"Die-in" at the gates of ExxonMobil UK headquarters, near Leatherhead Surrey, on Good Friday April 6th, the day of the release of the "Climate Impacts" section of the IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change) report, which outlined the devastating effects unchecked climate change will have on the world's poorest and most vulnerable people.
Expose EXXON day - pic by Donald Lyven, Barnet Green Party
We brought our anger at Exxon's cynical campaign of disinformation on climate change right up to the gates of their UK HQ for 24 hours, from 5.00pm Thursday 5th to 5.00 pm Good Friday April 6th. It started with a lonely 2 protestors putting together our 'globe-in-a greenhouse' under the scrutiny of the assembed forces of the law drawn up to defend the corporate miscreant in anticipation of our (moral) assault. Then there were tree climbing antics to string up our giant banner with the message "Climate Disinformation Kills", as more demonstrators arrived to leaflet the departing workers and blast out our message via megaphone. As the night drew in the curtain-sided truck for the stage arrived and a small band of overnighters from all around the country could gather within to stare out the defenders of the Exxon compex, with their floodlights, on the other side of the barrier. Later another gathering formed around a campfire in a lonely copse by moonlight, before collapsing into sleeping bags as the candles of the all-night vigil burned on.
In the morning the Nathalie Koerfer breakfast-van swung into operation as protesters stirred into life or trickled into our 'protest camp' from Leatherhead railway station. Lining the barrier in front of the Exxon complex, by now, were cut-out heads of the numerous stooges that make up the 'hydra' of the Exxon climate disinformation network. Phil Thornhill then took a few of these to illustrate his talk on just a small selection from the Exxon catalogue of 'dirty tricks'. Numbers, slow to build at first, now began to increase as the 'Brixton Tea Party' arrived to keep them all refreshed. Duncan Law gave a seminar on 'reducing personal carbon foorprints' while Cornelius gave us a musical interlude. Soon it was time for speeches - from Derek Wall, Green Party Principal Speaker(1 of 2) and Elaine Graham-Leigh, environment spokesperson from the RESPECT party. These were interrupted by wild clapping to greet the arrival of the cyclist party from London - which had been marauding 'Esso' garages en route, and then, later, the hard-core band of cyclists all the way from Brighton. After the speeches came the 'mass moment' when everybody lay flat for a symbolic 'die-in' in front of the Exxon gates to illustrate the deadly imacts of climate change (as substantiated by the UN report) - and more specifically the deadly impact of Exxon's campaign to delay effective action to deal with climate change. Extra poignancy was given to this by Chris Bluemel's melancholy violin solo - sufficient to dispel for a few moments the busy clamour of the present reality and allow a frightening comtemplation of the depth of the climate crisis we face. Shane Collins, veteran environmental campaigner and Green Party stalwart, then delivered us back to the present and the politics of what we can do now to resolve the crisis. There was performance poetry, too, from Dennis just Menis and Grassy Knoll, as well as a lively number to jig to from Chris on the violin. Phil returned to wrap up the speeches by reminding everyone of the very real damage done by Exxon and the need for our campaign to continually confront those with most power and most responsibility for blocking progress or failing to take action to deal with the huge threat to humanity posed by the climate crisis.
The protest on this beautiful bright Spring day then gradually wound down as musicians Sarah Behr and Rob arrived late, yet again, but rewarded those who had stayed the full course. The small bunch of lively dancers reluctantly terminated proceedings as the truck had to be driven away and the gear packed up. But a few ballons remained stuck in the trees with the message: "Exxon's Lies Kill".
Upcoming : INTERNATIONAL CLIMATE CONFERENCE
Saturday May 12th and Sunday May 13th
At the London School of Economics, Houghton Streeet, London WC2
Organised by the Campaign against Climate Change
with the London School of Economics and Political Science
The biggest climate change talk-in, learn-in and plan-for-action of the year !
Following the great success of our Conference last year - now with an international flavour.
