Fossil Fools Day 2009
Fossil and Financial Fools Day goes global
Today saw not only mass protests in London ahead of the G20 summit, but local demonstrations in cities around the UK and across the globe. Under the banner of Fossil Fools Day, activists held protests at banks, energy companies and power stations across the UK, Canada, the USA and South Africa to highlight the twin economic and climate crises.
More action reports and photographs will be added here as they come in.
Email info@risingtide.org.uk with your Fossil Fools Day action report.
In the UK …
Climate Camp in the City
On the eve of the G20, activists descended on London to highlight the links between the financial and the climate crisis. While the ‘Financial Fools Day’ Street Party got underway outside the Bank of England, the Camp for Climate Action set up camp outside the European Climate Exchange. Their message: “Stopping carbon markets – because nature doesn’t do bailouts”. For the most up-to-date information visit – www.climatecamp.org.uk.
Climate Meltdown
Meanwhile over at the Excel Centre, the Campaign against Climate Change staged a “Climate Emergency” Ice-berg Demo where the G20 were to meet the following day. The action featured a giant ice block sculpted like an iceberg and demonstrators dressed in white with some even wearing strings of ice cubes around their necks. The backdrop to this was provided by ‘Climate Emergency’ placards and panels showing maps and graphs of arctic ocean ice loss. The message was simple : Polar ice is melting much faster then scientists thought and is the most visible symptom of the
frightening speed with which the climate is changing. We will lose the race against climate catastrophe unless action is taken soon.
Greenwash at the Tate
Earlier in the week, the oil Goliath BP was felled by a Fossil Fools Day’s David as BP postponed its centenary party at the British Museum to be held on April 1st, due to a demonstration organised by Art Not Oil and Rising Tide, (now rescheduled for May 6th at 6pm, as BP is attempting to resuscitate its broken party on that day.) Earlier on FFD, Art Not Oil’s musical contingent played ‘Celebrate This!’, a new paean to BP, inside and outside the BP-sponsored Tate Britain gallery in London; www.artnotoil.org.uk.
In Plymouth, Rising Tide penguins super-glued themselves to the entrance of RBS to highlight RBS’s funding of fossil fuels projects. RBS are one of the biggest investors in the fossil fuel industry and provided $16 billion to coal-related companies in 2007 alone. Ann Smith of Rising Tide Plymouth today said: “RBS is now 57% owned by the UK taxpayer. Climate change requires a move to renewable energy, not continued support for the expansion of the fossil fuel industry”. More photos
In Oxfordshire, the early hours of April 1st saw local activists hanging banners from bridges over the A34 between Oxford and Didcot. Banners read “Caution: Climate Change Ahead”, “Give Way to Wind” and “Fossil Fool: 3rd exit” complete with pictures of Didcot Power Station. With Didcot (run by RWE NPower) due for de-commissioning in a few years, it is time to pursue renewable options locally. One of the activists said: “We want not only Didcot, but also the government and the G20 to see the folly of their actions in pursuing unsustainable technology. We have an opportunity to pursue safe, cheap alternatives and ensure a cleaner future. The wise choice would be to grasp
this opportunity”.
In Portsmouth, members of Portsmouth Climate Action Network and the University’s People & Planet group took up position outside the Nat West Bank in Commercial Road to encouraging shoppers to tell Royal Bank of Scotland – NatWest to stop funding climate chaos. Activists said: “It is our money that RBS-NatWest is using to extract tar sands, burn coal and fuel climate chaos. We believe that the only way to prevent dangerous climate change is by investment in renewables, not in dirty coal. We are calling on the public to contact RBS-NatWest and the UK government and tell them what they think about them bankrolling climate chaos.”
A Fossil Fool Award is given to Bournemouth Airport
In Bournemouth, members of direct action group Plane Stupid turned up at Bournemouth Airport to give them a Fossil Fool Award for ‘Outstanding contribution to local, national and global pollution’. Tara Bosworth said, “Bournemouth Airport may well be the biggest single source of greenhouse gas emissions in Dorset and they are expanding their operations, more than doubling the number of flights, now that’s plane stupid and why they are getting our Fossil Fool award.” A member of the airport staff accepted the award but declined having his picture taken.
Fossil fool themed street theatre took place in both Frome in Somerset and Totnes in Devon. In Totnes, the International Climate Criminal known as ‘Old King Coal’ was put on trial. The prisoner, who is not in good health, was led from The Plains up to the Civic Square where he was tried before a jury of local citizens and schoolchildren. Unfortunately other members of the Fossil Fools Gang, including Oil and Gas, remain at large and are a continued danger to the planet.
