Lobby-busting mission targets UK government over tar sands
A delegation of civil society representatives from Canada came to London to lobby UK decision-makers today (22nd March 2012), in an attempt to expose and counter the Canadian government’s multi-million dollar PR offensive to promote its oil exports. The delegation included First Nations Chief Bill Erasmus, Stuart Trew from Council of Canadians, and Hannah McKinnon from CAN Canada. They met with the Liberal Democrats, along with Jess Worth and Suzanne Dhaliwal from the UK Tar Sands Network, urging them to use their position in the UK’s Coalition government to support European legislation which would see Canada’s tar sands labelled as more polluting than conventional oil.
The ‘lobby-busting’ tour, which has already taken in Paris and The Hague, and has now gone to Berlin, has been prompted by the Canadian Government’s recent coordinated lobbying attack against the European Union’s Fuel Quality Directive (FQD). Aimed at securing a reckless programme of expansion in the highly-polluting tar sands in Alberta, Canada’s PR push has involved over 110 lobbying meetings in Europe in 2010 alone, and has swayed several European governments, including the UK. In order to counter this effect, the lobby-busting delegation has been meeting policy-makers in European capitals to challenge key misconceptions put forward by Canada, including claims that the Directive discriminates against it, is not based on sound science and is a threat to trade.
After a visit to Canada last year, David Cameron committed to supporting Canada’s efforts to undermine the FQD – which has prompted what appears to be an internal battle on the issue within the Coalition Government. In the recent vote on the FQD, the UK government was set to vote against the legislation, but after concerted public pressure on Liberal Democrat transport minister, Norman Baker, the UK abstained. However, the FQD decision still hangs in the balance, with a final vote due in June. This lobby-busting tour is part of an international civil society effort to tip that balance in favour of stronger climate legislation.
“The Alberta tar sands are the world’s most polluting source of transport fuel, and the one of the most devastating ecological crimes of our times,” said Suzanne Dhaliwal, co-founder of the UK Tar Sands Network. “We are asking that UK politicians stand up to Canada’s bullying tactics and support the Fuel Quality Directive so that tar sands oil stays out of Europe for good.”
Canada has continually downplayed the real impacts of the tar sands on its First Nations communities, the devastation being caused to the region’s pristine boreal forest and the huge climate impacts of the industry’s expansion plans.
“We are very pleased that the European Union is taking an honest hard look at what their future is in relation to fossil fuels. They will be taking a lead on climate change if they pass the Fuel Quality Directive as it is. Europe is making a choice that may not satisfy Canada, but as First Nations we are OK with that. The future of all peoples are at stake because of the way countries like Canada are operating,” said Dene National Chief Bill Erasmus.
The pan-European lobby-busting tour has been organised by Council of Canadians, Indigenous Environmental Network, and Climate Action Network Canada (CAN).
Media Coverage:
CBC News http://www.cbc.ca/news/business/story/2012/03/22/pol-oilsands-fuel-directive-lobby.html
- March 15, 2012
- One Comment
- Latest Updates, Newsletters
Stop the moose abuse!
Dear pop-up protesters,
Last Wednesday, we held a candlelit vigil outside the Canadian High Commission, which suddenly turned into a noisy protest when we discovered there was a meeting going on inside, involving oil company reps and tar sands investors! Read on for the full story.
Meanwhile, our favourite social engagement of the year is coming up – the BP AGM! We’d love you to be involved. Read on for all this plus some thrilling upcoming events.
1. Vigil over Canada’s tar sands lobbying unexpectedly turns into full-blown protest
2. BP AGM – help counter the inevitable greenwash deluge
3. Upcoming events
Love not aggressive lobbying,
Jess, Emily, Ruthi and Sue
PS In case you didn’t know, the Keystone XL pipeline – which got killed off by Obama last month (and the month before) – did a Dracula and rose again in the US Senate last week. But don’t worry, it was firmly staked through the heart. Hopefully it’ll now remain just a pile of dust, though we’re not prepared to bet actual money on that…
1. Vigil over Canada’s tar sands lobbying unexpectedly turns into full-blown protest
Last Wednesday’s vigil outside the Canadian High Commission was one of 20 that took place in cities across Europe and North America. The aim was to highlight the damage being done by Canada’s multi-million dollar lobbying initiative, which is aggressively promoting their filthy fuel to our governments. As a result, the Fuel Quality Directive – an important piece of EU climate legislation – is under threat. We also wanted to expose the UK government for being Canada’s top cheerleader in this strategy.
