This morning climate activists from around the country have shut down the
South's biggest agrofuel depot.
South's biggest agrofuel depot.
The campaigners, who say that agrofuels will cause runaway climate change
if left unchecked, have dropped a 35 foot banner from the top of one of
the site's biggest oil containers and are blocking fuel lorries from
leaving or entering the base.
Dean Rivers, who is currently chained to the roof of the oil depot said:
"companies like Greenergy and Tescos who use Thurrock are profiteering out
of the rush to biofuels causing food price rises, hunger for millions,
ecosystem destruction and accelerated Climate Change. These are crimes
against humanity and the earth from which we may never recover." The
protest is currently stopping one truck from leaving the Thurrock site
every 90 seconds.
George Monbiot, who is at the Climate Camp said "far from being a solution
to Climate Change, agrofuels are so damaging they make petroleum look
green. They threaten both to accelerate Climate Change and to trigger a
global humanitarian disaster. I'm delighted that this depot has been
blockaded and I hope it sends a strong signal that agrofuels are a part of
the problem not of the solution."
Last month, it was revealed that the US had buried a report from the World
Bank which shows that agrofuels are responsible for 75% of recent food
price rises. Despite this, both Europe and the USA continue to invest
billions into the fuels, which under UK and EU law continue to make up
2.5% of the UK fuel mix at the pump.
Julia Brownlow, who is blocking lorries from entering or leaving the site
said "Agrofuels are destroying the very ecosystems which can stabilise the
climate - with the collapse of the Amazon possibly just a few years away I
am left with no choice but to take action."
The protest will continue for the rest of the day.
NOTES TO EDITORS
Agrofuels are biofuels derived from plant material grown in extensive
monocultures.
if left unchecked, have dropped a 35 foot banner from the top of one of
the site's biggest oil containers and are blocking fuel lorries from
leaving or entering the base.
Dean Rivers, who is currently chained to the roof of the oil depot said:
"companies like Greenergy and Tescos who use Thurrock are profiteering out
of the rush to biofuels causing food price rises, hunger for millions,
ecosystem destruction and accelerated Climate Change. These are crimes
against humanity and the earth from which we may never recover." The
protest is currently stopping one truck from leaving the Thurrock site
every 90 seconds.
George Monbiot, who is at the Climate Camp said "far from being a solution
to Climate Change, agrofuels are so damaging they make petroleum look
green. They threaten both to accelerate Climate Change and to trigger a
global humanitarian disaster. I'm delighted that this depot has been
blockaded and I hope it sends a strong signal that agrofuels are a part of
the problem not of the solution."
Last month, it was revealed that the US had buried a report from the World
Bank which shows that agrofuels are responsible for 75% of recent food
price rises. Despite this, both Europe and the USA continue to invest
billions into the fuels, which under UK and EU law continue to make up
2.5% of the UK fuel mix at the pump.
Julia Brownlow, who is blocking lorries from entering or leaving the site
said "Agrofuels are destroying the very ecosystems which can stabilise the
climate - with the collapse of the Amazon possibly just a few years away I
am left with no choice but to take action."
The protest will continue for the rest of the day.
NOTES TO EDITORS
Agrofuels are biofuels derived from plant material grown in extensive
monocultures.
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Comments
Hide the following 2 comments
nice to see "peak bread" brought into the loop.
07.08.2008 13:55
We are running towards "peak bread" quicker than "peak oil".
In the Spanish state which is amongst the highest producers of both wheat and sunflower in the EU, the price increase of one litre of sunflower oil has been 47.12% and 31.30% on one kg of flour in the last 8 months alone. That inflation is as bearable as a mosquito bite compared to the rises seen in the real world grimsville.
"The World Bank reports that global food prices rose 83% over the last three years and the FAO cites a 45% increase in their world food price index during just the past nine months. The Economist’s comparable index stands at its highest point since it was originally formulated in 1845. As of March 2008, average world wheat prices were 130% above their level a year earlier, soy prices were 87% higher, rice had climbed 74%, and maize was up 31%"
Hopefully "peak bread" will be easier to explain before people notice less sesame seeds on their burger bun.
iosaf
Well done!
07.08.2008 16:38
Flo