For immediate release
Two supporters of Last Generation Canada have disrupted Montreal’s Pierre-Elliott-Trudeau International Airport (YUL) by spraying pink paint over the entrance to the departures lounge, at around 6:00pm local time (11:00pm UK time). They were acting in support of Oil Kills – an International Uprising to end oil, gas, and coal by 2030. [1] [2]
Last Generation Canada is demanding that the government sign a legally binding treaty to stop extracting and burning oil, gas and coal by 2030, as well as supporting and financing other countries to make a fast, fair, and just transition. They’re also calling on the government to create a permanent national firefighting agency that employs 50,000 full-time firefighters and a citizens’ assembly with legally binding power to decide how to tackle the climate and ecological crisis.
One of those taking action today was Seph Marshall, a 25 year graduate student at McGill university. He said:
“As I sit here, the town and park of Jasper are burning to the ground. I’m taking action because I can no longer wait, hoping for our government to act in the best interest of it’s people. The continued extraction of oil and gas for profit is not compatible with a livable future. We need to listen to the science, beginning with an endorsement of a fossil fuel non-proliferation treaty that phases out fossil fuels and ensures a fair and just transition.”
The town of Jasper, located in the Canadian Rockies, has been enveloped today by devastating and unseasonal wildfires. More than 25,000 have been evacuated, with significant damage caused to homes and infrastructure. [3]
This morning action takers from Letzte Generation Germany caused flights at Frankfurt Airport (FRA) to be grounded after they glued themselves to the runway in support of the Oil Kills International Uprising. Shortly afterwards, individuals from Folk Mot Fossilmakta and Scientist Rebellion Norway caused distruption at Oslo Gardermoen Airport (OSL) by blockading the security check-in.
Yesterday, 13 groups across 10 countries staged a range of interventions at international airports, causing serious disruption and global impact. They include Letzte Generation Germany, Folk Mot Fossilmakta and Scientist Rebellion in Norway, XR Finland, Futuro Vegetal in Spain, Just Stop Oil in the UK, Drop Fossil Subsidies and Act Now – Liberate in Switzerland, Letzte Generation Austria, Extinction Rebellion and Scientists Rebellion in Sweden, Last Generation Canada, and XR Boston and Scientist Rebellion Turtle Island from the USA. [4] [5]
A total number of 93 people have taken action, with 39 arrested so far. 10 remain in custody.
The A22 Network and Stay Grounded have affirmed their support for the coalition of groups taking action today. [6] [7]
Inês Teles, 34, a spokesperson for Stay Grounded:
“It’s past time to end fossil fuels. Flying is the fastest way to fry the planet so it’s key to start by cutting pointless and unfair flights like private jets or short haul flights. The actions today and yesterday, disrupting airports, should be a shock to the system that is driving us towards climate catastrophe”.
Today’s actions are just the start. Governments and fossil fuel producers are waging war on humanity. Even so-called climate leaders have continued to approve new coal, oil and gas projects pushing the world closer to global catastrophe and condemning hundreds of millions to death. We need an emergency international response to save lives. As long as political leaders fail to take swift and decisive action to protect our communities from the worst effects of climate breakdown, we will remain in resistance. Our work remains essential, morally right and ever more urgent. The link between oil, gas and coal, and human lives is now crystal clear: Oil Kills.
ENDS
Press contact:+44 7762 987334
Press email: [email protected]
High-quality images & video here: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1JPirDH2_rF9M47r7_UWldjOJuvvw95wE?usp=sharing
Website: https://oilkills.org/
Twitter: https://x.com/_oilkills
Groups supporting the international uprising to end fossil fuels:
Just Stop Oil, UK [email protected] +44 7762 987334
Letzte Generation Austria [email protected] +43 680 4027795
Letzte Generation Germany [email protected] +493023591611
XR Netherlands [email protected] +31642020897
DROP Fossil Subsidies, Switzerland [email protected] +41 77 486 59 46
Act Now, Switzerland [email protected] +41 79 727 99 29
Last Generation Canada [email protected] +15144304545
Folk Mot Fossilmakta, Norway [email protected] +47 48416001
XR Boston [email protected] +1 (941) 809-8189
XR Finland [email protected]
Futuro Vegetal, Spain [email protected] +34 687558436 (English, French, Italian, German, Spanish)
Scientist Rebellion, Sweden [email protected].
Extinction Rebellion, Sweden [email protected]
Stay Grounded, International [email protected] +351912656904
Notes to editors:
[1] Oil Kills is an international uprising to end fossil fuels – an unprecedented coalition of civil resistance groups from over 10 countries across Europe and North America. We are taking nonviolent collective action at airports – a key pillar of the fossil fuel economy – to demand an end to oil, gas and coal by 2030.
Our demand in full: Our governments must work together to establish a legally binding treaty to stop extracting and burning oil, gas and coal by 2030 as well as supporting and financing poorer countries to make a fast, fair, and just transition.
This can be accomplished by endorsing the Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty Initiative and seeking a negotiating mandate to establish the treaty.
Our recruiting, training, and capacity building is supported by the Climate Emergency Fund, which strategically supports ultra-ambitious organizations demanding solutions to the climate crisis at emergency speed.
Safety notice: Supporters receive training in nonviolence and will undertake all possible steps to ensure that our actions do not compromise the safety of those using airports, as well as those in the air. This includes avoiding going on any active or inactive runways.
[2] The Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty Initiative is a diplomatic initiative working with a global network of thousands of civil society organisations and first mover governments who are spurring international cooperation to end new development of fossil fuels, phase out existing production within the agreed climate limit of 1.5°C and develop plans to support workers, communities and countries dependent on fossil fuels to create secure and healthy livelihoods.
[3] https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/7/25/our-worst-nightmare-raging-wildfire-hits-western-canada-town-of-jasper
[4] https://oilkills.org/2024/07/24/press-release-24-july-2024/
[6] Stay Grounded is a network of 200 initiatives to counter aviation for a just mobility system. They stand up against greenwashing climate strategies like carbon offsetting and the largely illusory promise of so called Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAF).
[7] A22 Network is an international network racing to save humanity. We have a recipe for effective civil resistance. Support us. Join us. You are needed.