We joined with members of the Occupy LSX Energy, Equity and Environment group to hold a sombre candlelit vigil on the steps of the High Commission in Grosvenor Square. But then someone spotted that there was a meeting going on inside the building. As we peered through the window, we saw a huge sign promoting links between UK and Canadian business, and as people started leaving, they told us there were oil industry reps and tar sands financers inside. So we got the megaphone out and started chanting ‘No Tar Sands’, ‘Stop the Moose Abuse!’ and ‘Canada, BP, RBS and Shell – if you dig up the tar sands we’ll raise hell!’ More details, photos and videos here.
It was great to be able to catch them in the act. Next week, our lobby-busting efforts will escalate. We will be welcoming to London a delegation from Canada, including Dene Nation Chief Bill Erasmus. The delegation are going to be touring European capitals, meeting with governments and countering the Canadian government’s dangerous campaign of misinformation. Stay tuned for how their meetings go with UK politicians.
2. BP AGM – help counter the inevitable greenwash deluge
This year, BP’s AGM is taking place on the 12th April in London. Once again, we plan to be there in force, inside and outside, to make sure that the BP Board, shareholders and the media are in no doubt that we are not ok with their plan to keep extracting fossil fuels until the planet burns.
Here’s what we did last year – and it got global media coverage for the issue of tar sands. If you would like to be involved this year, we are looking for people willing to be both inside and outside. Please email info@no-tar-sands.org and let us know if you’re available.
In the meantime, you may have noticed that BP has launched its Olympics advertising campaign with a series of TV ads apparently claiming that they are fuelling 5,000 Olympic vehicles with advanced biofuels. They’re not. So if you see this advert, you could do us a massive favour by noting down the time, date and channel, and letting us know.
3. Upcoming events
Unveiling the Olympics
Friday, 16 March, 5pm – 8pm, B102, Brunei Gallery, opposite SOAS Main Building, Russell Square, London
Panel discussion aiming to address the many contradictions of the London games. The first part will focus on the Bhopal gas disaster, Justice for Bhopal Movement and the controversy surrounding Dow sponsorship. The second panel, which will include UKTSN’s Emily Coats, will focus on other controversial sponsors, like Rio Tinto and BP.
‘Tate à Tate’ Launch Party
Friday, 23 March, 6pm – 9pm, Calder Bookshop & Theatre, 51 The Cut, SE1 8LF
Platform, Liberate Tate and Art Not Oil invite you to come and celebrate the audio unveiling of Tate à Tate, a site-specific sound artwork themed around the issue of BP sponsorship of Tate. It is is a permanent installation inside Tate galleries that is created by your participation. From Thursday 22nd March the audio tour will also be available for free download.
Ecocide Trial – The Sentence
Saturday, 31 March, Institute for Democracy & Conflict Resolution (IDCR) at the University of Essex
The Ecocide Trial in September found two fictional CEOs guilty of ecocide for their operations in the tar sands. Now it’s time for the sentencing! This will use ‘Restorative Justice’ – putting the CEOs face to face with individuals who speak on behalf of the inhabitants of the territory they have been convicted of extensively damaging. The event is open to the public. There will be breakout sessions, debates and speakers during the day.
Oxford screening of Taking on Tarmageddon
Sunday, 6th May, 7-10pm, Downstairs, East Oxford Community Centre, 44b Princes Street (corner of Cowley Rd) Oxford OX4 1HU, £5/£3
OARC Sunday Screenings are pleased to be holding a screening and debate of the brand new Taking on Tarmageddon, a Campbell Road Productions film about People & Planet’s tar sands youth exchange with the Beaver Lake Cree Nation in 2011. The UK Tar Sands Network, People & Planet, and the film makers will be present to talk about the film, the tar sands and their experiences.
