipping point causing mass extinction of life on earth.
Biofuels & Local Control: The driving force beyond the expansion in biofuels are big corporations such as BP & Monsanto, and government - the very people who have got us into this mess. They are using biofuels as a way to continue their position of power into the post peak oil world. To stand a chance of survival the control of land must be by local people for local people.
The Solution: We will need to reduce our consumption to levels that we can meet ourselves. This WILL mean a reduction in luxuries, like the luxury to travel. Some biofuels will be used, but at a fraction of our current oil use. We need to end the search for technological solutions to economic problems. We need to localise our economy, produce our own food, make our own tools and use less.
We need an end to economic growth.
Date: 17th October, 2007
Embargo: Immediate Release
CONTACT: 07880 937 511
Newark Showground, Newark, Nottinghamshire
This morning a group of 15 climate change activists from protest group Food Not Fuel entered the BioFuel Expo & Conference taking place at the Newark Showground and took over the keynote speech. Oliver Mace, CEO of BP Fuels, the lead sponsors of the event recieved a cream pie in the face. Another campaigner was D-locked to the podium and various alarms were placed around the place. The hall was emptied and talks were canceled. There were no arrests.
They were protesting against planned expansion of biofuels citing its contribution to deforestation and the fact that it will continue to contribute to climate change. The activists complained that biofuels on a large scale is greenwash and companies such as BP are ignoring its negative impacts on the environment.
Protester Michelle Lynch said, "What they are promoting is a replacement to fossil fuels, but the reality is that they are little better. Large scale plantations are not the solution; reducing our consumption is the only realistic way forward."
Another protester, Thomas Bradshaw pointed out, "Biofuels will be taking food from the mouths of the hungary when there are already 800 million people suffering from malnutrition. These corporations are effectively encouraging the erosion of valuable ariable farmland and rainforests vital for combating climate change."
-end-
Notes for editors:
1. The protestors can be contacted at 07880 937 511. Their critique argues that radical social change is needed to deal with the impact of peak oil and climate change, and that seeking solutions such as carbon trading and biofuels are not the answer, as the real problem is unsustainable economic growth.
2. The BioFuels Expo & Conference (www.biodiesel-expo.co.uk) is the largest of its kind in Europe, and brings together big industry players such as BP Fuels, Deloitte & Touche and many chemcial, agricultural and manufacturing companies.
3. A comprehensive critique of biofuels can be found at BioFuels Watch (www.biofuelwatch.org.uk) who are a distinct group from Food Not Fuels, but are hosting their own demonstration against the Conference.
4. Text of leaflet distribute to attendees.
Biofuels & Fossil Fuels: Biofuels that are not produced by recycling waste oil are the direct product of large scale monoculture. Currently the amount of fossil fuels required to produce biofuels is greater than the amount of fuel you get out: you have to make the fertilizer, run the agricultural machinery, transport the feedstocks and fuels, and refine the plant matter into fuel.
Biofuels & Food: The land that is used to farm biofuels has to come from somewhere. If it is agricultural land used for food then there will be less food. Maize, Mexico's staple crop, have increased massively due to American demand for bioethano. Adding to the number of people living below the poverty line.
Biofuels & Land use: If not agricultural land, then biofuels will be grown on virgin rainforest or wetland. 1/3 of all greenhouse gas emissions come from the destruction of living carbon sinks. The Amazon rainforest is the largest driver of the climate on the planet and expanding bioethanol plantations will push it to extinction. Wetlands, eg peat, contain more carbon that the whole atmosphere and cover just 1% of the worlds surface. The largest peat bogs in the world, in Indonesia, are currently being drained for palm oil plantations. If greenhouse gas emissions continue as they currently are we will go beyond the climate tipping point causing mass extinction of life on earth.
Biofuels & Local Control: The driving force beyond the expansion in biofuels are big corporations such as BP & Monsanto, and government - the very people who have got us into this mess. They are using biofuels as a way to continue their position of power into the post peak oil world. To stand a chance of survival the control of land must be by local people for local people.
The Solution: We will need to reduce our consumption to levels that we can meet ourselves. This WILL mean a reduction in luxuries, like the luxury to travel. Some biofuels will be used, but at a fraction of our current oil use. We need to end the search for technological solutions to economic problems. We need to localise our economy, produce our own food, make our own tools and use less.
We need an end to economic growth.
e-mail:
Alan Lovell
17.10.2007 22:02
Matt Ring
Lovell - develop a conscience?
17.10.2007 22:15
Grauniad
Preview photos by Alan Lodge
18.10.2007 08:48
Oliver Mace, CEO of BP Fuels, just been pied
Oliver Mace, just been pied, security storming stage
Forward
brief film
18.10.2007 09:33
grass guzzler
Kilimanjaro Biofuels Corporation-Tanzania
19.10.2007 07:29
Based in the Kilimanjaro District of Tanzania, Kilimanjaro Biofuels Corporation Limited (“KBC”) is setting out to deliver end-to-end solutions and products designed to support all segments of a regional-to-global Biodiesel supply chain based on Jatropha Curcas Linn (“Jatropha”), a fast-growing, drought-resistant shrub that is the most viable feedstock for the production of Biodiesel and other bio-organic commodities in developing countries.
