For immediate release
Groups across the world have staged direct actions and taken to the streets today, with individuals in Switzerland and Austria painting airports orange and gluing onto checkin desks, causing major disruption to aviation. Meanwhile, people in the UK and the Netherlands have staged demonstrations at state buildings and airports. They are acting in support of Oil Kills – an International Uprising to end oil, gas, and coal by 2030. [1] [2]
In Switzerland, supporters of the groups DROP Fossil Fuel Subsidies and Act Now! took direct action by painting a thick orange line on the floor in front of the check-in at EuroAirport Basel Mulhouse. Simultanteously, others dropped a banner behind the scene reading ‘Ünderstutze das Fossil Fuel Treaty’, or ‘Support the Fossil Fuel Treaty’, in English.
Letzte Generation Austria staged a mass demonstration in the main hall of Vienna Airport. Five action takers glued their hands onto check-in desks, preventing passengers from entering the departures lounge. At the same time, others released orange confetti from a balcony.
Student and spokesperson for Letzte Generation Austria, 26 year old Afra Porsche from Vienna said:
“This is a worldwide uprising. Citizens in over 10 countries, from Austria to the Netherlands, from England to Canada, are no longer willing to accept the fossil fuel destruction of our governments. At airports it becomes visible: Oil kills! We want the absolute minimum from our governments: Sign the binding treaty to phase out coal, oil and gas by 2030!”
In the United Kingdom, three supporters of Just Stop Oil were detained and forcibly removed from Heathrow Airport this morning, after one of them stood silently in the arrivals lounge holding a sign that read ‘OIL KILLS’.
Extinction Rebellion Netherlands held simultaneous demonstrations outside Amsterdam Schipol and Maastrict Aachen airports. Meanwhile, groups including Fossil Free London, Stay Grounded, Climate Justice Coalition, Extinction Rebellion, Hacan East, and Just Stop Oil congregated outside the Department for Transport in Westminster, London to demonstrate against the expansion of London City Airport and call for an international Fossil Fuel Treaty.
More actions are expected today in North America, with demonstrations planned in Sacramento and Montreal.
In Switzerland, one of those taking action was Max Voegtli, a 31 years old commercial employee. He said:
“Our government and the big companies are burying their heads in the sand. They say the right words, but these words are not followed by action. The further expansion of fossil fuels is a death sentence for humanity, that’s obvious to anyone who looks closely. I will not die for their greed and I’m sure my fellow citizens won’t either when they learn the truth.”
14 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, XR Netherlands, 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 Scientist Rebellion in Sweden, Last Generation Canada, and XR Boston and Scientist Rebellion Turtle Island from the USA. [3] [4]
A total number of 101 people have taken action, with 46 arrested so far, and hundreds joining demonstrations. 8 remain in custody.
The A22 Network and Stay Grounded have affirmed their support for the coalition of groups taking action today. [5] [6]
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://oilkills.org/2024/07/24/press-release-24-july-2024/
[5] 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).
[6] 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.