Speakers include Colin Challen MP (Lab); Norman Baker MP (Lib Dem); Jean Lambert MEP (Green); Ashok Sinha, Director ‘Stop Climate Chaos’; Mark Lynas; George Marshall, Co-direcor COIN; Hans-Josef Fell, German Green MP ; Agnes de Rooij, Greenpeace International; Benedict Southworth, Director World Development Movement; Oras Tykynnen, Finnish Green MP; Mayer Hillman, Policy Studies Institute; Matthias Seiche , FOE Germany; Sible Schone, Hier Kampagne Netherlands, Panu Laturi, European Greens Campaigns Director; Amit Srivistava, India Resource Centre; Andrew Simms, New Economics Foundation; Joss Garman, Plane Stupid; David Wasdell, Meridian Project; Dr Stuart Parkinson, Director, Scientists for Global Responsibility; Mark Bossanyi, Climate Action Bulgaria Coalition; Ichin Cheng, Taiwan Climate Campaign; Sharon Looremeta, Practical Action Kenya; Dr David Fleming; Mayte Blasco NOE2, Switzerland; Jason Torrance, Transport 2000; Mike Fairchild, Stop Stansted Expansion; Judith Kill, FERN; Dr Cath Long, Rainforest Foundation; Paige Mitchell, Slower Speeds; Marion Birch, MEDAC; John Lanchbery, RSPB;Larry Lohman, Corner House; Kevin Smith, Carbon Trade Watch; Almuth Ernsting, Biofuel Watch; Claire Fauset, Paul Morozzo, ‘Climate Camp’; Phil Thornhill, Coordinator CCC; Dave Hampton, Carbon Coach; Global Commons Institute; Muzmmal Hussain, London Islamic Network for the Environment; Christian Ecology Link; Vivie Cato, ‘Big Green Jewish Website’; Mark Williamson,‘What You Can Do’; Dr Susan Roaf; Mark Brown, Rising Tide; Paul Mobbs; Chris Rose,‘campaignstrategy.org’; Jonathan Neale; Guy Taylor, Globalise Resistance; Futerra; Planet Positive; Gerry Wolff, TREC; Airport Watch; FOE; WWF and more....
2 Major plenaries: ‘The Need for Action’ on Saturday & ‘Climate Campaigning around the World’ on Sunday.
Seminars & workshops on: Climate Science ‘How bad, how fast?’; Climate Change and Developemnt; Is Climate Change now the World’s Greatest Human Rights issue? Green Taxes vs Carbon Rationing; CC & Aviation; CC & Transport; Solutions; Raising Awareness in Eastern Europe; CC & workers rights; Personal action; Contraction & Convergence; CC& Health; CC & Faith; Can we avoid dangerous CC & maintain growth ?; Carbon Trading; CC & Biodiversity; Bio-fuels; Future of Coal; Climate Disinformation; Nuclear: another energy is possible;CC & Deforestation; CC & the GLA; Peak Oil; Carbon Trading; How to get a strong Climate Bill; How to get the US involved in the Kyoto Process; The Climate Camp; and more....
including 'Climate Change Teach-in for Children' with Kyla Davis
Provisional Timetable
Saturday
09.00 - 10.00 Registration.
10.00 - 10.30 Introduction/Welcome
10.30 - 12.00 Seminar Session 1
12.00 - 13.00 Lunch Break
13.00 - 14.30 Plenary 1
14.30 - 14.45 Coffee Break
14.45 - 16.15 Seminar Session 2
16.15 - 16.30 Coffee Break
16.30 - 18.00 Build up for the Global Demonstrations December 2007
18.00 - 21.00 Drinks/Social at the 'Square Pig' Pub
21.00 - late Party/Music at the 'Square Pig' Pub
Sunday
10.00 - 12.00 Plenary 2 (International)
12.00 - 13.00 Lunch
13.00 - 14.30 Seminar Session 3
14.30 - 14.45 Coffee Break
14.45 - 16.15 Seminar session 4
16.15 - 17.00 Coffee and Farewell