Oh, and earlier in the week, the oil Goliath BP was felled by a Fossil Fools Day’s David as BP postponed its centenary party at the British Museum to be held on April 1st, due to a demonstration organised by Art Not Oil and Rising Tide, (now rescheduled for May 6th at 6pm, as BP is attempting to resuscitate its broken party on that day.) Earlier on FFD, Art Not Oil’s musical contingent played ‘Celebrate This!’, a new paean to BP, inside and outside the BP-sponsored Tate Britain gallery in London; www.artnotoil.org.uk
In South Africa …
SASOL is awarded Fossil Fool of the Year Award
In Johannesburg, Earthlife Africa awarded Sasol (the South African Coal, Oil and Gas Corporation) the prestigious 2009 Fossil Fool of the Year Award for producing 72 million tonnes of CO2 per year (over 15% of South Africa’s total emissions) and for trying to build a new coal-to-liquid power plant. Although Sasol initially resisted accepting the award (one can only imagine why), the efforts of a determined group of protesters finally forced the tainted trophy to be accepted.
More info
In the USA …
Mannequins for Climate Justice at Bank of America
In Boston, Massachusetts, the “Mannequins For Climate Justice” shut down the Kenmore Square branch of Bank of America. A mannequin was chained to the doors of the bank shortly before opening this morning. The lone mannequin protester, Guy Fox, said, “Even a dummy like me can see that Bank of America’s massive loans to coal companies and support for the epidemic of foreclosures and evictions has to stop now.” Fox further said, “Bank of America seems determined to be so evil it’s almost comical, but people resisting the bank’s practices will have the last laugh. Happy April Fools to all the capitalist fossil fools!”
Marching on Old King Coal
In Berkeley, California, a bike ride/march highlighted BP’s $500 million deal with University of California. Under this deal, the oil giant BP is investing $500 million for the university to research biofuels, raising issues of greenwashing, false solutions, and the interaction between a public university and a private corporation.
Trouble between the sheets
In Asheville, North Carolina, protesters declared Governor Purdue to be in bed with Duke Energy, and demanded the cancellation of the Cliffside coal plant. In response to the North Carolina Division of Air Quality (DAQ) ruling that Duke Energy’s Cliffside coal plant is a “minor source of emissions”, protesters gathered at noon outside Governor Purdue’s Western North Carolina office in downtown Asheville to demand that she revoke the plant’s permit. In a demonstration organized by Asheville Rising Tide, protesters set up a bed in front of Governor Purdue’s office with people in business suits representing Duke CEO Jim Rogers, DAQ head Keith Overcash, and Governor Purdue under sheets and covered in money. A banner reading, “Governor Purdue in bed with Duke Energy” provided a backdrop to the under-the-sheets liaison.
In Denver, Colorado, a Fossil Fools Day rally of concerned citizens, health experts, and environmental and neighborhood leaders demanded a transition to clean energy. The rally, led by WildEarth Guardians, and joined by Sierra Club, Greenpeace, Clean Energy Action, SafeMinds, students, church members, and affected nearby communities, was held in the shadow of the Cherokee coal burning power plant at Denver’s Heron Pond Natural Area, and called upon Governor Ritter to help Colorado seize clean energy solutions and keep Coloradoans safe from coal. Carrying handmade signs and holding pinwheels to symbolize a transition to clean energy, dozens of citizens demonstrated their frustrations with the status quo and their hope for protecting their future.
In New Orleans, conservation groups, students, and concerned citizens joined forces at Entergy’s headquarters to protest about the company’s plans to expand their use of coal power in Louisiana. “Louisiana’s coast is ground zero for climate change impacts,” said rally organizer Jonathan Henderson. “Entergy should be a responsible neighbor and work to limit coast-destroying pollution and protect rate-payers from future carbon price increases”.
In the spirit of the “Coal Circus,” students from Bowling Green, Kentucky orgaised a ‘Monster Mash’ and a critical mass bike ride.
Students in Tempe, Arizona, also hopped on their bikes and declared themselves “too cool for fossil fools.”
In Canada…
Five actions in one day in downtown Toronto? No foolin!
Rainforest Action Network activists kicked Canadian Fossil Fools Day off with a bang, dropping banners off of a highway, greeting over 4,000 cars (we counted) stuck in deadlock traffic over a period of two hours. From bridges, we broadcast messages about Royal Bank of Canada (RBC)’s financing of the Canadian Tar Sands from our makeshift Pirate Radio station. Our banners read “Pirate Radio 89.9 FM Tune in now” and “Royal Bank creates climate chaos. Renewables not tar sands.” The pouring rain didn’t block our view of car after car reaching for the radio dial as they drove under us.