Vigil-turned-protest outside the Canadian High Commission
Last Wednesday, on the evening of March 7, we joined hundreds of people across the US and Europe who responded to the Sierra Club’s call to stand vigil in front of Canadian consulates, calling on Canadian leaders to take a deep look at the consequences of tar sands development on human health, global ecology and our future prosperity. The aim was to highlight the damage being done by Canada’s multi-million dollar lobbying initiative, which is aggressively promoting their filthy fuel to our governments, and – in our case – to expose the UK government for being Canada’s top cheerleader in this strategy. It ended up as something rather different than a vigil…
We arrived with around 15 people, mainly from the Occupy London Energy, Environment and Equity Group, but also from UK Tar Sands Network and Campaign Against Climate Change. We lit our candles and took up our vigil position on the steps of the High Commission. We talked about the tar sands, did a few chants, flyered passers-by. Then someone noticed that round the corner there was some kind of meeting going on inside the High Commission building. We decided to go and investigate. We spotted through the windows a room full of about 100 people busily networking, with a banner in the background sporting UK and Canadian flags and boasting ‘Linking business across the Atlantic since 1921′.
We realised that some of the people who we really wanted to hear our message were in that room, and the Canadian government would be most displeased at our presence outside. All of the sudden, the vigil turned into a protest. We started chanting as loud as we could outside the window. UKTSN’s Jess spoke through a megaphone, explaining that we were there because of the Canadian government’s outrageous lobbying behaviour, pushing their dirty oil in Europe and undermining the Fuel Quality Directive (check out the video for the details!). Gradually people started to trickle out of the building. One of them told us there were oil industry representatives in there. Another refused to take our flyer, due to the fact that he was ‘one of the world’s biggest tar sands investors’! We kept the protest/vigil up even after the police arrived, watched by High Commission staff through their ornate doors.
We were so pleased that what had started out as something purely symbolic had turned into a genuinely effective protest, which will have emphasised to the High Commission that we are watching their every move and embarrassed them in front of their powerful guests. We left thinking that we should probably do this again!
UK complicit in Canadian government’s Dirty Diplomacy
March, 8th 2012
Secret government documents reveal that the UK is implicated in a major, multimillion dollar push by the Canadian government to promote tar sands internationally, and undermine key EU and US climate legislation. The revelations come in a report released by Climate Action Network [1], the day after hundreds of people gathered outside more than 20 Canadian diplomatic missions across the world to voice concern about the Canadian government’s aggressive foreign policy to further the interests of the tar sands industry.
The documents [2], acquired through freedom of information requests, reveal that the UK government is described by the Canadians as a ‘team leader’ in their Pan European Oil Sands Advocacy Strategy, aimed at stopping the EU from labelling tar sands fuel as more carbon-intensive than conventional oil in the Fuel Quality Directive. As part of this pro-tar sands lobby offensive, Canada hosted a two-day retreat in London for Canadian diplomats to receive training on how to respond to the plummeting reputation of the tar sands industry in Europe. In attendance at the retreat were the Royal Bank of Scotland, Shell, Statoil and Total, all of which have significant investments in tar sands development.
As a result, the UK has been actively lobbying EU member states to keep the EU market open to tar sands. At a recent vote on the Fuel Quality Directive, the UK was set to vote against the initiative. It switched position at the last minute and abstained, due to intense public pressure, but this meant that the vote was a stalemate, further delaying adoption of this important piece of legislation.
“The UK government has become Canada’s whipping boy in this international tar sands PR offensive,” said Suzanne Dhaliwal of the UK Tar Sands Network. “It is unacceptable that the UK is working to promote the interests of the tar sands industry rather than supporting desperately-needed action to reduce emissions from the filthiest transport fuels.”
“The Canadian Government is working hand in hand with the tar sands industry in a campaign to ensure nothing stands in the way of the reckless expansion of this highly polluting oil,” said Hannah McKinnon, Campaign Director with Climate Action Network Canada. “In the era of dangerous climate change, this campaign is an offensive attack on countries, Canada’s First Nations and citizens that recognize the urgent need to move away from dirty energy towards the safe and clean energy future the world needs.”
