A group of climate campaigners named Just Stop Oil have been protesting against the UK government’s plans to license new oil and gas projects by spraying universities across England with orange paint. The universities of Leeds, Manchester, and Cambridge were targeted, following protests at Bristol, Exeter, and Oxford, Falmouth, Sussex, Birmingham, and UCL. Just last month, the Rosebank oil field in the UK was given the go-ahead by regulators, which is estimated to contain up to 300 million barrels of oil.
In a X video, the University of Leeds’ Great Hall was “redecorated orange” by recent Leeds graduate Sam Holland, who is seen in the clip spraying orange paint on the building and shouting that the university is “complicit in genocide” through its graduate schemes. Chiara Sarti, a protester with Just Stop Oil, sprayed King’s College Cambridge with a fire extinguisher to “paint the neo-Gothic King’s College orange”. Founded by King Henry VI in 1441, the college was covered in paint by Sarti who was later arrested by the Cambridgeshire Constabulary.
Protests are being carried out safely, respectfully, and within the law, according to universities across the country. However, the demonstrations have led to vandalism and the University of Leeds said it was “hugely disappointed” that its protest had resulted in vandalism. Universities, including Leeds and Exeter, have been avoiding companies engaged in oil and gas extraction, production, and refinement sectors as part of their commitment to climate change, with Leeds planning to deliver net zero emissions by 2030 with a £174m Climate Plan. Falmouth University has said that a peaceful protest was escalated by a small number of individuals who caused criminal damage.
The Devon and Cornwall Police have arrested people suspected of criminal damage, while universities and the police investigate the matter. Just Stop Oil is continuing its student resistance by protesting against government plans for new oil and gas projects. The University of Leeds supports the right to legal protest but is taking a robust approach to the existential challenge of climate change. Protests continue to spread across England as climate campaigners demand businesses make more conscious decisions regarding climate change
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