We began by dressing up and impersonated bank employees. About 16 of us rode elevators for up to two more hours, chatting up other RBC personnel – “Hey, on my way to work today I heard about how RBC is financing the destruction of Native territories in Alberta, causing people cancer and polluting the water! Tar Sands are the world’s dirtiest oil. Did you know that? I had no idea! I’m telling my manager right away!”
Meanwhile, outside the HQ, several more of us leafleted and held banners reading “RBC Creates poisoned water in our community,” “Renewables not tar sands” and “RBC: financing cancer and toxic sludge.”
Back inside, a lone Torontan walked inside the main office with a beautiful bouquet of balloons. I don’t know where he got the idea to release them in the atrium, or how a banner reading “ROYAL BANK CREATES CLIMATE CHAOS” got attached….I also don’t know how they’re gonna get it down.
Later that evening, dozens of activists reconvened outside RBC headquarters alongside “Tarbie,” an oil-soaked version of RBC’s prized mascot “Arbie” who explained to passersby that he and RBC are helping finance one of the fastest growing sources of water pollution and greenhouse gas emissions on the planet, and how they conflict with the financial giant’s PR promises to promote clean water.
PREVIOUS POSTS …
There are lots of plans afoot for Fossil Fools Day all over the world, but we thought we’d upload some inspirational public actions you can get involved with on the April 1st, and some resources to help inspire you to take action in you local area. So, wherever you are in the world, whether you’ve been looking for a chance to dip a toe into the growing climate action movement, or have had your kick-ass action planned since last year, now is the time to do it – whatever it is. On April 1st, join the global day of resistance and pull a prank that packs a punch.
PUBLIC ACTIONS IN THE UK ON APRIL 1st
If your action isn’t listed below (wherever you are), email us and we’ll put it up here!
1230 LONDON
HELP BUILD A CAMP FOR CLIMATE ACTION IN THE CITY OF LONDON
Stopping carbon markets – because nature doesn’t do bailouts.
Meet at the European Climate Exchange, Hasilwood House, 62 Bishopsgate, EC2N 4AW. Bring a pop-up tent, sleeping bag, wind turbine, mobile cinema, action plans and ideas … let’s imagine another world. Don’t let the financial and fossil fools make the rules! For more details visit Climate Camp G20.
11 AM LONDON
FINANCIAL FOOLS DAY STREET PARTY
Assemble at Cannon Street, Moorgate, Liverpool Street or London Bridge stations 11am to form four marching blocks heading towards the Bank of England for 12-noon, in the ‘Square Mile’ of the City of London. Bring a portable radio! G20 Meltdown
MIDDAY TOTNES
TRIAL OF OLD KING COAL ! in TOTNES by Climate activists
The International Climate Criminal known as ‘Old King Coal’ has been apprehended in Totnes and will face trial on April 1st. The prisoner, who is not in good health, will be lead from The Plains at 12.00 up to the Civic Square where he will be tried before a jury of local citizens and schoolchildren. Unfortunately other members of the Fossil Fools Gang, including Oil and Gas, remain at large and are a continued danger to the planet.
Contact Chris:01803 866835
12.30 – 7.30PM LONDON
TAKE THE CLIMATE MESSAGE TO THE
G20 Join the ice-berg at the G20 !
Ice-berg “Climate Emergency” demo – outside the Excel Centre (‘Royal Victoria’ stop on Docklands railway from Bank). We’ll be outside the Excel Centre (Western entrance – or as near as we can get) the day before the G20 meets there, from 12.30 pm. to 7.30 pm. (evening rally 6.30 pm). We will have a giant ice block – bring your own ice blocks and dress in white! For action updates visit the CACC website.
FROME (SOMERSET)
Sustainable Frome will be performing fossil fool themed street theatre.
LONDON NEWS FLASH: OIL GOLIATH BP FELLED BY FOSSIL FOOL’S DAY DAVID
BP has postponed its centenary party at the British Museum on April 1st, as word leaked out and triggered a demonstration Art Not Oil and Rising Tide.
For reasons unfathomable yet deeply pleasing, BP had chosen Fossil Fools Day to celebrate its centenary. This was due to take place at the British Museum, where the not-so-great and the far-from-good would have been quaffing cocktails, snaffling canapes and watching a celebratory film.
Art Not Oil and Rising Tide encourage you to be present at BP’s AGM on April 16th to make sure it gets this message, and to wish its employees well in their new low carbon, post-corporate careers. Contact Art Not Oil for more information.
INTERNATIONAL PUBLIC ACTIONS ON APRIL 1st
BERKELEY, CALIFORNIA, USA
BP deal with University of California.