[1] Dirty Oil Diplomacy – The Canadian Government’s Global Push to Sell the Tar Sands outlines the changing domestic and international policies of the Canadian government as they undermine EU and US climate policies in order to ensure international markets for Canada’s filthy fuel. The report was released by Climate Action Network Canada, Environmental Defence Canada, Equiterre, Greenpeace, the Natural Resources Defense Council, and the U.S. Sierra Club. http://www.drawthelineattarsands.com/
[2] Access to Information request # A-2010-02237, Pan-European oil sands team mid year report, (August 10, 2010). http://climateactionnetwork.ca/2010/08/20/pan-european-oil-sands-team-mid-year-report-20-august-2010
Access to Information request # A-2010-02237, Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada, Memorandum for information to the Ministers’ of International Trade and Foreign Affairs,Oil Sands Engagement in Europe, (March 3, 2010). http://climateactionnetwork.ca/2010/03/05/oil-sands-outreach-in-europe-5-march-2010
Vigil outside the Canadian High Commission in London
Give yourselves a pat on the back…
Dear grassroots lobbyists and graffiti artists,
Here’s a big round of applause for everyone who has been tirelessly and creatively telling Norman Baker not to vote against the Fuel Quality Directive proposal… It worked! Although the battle isn’t over yet, and there will be plenty more action needed on the ongoing attempts to keep tar sands oil out of Europe in coming months.
In the meantime some interesting things have been happening in London, with BP getting an earful from angry activists over its visually perturbing sponsorship of the Olympics.
We are also very happy to announce that we have a new member on board – welcome to Ruthi who will be volunteering with us!
1. A small stalemate for Europe, a big step for the climate
2. BP: F***ing the Future
3. Dates for your diary
Love and fistfuls of black paint,
Jess, Sue, Emily and Ruthi
1. A small stalemate for Europe, a big step for the climate
The Fuel Quality Directive finally came to a vote in the EU last week. For well over a year we’ve been pushing – along with campaigners all over Europe – for this key piece of climate legislation to label tar sands as dirtier than conventional oil, thus restricting the European market to future imports. After all the effort, the outcome was… a stalemate.
Disappointing? Not at all! Although this outcome has been widely reported in the Canadian media as a major victory for the Canadian government’s recent multi-million-dollar lobbying frenzy, in fact, it’s the opposite. Despite all the pressure from Canada, countries that had previously indicated they were going to vote against the law – including the UK, France, Germany and the Netherlands – abstained.
This was a major breakthrough. It shows that the pressure that all of us have been applying over the last few months to Transport Minister Norman Baker has paid off. The stalemate means that now the decision has been bumped up to Environment Ministers to vote on in June, so we have an exciting few months ahead of us to make sure that the UK government fully supports the FQD and does not allow Canadian lobbying to scupper our chances at keeping tar sands out of Europe for good.
2. BP: F***ing the Future
Last week BP, as London 2012 ‘Sustainability Partner’, began a flashy new Olympic marketing push, with TV ads, billboards, internet ads and newspaper spreads all illustrating the company’s role in the Greenest Games ever. An anonymous group used this as an opportunity to rip into BP’s image and challenge its propaganda. Calling it ‘Brand Piracy’ day, activists subvertised BP billboards and logos all over London with black paint and cleverly placed asterisks. Looks like we’re not the only ones slamming BP for its ridiculous greenwash!
3. Dates for your diary
Lots of exciting actions and events are coming up in the next month. Remember, if you’d like us to help organise a talk or film screening in your area, get in touch!
3rd March: Oxford Radical Forum, Tar Sands workshop, Wadham College, 2.30-4pm
3rd March: Tar-Free Transition Heathrow’s Second Birthday
6th March: Climate Rush presents: Occupy the Oil Aisle: A Waitrose and Shell intervention
7th March: Candlelit tar sands vigil – 7pm, Canadian Embassy, London.
8th March: Plymouth talk on tar sands and open discussion about Plymouth going tar-free.
22nd March: Lobby-busting tour! Representatives of Canadian organisations will be in London to lobby the UK government in favour of the Fuel Quality Directive!
