People’s Climate March London: Creative plans to lead mass protests against fossil fuel industry

Sunday this weekend, a fossil free bloc at the peoples climate march in London, the world’s largest climate mobilisation of people, will demand divestment from fossil fuels, utilising creative methods to end political interference by the fossil fuel industry.

The event has been organised ahead of the UN Climate Summit in New York later this month, and includes demonstrations at three major London universities, including the London School of Economics, to demand the divestment of funds engaged in promoting fossil fuel development.

A ‘Fossil Free Bloc’ has also been planned, comprising of groups campaigning against fossil fuel extraction.

The groups intend to campaign against an art programme sponsored by fossil fuel companies at Kings College London, by using a Viking long-ship aimed at challenging BP. The bloc intend to also use giant carbon bubbles for a volleyball match outside of Parliament demanding governmental leaders divest from holdings in fossil fuel companies. Vivienne Westwood will also be in attendance.

“The giant carbon bubbles represent the enormous volume of reserves the fossil fuel industry has on its books already and intends to burn. That’s five times more than our climate can take. The business model of this industry is dead set against planetary survival,” said Danielle Paffard of Divest London.

“For public institutions to remain invested in fossil fuel companies is morally bankrupt.”

Tim Ratcliffe, Europe divestment coordinator at 350.org said, “Lobbying by fossil fuel companies has been one of the biggest blockers to meaningful action on climate change, and we know they’ll be around the table at this summit, too. The Fossil Free Bloc is about standing up to the power of the industry, and stigmatising their role in politics.

“We need to do Big Oil what was done to Big Tobacco, and keep them out of decision making that affects all of our lives as well as their profit.”

Thousands of people are expected at the People’s Climate March London, with similar events going on in major cities throughout the UK – as well as 2,700 other climate events globally. The biggest event, however, will be in New York, ahead of the UN Climate Summit later this month.

Photo source: Emilian Robert Vicol via Flickr

Further Reading:

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