Project Social-Economic Impact Conclusions
The development of a complete Jatropha Curcas agriculture to Industry program and beneficiation bio diesel and bio organic commodities plant at the Kilimanjaro International Airport in Tanzania will result in numerous down stream socio-economic benefits that have high value impact upon currently redundant rural farming communities thoughout the region; additionally the over all project will lead to land value recovery, improved resource utility, positive food security influences (increased harvest potentials) and fuel security improvement for the region, as well as region specific (nationally important) industry sectors.. The socio-economic survey indicates clearly that well over a million human beings will prosper from a vibrant new agriculture to industry program and this is at a time when there a need for a “lead” bio fuels operation in Tanzania. Consideration for the fact that a high percentage of families and workers have never departed the rural agricultural zones indicates that this community of people have been holding out hope that they will once again be allowed to participate and benefit from high value agricultural activities. The development of first class agricultural extension supported by government intervention and new transport fuel regulations delivers this possibility.
Clive Richardson
e-mail:
sp_edz@yahoo.co.uk
dear clive
19.10.2007 09:37
You use some alarming language in that response:
"As for the destruction of rain forests,water scarcity, rural poverty, land desertification, increasing costs of food and and and; there is no justification for flinging custard tarts at the representatives of companies that are actually doing something to aid and assist with the reduction of GHG emissions"
The destruction of rain forests directly affects the earth's ability to absorb CO2. The loss of this resource will speed up climate change. The start of the sentence implies that you are about to defend agrofuel against allegations of rain forest destruction and rural poverty. Apparently you're not able to do this.
"Rather than waste resources this group of activists needs to spend some "real" time in the field in order to understand that thier logic is based on twaddle, poor science and a general inability to embrace change positively for the benefit of many communities at home and abroad. "
Shouldn't we find a solution that is in itself positive rather than accept the version of change that corporations are offering us and try as hard as we can to feel positive about it. A response that completely fails to get to grips with the argument and simultaneosly brands it as 'twaddle' is the mark of defensiveness.
"will result in numerous down stream socio-economic benefits that have high value impact upon currently redundant rural farming communities thoughout the region"
This sounds like a 'trickle down effect' to me. So agrofuel companies will steal people's land, which enables them to live their lives on their own terms, then expect them to be grateful to work in an industry that is so powerful the unions urge the government to extend the working day beyond 10 hrs because the workers cannot feed themselves and have no hope of increasing their pay. Calling entire communities redundant is utterly crass. They may be poor but is taking their land off them then exploiting their desperation for work an answer to this.
I would appreciate it Clive, if you would take some time to reflect on your response. The proper way to tackle climate change and rising green house gas emmisions is to abandon the idea that economic growth leads to a better world, and to concentrate on using technology that uses little or no energy. Fueling motorised transport on crops that are grown on biodiverse or stolen land is not the answer.
Regards,
Jack.
Jack Donaldson
BP, biofuels and death squads
19.10.2007 23:00
Soldiers of the notorious 16th Brigade protect BP's oil installations
We've just got in from a Climate Justice Tribunal held by Colombian social organizations.
Biofuels were high on the agenda, since much of the countryside here is being turned over to african palm and other monocultures. This process has a tendency to be policed by right wing paramilitary death squads, who murder and displace farming communities to make way for the biofuel crops.
BP has also been linked to the murder of numerous peasant activists in the oil-producing region of Casanare, not to mention huge environmental damage [see attached report].
One of the things we talked about at the Climate Justice Tribunal is the need for international solidarity links between peoples taking direct action to fight climate chaos and the development model that is generating climate chaos alongside violence and displacement.
Espacio Bristol-Colombia is an autonomous collective that's part of a Colombian and international network called the Red de Hermanad y Solidaridad con Colombia (Network of Friendship and Solidarity with Colombia). Get in touch if you want to coordinate some actions (
Guayusa Andina
Homepage:
http://www.venidaver.blogspot.com/
Jack's quite right...
19.10.2007 23:06
Guayusa Andina
Is there a constructive way forward?
30.10.2007 13:40
Firstly, there is the question of whether biofuels can make a useful contribution to the control of greenhouse gases and hence global warming. It seems clear to me that they can and must. Of course, the major contribution has to come from conservation and use-reduction. But there will always be an irreducable minimum of energy use if we are to continue to use machines, cook, or keep ourselves warm. It would surely be better if that minimum was provided by sustainable production than fossil fuels, wouldn't it?
The second question is, if biofuels are to be developed, how should it be done? Destroying the rainforests, seizing peoples' land and using food to fuel rich peoples' SUVs while others starve is wrong, whichever way you look at it. Interestingly, had the protesters stayed in the hall, they would have heard Olivier Mace from BP say exactly that. (I was in the audience.) He very clearly made the point that biofuels need Government support to survive, that that support will only be forthcoming if there is public support, and that will vanish unless the biofuel industry is clearly seen to be acting in the best interests of the environment, the third world and indigenous farmers.
The same point was made over and over again through the two days of the conference. In fact, when the two protest groups were invited to make a presentation on day two (which they did, very eloquently) the only surprise was that they were echoing what had gone before.
So, my modest suggestion is this: There is a crucial role for environmental NGOs to play in keeping the big companies honest. Monitor their activities, attend the sustainability meetings such as the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil, and shout from the rooftops if you find them straying from the straight and narrow. But more importantly, recognise that some companies are trying to do this right and work with them to squeeze out the sharks who are doing all the bad things you mentioned. Working together, there is the possibility that we could create a biofuels industry which does a host of good things in the world: protects the environment, halts or reverses desertification, provides income to the poorest farmers and rural employment in 3rd world countries, and stabilises world food prices.
It would be a shame to throw the baby out with the bathwater.
Peter Lapinskas
e-mail:
indymedia.to.lapz@xoxy.net