31st March: A second chance for FairPensions’ AGM training
31st March: Croydon Greenpeace talk on tar sands and Tar-Free Towns
1st April: Oxford screening of Taking on Tarmageddon
Fuel Quality Directive Update, FAQ and actions!
Press Statement: Thursday February 23rd, 2012
UK Tar Sands Network response to Fuel Quality Directive vote
The European Union has reached a stalemate today in a vote to decide if tar sands oil is to be labeled as highly polluting. There were 89 votes for the proposal and 128 votes against. There were 128 abstentions including the UK, France, Germany and the Netherlands.
“We welcome the decision of the UK government to abstain from voting against the Fuel Quality Directive after concerted public pressure. We would now like to see the UK government offer support for the directive in the upcoming months as the vote goes to the Environment Committee in June.” said Suzanne Dhaliwal, co-founder of the UK Tar Sands Network
“An intensive lobbying campaign by the Canadian government, including threats of trade wars, has meant that instead of seeing decisive action on climate change in Europe a decision has now been delayed until June. Canada must now realise that the European public is mobilised to ensure that our governments make the right decision to label the tar sands as highly polluting.”
Please contact +447772694327, suzanne@no-tar-sands.org for further comment.
Background
What is the Fuel Quality Directive (FQD)?
The FQD could ensure that tar sands are strongly discouraged from entering the EU because of their high carbon-intensity. However, aggressive lobbying from the Canadian government and oil companies is aiming to block this move.
The EU Fuel Quality Directive (FQD) aims to encourage the use of low carbon transport fuels and discourage the use of high-emission crude oil and reduce Europe’s greenhouse gas emissions from road transport by 6% before 2020. A recent independent study carried out by Stanford University for the European Commission concluded that oil from tar sands leads to 23% higher greenhouse gas emissions than conventional crude oil.
Unsurprisingly, the Canadian government, with the support of European oil companies, has been lobbying hard to prevent the EU discriminating between conventional oil and tar sands. Canada began by trying to call the science into disrepute, by insisting tar sands oil is no more polluting than conventional oil, and invoking the spectre of legal challenges for unfair discrimination under CETA and the WTO.
Currently the UK is supporting the Canadian position, and lobbying other member states to agree to an ‘alternative methodology’ which would not only further delay the process, but would be less effective at reducing imports tar sands into Europe.
Lush got very sticky and called on the UK to stop its indecent relationship with Canada by stalling the FQD by staging an Oil-Orgy in the streets of Oxford. There have also been actions at the Liberal Democrat HQ by the LSX Occupy: Energy, Equity and Environment Group and People and Planet were at Nick Clegg’s office.
It would be tragic if we allowed our own government to stand in the way of progressive climate legislation that would genuinely scupper the expansion of an industry which is devastating ecosystems, killing communities and contributing to climate change.
What can you do?
- Take a moment to sign an online action
Avaaz – UK: 24 hours to stop Tar Sands
People and Planet – Send a letter to Nick Clegg asking him to support the Fuel Quality Directive!
- Keep tuned! We will need to keep the pressure on.
Further Information
FQD FAQ – Briefing from the Pembina Institute
Reducing greenhouse gas emissions through transportation fuel policy
Canada threatens trade war with EU over tar sands
CBC interview http://www.cbc.ca/thecurrent/episode/2012/02/22/european-union-on-oil-sands/
Olympics slammed over BP sponsorship
Dear Brilliant People,
Did you know BP is ‘Sustainability Partner’ of the London 2012 Olympics?! It’s Beyond Parody. Now that we’ve recovered from the shock (which took a while) we’ve joined with a large posse of amazing folk to express our outrage. It’s in today’s Guardian! More below.
Meanwhile, two of the current biggest tar sands battles in the world have had a rollercoaster week. US Senators are trying to resurrect the Keystone XL pipeline, which President Obama rejected only a couple of weeks ago, so our friends across the pond mobilised 800,000 signatures against this in just 24 hours. Incredible!
But it doesn’t stop there. The EU is finally going to vote on whether to put tar sands into the Fuel Quality Directive. Next week. More on that below including a really important action you can take.
