Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg was detained during a protest organized by Fossil Free London. Thunberg had joined other activists outside the InterContinental Hotel where oil executives were meeting. The protest was organized on the first day of the three-day Energy Intelligence Forum, formerly called the Oil and Money conference, where Shell and Total bosses were due to speak.
The protesters attempted to block access to the hotel by occupying the pavement by the entrance. Greenpeace activists abseiled down from the roof of the hotel with a banner reading “make big oil pay”. Dozens of protesters blocked Hamilton Place, near Park Lane, at both ends. They carried banners and pink umbrellas with eyes painted on, shouting “oily money out” and “cancel the conference”, while some lit yellow and pink smoke flares.
Police surrounded the hotel entrance to keep protesters out while conference attendees were smuggled through the crowd of chanting activists. During the protest, Thunberg spoke out against “spineless politicians” making deals and compromises with lobbyists from destructive industries, such as the fossil fuel industry. Speaking to the rally, Thunberg said, “People all over the world are suffering and dying from the consequences of the climate crisis caused by these industries who we allow to meet with our politicians and have privileged access to.”
Other speakers at the conference include the chief executives of Saudi Arabia’s Aramco and Norway’s Equinor, the German ambassador to the UK, and Graham Stuart, Britain’s energy security and net zero minister. Although Stuart has previously said that allowing oil and gas companies to continue drilling the North Sea for resources is necessary for energy security, Thunberg and other activists are calling for a complete transition to renewable energy to halt the effects of climate change
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