For immediate release
A total of 25 supporters of Letzte Generation and Just Stop Oil have taken action at airports in Germany and the United Kingdom in the last 12 hours, causing major disruption to aviation in Europe and drawing attention to Oil Kills – an International Uprising to end oil, gas, and coal by 2030. They are calling for their Governments to achieve this by creating a Fossil Fuel treaty. [1] [2]
Last night at 23:30 (UK time) five supporters of Letzte Generation glued themselves to to the tarmac at Leipzig-Halle Airport (LEJ) in Germany, preventing cargo planes from taking off and landing. Flights were stopped for four hours while action takers remained, before being removed and arrested by police.
Then at 8:45 (UK time) this morning, 6 supporters of Just Stop Oil nonviolently blocked the departure gates at Heathrow Airport (LHR), causing delays in the airport. All were arrested, as were several individuals who were taking photographs of the scene.
Ronja Künkler is a 25 year-old musician who took action today in Germany. They said:
“Tonight, I sit here in peaceful protest, not out of anger, but out of love. Love for this planet, our shared home. Love for all people, and especially for the young people whose freedom of choice is at stake. I am here because I cannot stand by and watch the world I love crumble due to inaction and ignorance.”
21 groups across 12 countries have staged a range of interventions at 19 international airports so far, 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, Doe Deurne Dicht in Belgium, Last Generation Canada, XR Boston, Last Generation America, and Scientist Rebellion Turtle Island from the USA. [3]
One of those arrested today at Heathrow was Di Bligh, 77, a grandmother from Rode who was formerly CEO of Reading Borough Council. She said:
“Climate breakdown is endangering all we love. Starvation already threatens those who have done the least to cause this mess. Billions will be on the move as they try to find land they can cultivate, water to drink- any safe place.”
“Electric cars and windfarms won’t do it: governments must act together before we reach more tipping points into chaos than we can prevent. We need our political leaders to act now, by working with other nations to establish a legally binding treaty to stop the extraction and burning of oil, gas and coal by 2030.”
A total number of 140 people have taken action, with 84 arrested so far, and hundreds joining demonstrations. 10 are being held in prison on remand, with an additional 23 currently held in police custody. This week has seen repeated actions at UK airports – with seven arrested for blocking the security gates of Gatwick Airport (LGW) on Monday, followed by another action on Tuesday at Heathrow Airport that saw the departure boards painted orange. [4] [5]
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://oilkills.org/news-press/
[4] https://juststopoil.org/2024/07/29/just-stop-oil-supporters-disrupt-gatwick/
[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.