- Olympics slammed over BP sponsorship
- Stop the oil orgy! EU vote next week
- International Stop the Tar Sands Day
- Thank you!!
Love not shady sponsorship deals,
Jess, Sue and Emily
1. Olympics slammed over BP sponsorship
Today, we sent an open letter to the organisers of the London 2012 Olympics, raising a wide range of concerns about BP’s sponsorship. We’re really excited about how many others signed the letter along with us – NGOs, indigenous organisations, Gulf Coast residents, academics, activists, even a London Assembly member!
So the gauntlet has been well and truly thrown down. How will the Olympic organisers respond? We’ll keep you posted…
2. Stop the oil orgy! EU vote next week
On February 23rd (next week!) the Fuel Quality Directive will finally be voted on in the European Union. Canada has been engaged in an unprecedented lobby blitz to undermine the Directive, and put the interests of Big Oil ahead of effective climate policy. And they have persuaded the UK to take their side. So on Valentine’s Day, Oxford shoppers were treated to a sultry and sticky ‘oil orgy’ street performance to protest this inappropriate and seedy relationship. Massive props to the Lush crew for giving it their all.
The vote next week really could go either way, so please put pressure on Nick Clegg and Norman Baker to stop sabotaging the EU’s attempts to label tar sands as dirty fuel, with this e-action from People & Planet.
Also, our original ‘oil orgy’ at the Canada-Europe Energy Roundtable last autumn got another airing last night – in a documentary put together by Leah Borromeo on Channel 4′s Random Acts!
3. International Stop the Tar Sands Day
Last International Stop the Tar Sands Day (ISTSD) saw over 50 actions take place around the world, with London folk putting on a colourful spectacle outside the Canadian High Commission. This year the day has been announced for May 5th, and the UK branch of ISTSD needs a new coordinator, which could be you – or you and a group of your friends. If you’re interested in helping make this event even bigger and better than last year, email stoptarsands@ymail.eu. You’ll have plenty of support from other organisers in the EU as well as us here at UKTSN. You can also keep up to date with plans in the ISTSD facebook group.
4. Thank you!!
At the end of last year we asked if people could throw a little cash our way and we were overwhelmed by your generosity! So a big thank you to everyone that has given us money – and also to all of those tirelessly lobbying, tweeting, turning up to actions and taking off their clothes for the cause.
Olympic organisers slammed over BP sponsorship
Environmental credentials of ‘sustainability’ partner labelled a ‘sick joke’
PRESS RELEASE: 17.2.2012
Today, an open letter [1] signed by a broad coalition of leading environmentalists, academics, politicians, campaigners, activists and representatives of devastated communities [2] has been sent to the organisers of London 2012, raising a series of concerns over BP’s sponsorship of the forthcoming Olympics.
The 34 signatories – which include representatives of Sierra Club US, Greenpeace and Friends of the Earth, as well as London Assembly member Jenny Jones and Nick Reeves OBE, Director of the Chartered Institution of Water and Environmental Management – have raised critical concerns over BP’s role as ‘Sustainability Partner’ [3]. The letter points out that given the Deepwater Horizon disaster, the company’s vast fossil fuel extraction activities around the globe, its recent entry into the highly-polluting tar sands and subsequent decision to close down its solar division, BP ‘is one of the least sustainable companies on earth’ and should not have been given such a prestigious environmental leadership role.
The letter comes in the wake of Meredith Alexander’s resignation from the Commission for a Sustainable London 2012 – the Olympics’ eco-watchdog – over Dow’s sponsorship [4]. Addressed to the IOC, LOCOG and the Commission, it asks that the three organisations ‘reconsider the terms of the partnership with BP, and put in place a more stringent ethical sponsorship policy that is in line with Olympic principles and the Code of Ethics, that will prevent BP and similar companies basking in such undeserved glory in the future.’ It will be accompanied by a request for a meeting.
Jess Worth from the UK Tar Sands Network, which organised the initiative, said:
‘The choice of BP as Sustainability Partner for the London 2012 Olympics sounds like a sick joke, considering its record of environmental devastation around the world. There’s clearly an urgent need for the Olympics organisers to broaden their definition of ‘sustainability’ and start applying it to their choice of sponsor.’
The controversy surrounding BP’s Olympic sponsorship follows growing criticism from environmental and human rights groups over the company’s sponsorship of UK-based cultural institutions like Tate and the British Museum. At the end of 2011, more than 8,000 Tate members and visitors presented a petition to Tate at its Members’ AGM calling on the gallery to end its financial relationship with BP. [5]
For more information or interviews, please contact:
Jess Worth, UK Tar Sands Network, info@no-tar-sands.org
Kevin Smith, Platform, kevin@platformlondon.org
1. The letter can be found at http://www.no-tar-sands.org/campaigns/british-petroleum-bp/bps-sponsorship-of-london-2012-oilympics/letter/
2. The full list of signatories is: Tom Antebi, Counter Olympics Network; Maude Barlow, Council of Canadians; Liam Barrington-Bush, People & Planet; Craig Bennett, Director of Policy & Campaigns, Friends of the Earth; Carbon Trade Watch; Sam Chase, Art Not Oil; Julian Cheyne, Games Monitor; Danny Chivers, author of The No-Nonsense Guide to Climate Change; Tony Clarke, Director, Polaris Institute; Mark Gee, criminology consultant and writer; Tom B. K. Goldtooth, Executive Director, Indigenous Environmental Network; Hannah Griffiths, Head of Policy and Campaigns, World Development Movement; Siobhan Grimes, Climate Rush; Jenny Jones, London Assembly Member; Melina Laboucan-Massimo, Greenpeace Canada; The Liberate Tate collective; Michael Marx, Beyond Oil Director, Sierra Club US; Winnie Overbeek, World Rainforest Movement; Occupy LSX Energy, Equity & Environment Working Group; Robert Palgrave, Biofuelwatch; Nick Reeves OBE, Executive Director, The Chartered Institution of Water and Environmental Management (CIWEM); John Sauven, Director, Greenpeace UK; Dr Debra Benita Shaw, Senior Lecturer, Cultural Studies, University of East London; Andrew Simms, author of Eminent Corporations and Fellow of New Economics Foundation ; Kevin Smith, Platform; Richard Solly, London Mining Network; Jasmine Thomas, member of Saik’uz First Nation (affiliated with the Yinka Dene Alliance); Steve Tombs, Professor of Sociology, John Moores University; Dr Julie Uldam, Postdoctoral Researcher, London School of Economics and Political Science; Stewart Wallis, Director, New Economics Foundation; Diane Wilson, shrimper from the Gulf Coast and member of Calhoun County Resource Watch; Jess Worth, co-founder, UK Tar Sands Network ; Murray Worthy, War on Want; Kenny Young, founder, Artists Project Earth
3. For more information see http://www.bplondon2012.com/
4. See ‘Why I resigned over Bhopal’, http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2012/jan/26/why-meredith-alexander-resigned-bhopal-olympic
5. See ‘Not If But When: Culture Beyond Oil’: http://blog.platformlondon.org/2011/11/27/read-online-now-not-if-but-when-culture-beyond-oil/
VALENTINES’ OIL ORGY ERUPTS IN CORNMARKET STREET
Oxford shop calls for the UK to end its ‘love affair’ with Canadian Tar Sands oil
On Tuesday 14th February, at 1.30pm, staff from Lush Oxford marked Valentines Day by leaving their tills to stage an ‘oil orgy’. Their high-street orgy highlighted the UK Government’s refusal to support legislation that would label tar sands oil as highly polluting [1]. James, Lush Oxford’s trainee manager, stripped down to Union Jack boxers and Hannah, a member of Lush Oxford’s staff wore maple leaf under-wear. They covered each other with oil while kissing and groping to provoke public interest and anger at the UK and Canadian governments’ oil orgy [2].
“Almost one year ago we launched a campaign to keep Tar Sands oil out of the EU. This Valentine’s day we’re picking up the pressure because a seedy relationship has developed between the UK and Canadian governments. In just nine days the UK government will refuse to support key EU legislation, which would limit Canadian tar sands oil in transport fuel across Europe. We’re here, kissing half-naked on Cornmarket Street, because it’s time to stop the oil orgy!” said James, Lush Oxford’s trainee manager.
The UK Tar Sands Network, who support Lush Oxford’s campaign, said: ‘The UK and Canadian governments’ illicit relationship is inappropriate, to say the least. The UK has become Canada’s henchman, promoting the highly polluting tar sands industry and blocking European action on climate change. To claim to be the greenest government ever is laughable when it reality it’s prioritising oil profits before environmental action.’
E-ACTION – http://peopleandplanet.org/tarsands/takeaction/eu-ban
For more information, interviews and photos please contact Lush Oxford – 01865 244 826
Notes
[1] Norman Baker MP opposes inclusion of tar sands oil http://gu.com/p/32ctn/tw
[2] UK and Canada’s secret relationship: http://gu.com/p/33ke6/tw
More pictures up here
- January 27, 2012
- 3 Comments
- Latest Updates, Newsletters
Calling all Foreign Radicals!
Dear Tar Troopers,
This week has seen an incredible wave of resistance from indigenous communities speaking out against the Enbridge Northern Gateway Pipeline in Canada. Leaked documents have shown that the Harper government is responding by fighting dirty, and is blaming ‘foreign radicals’ for the terrible reputation the tar sands has got. Are you a foreign radical? If so, we want you to get more involved in the UK Tar Sands Network! Find out more below…
- Enbridge hearings and Enemies of the State
- Spread the resistance: become a Tar-Free Town
- Join our team!
- Solidarity action with the Beaver Lake Cree
See you on the frontlines,
Sue, Emily & Jess
1. Enbridge hearings and Enemies of the State
Since Obama gave Harper the cold shoulder last week on plans to send tar sands oil to the Gulf of Mexico via the Keystone XL Pipeline, all eyes have been on British Columbia. Public hearings are currently taking place on the proposed Enbridge Northern Gateway pipeline, which will decide if tar sands oil will be pumped all the way through the vulnerable ecosystem of North-West Canada, then shipped in massive tankers across some of the roughest waters, to China. This monster project has united indigenous communities, local residents and environmentalists in opposition, and caused Joe Oliver, Canada’s Natural Resources Minister, to come out all guns blazing, accusing ‘foreign radicals’ of interfering in the hearings.
Yesterday, leaked government documents revealed that the Canadian government has declared First Nations, green groups and local and European media as ‘enemies of the state‘. Despite all this intimidation, First Nations communities are standing strong. 61 indigenous nations have signed onto the Save the Fraser Declaration opposing the pipeline, and are voicing their concerns proud and clear at the hearings. Stay tuned for updates on twitter and facebook!
2. Spread the resistance: become a Tar-Free Town
Whilst the battle rages in Canada, we have an increasingly important part to play. The work we have been doing in the UK has been instrumental in drawing international attention to the devious deeds of the Canadian Petrocracy and to amplify the concerns of impacted communities. We want to continue to build this tar-free community of transatlantic solidarity. We are working with green groups, student groups and transition communities around the UK to become ‘Tar-Free Towns’. If you or your local group wants to help keep the tar monster from spreading and stand in solidarity with people resisting the world’s dirtiest fuel on the frontlines, contact us and get involved. To find out more take a look at our shiny Tar-Free Towns website, share it around, see what has already been happening and get inspired about what you can do! We would love to come and run a workshop with you so get in touch at info@no-tar-sands.org.
3. Join our team!
Back at the ranch, the UKTSN family is growing! We are looking for a volunteer to join our small but feisty team. If you’re really passionate about taking on big oil, working in solidarity with communities and pulling off creative, audacious interventions, we might be just what you’ve been looking for! If you know someone who might be interested, please share our ad with them and please fling it around your networks.
4. Solidarity action with the Beaver Lake Cree
On another front, the Beaver Lake Cree’s court case against the Canadian government for repeated infringements of their Treaty Rights has reached a crucial point. To coincide with a hearing at which the Canadian government will attempt to kill off the case, People & Planet will be throwing down some street theatre outside the Canadian High Commission on Monday 30th January @ 11am. If you want to play a part email tarsands@peopleandplanet.org or join them there on the day!