Under this deal, the oil giant BP is investing $500 million for the university to research biofuels – this raises so many issues from greenwashing to false solutions to biotech/agribusiness and over to the interaction between a public university and private corporations. Planned meet up: 6 p.m. at Berkeley BART then a bike ride/march to an undisclosed location for an artful, creative, fun event. Email: berkeleyfossilfools@riseup.net
JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA
SASOL TO GET AN AWARD
Activists from Earthlife Africa Jhb and allies will be highlighting the role Sasol plays in warming our planet. From 12:00 to 14:00 on the 1st of April 2009, protestors will converge on Sasol’s Corporate Headquarters in Johannesburg (1 Sturdee Avenue, Rosebank) to present Sasol with the “South Africa’s Fossil Fool of 2009″ award. It takes hard work, years of application, and significant capital investment to win a Fossil Fool Award. The decision to award Sasol the 2009 title was based upon:
1) For producing 72.6 million tonnes of greenhouse gases annually; total annual greenhouse gas emissions for South Africa are 446 million tonnes of carbon dioxide-equivalent.
2) For planning to build a new 80,000 barrels/day coal-to-liquids plant in South Africa. This would add an estimated 23 to 37 million tons of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere on an annual basis.
3) For fixing prices of its goods, both in South Africa and Europe.
Email: makomaphil@gmail.com
PUBLIC ACTIONS AFTER APRIL 1st
APRIL 3RD Royal Bank of Scotland AGM
The Royal Bank of Scotland (which owns NatWest) is two things:
1) The UK’s private high street bank with biggest investments in fossil fuel projects around the world
2) Over 70% owned by UK citizens. People & Planet will be taking action at the RBS-NatWest AGM in Edinburgh and at RBS’s HQ in London. We need as many people there as possible to clean up RBS-NatWest. *Especially now that about 70% of the bank is in public ownership, we’ll be telling RBS-NatWest: we’ve cleaned up your finances, now stop messing up our climate.
Edinburgh: EICC, MOrrison St, 12.30pm. Time to get out the feather dusters and marigolds for an RBS-NatWest spring clean, let’s tell them to stop sweeping their coal under the carpet!
London: RBS HQ, 280 Bishopsgate, 12.00 noon. Kitted up as comedy bankers (monacles, giant top hats, and yuppie suits) we’ll expose how greedy bankers vote for a future of climate chaos.
More info here: http://peopleandplanet.org/fossilfools and here: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=62204867311#/event.php?eid=58662813965
APRIL 3RD READING “DO SOMETHING” POST FOSSIL FOOLS DAY EVENT
There will a free event in at the Global Cafe in Reading from 9pm featuring live music, an exhibition of artworks and an ‘On The Sofa’ session with Johnny Hoggett, on which he will interview climate activists to hear their ‘Tales of Daring Do from the Carbon Revolution’. See flyer for details
RESOURCES
Media – Rising Tide has produced an 11 page Media Q&A for Fossil Fools Day. If you think you’ll be talking to the media on the day and want a few tips for tricky questions send us an email and we’ll email you a copy.
Action Ideas – For a short guide on why and how to take direct action against the fossil fuel industry … including planning tips, target locations, examples of successful actions and much more download 15 Actions to Topple the Fossil Fuel Empire (PDF).
On April 1st 2009, take aim at your local Fossil Fool
We are living through both alarming and amazing times: financial systems are creaking, climate change is being felt around the world, and the peak in fossil fuels fast approaches. Cracks are widening daily throughout the fossil fuel empire, and change is coming whether we like it or not.
Q: What’s Fossil Fools Day going to do?
A: Speed up the end of the fossil fuel empire, and the beginnings of a more just and sustainable world.
On April 1st last year, people around the world celebrated Fossil Fools Day. Over 150 actions took place across four continents. Oil, gas, coal and aviation were all targeted. Fossil fuel extraction, production, financing, PR and greenwash all felt the jester’s wrath. Actions spanned the full spectrum from the simply subversive to the downright disruptive: office occupations, banner drops, street theatre, Big Carbon blockades, city centre parades, spoof product launches, subvertising, leaflets, lock-ons and even a laugh-in. The tentacles of the carbon web were exposed for all to see, more people saw the empire for what it truly is – a sinking ship awaiting abandonment – and here and there, the carbon machine even ground to a halt. This year Fossil Fools Day will be bigger, better and bolder.
Our actions are amplified when we act in unison, so this year, in the build-up to the UN climate negotiations in Copenhagen in November, let’s see if we can reach over 1000 worldwide! Fossil Fools Day is about taking action in the name of carbon common sense – leave fossil fuels in the ground, abandon false solutions, and build real and just alternatives. Dismantling the fossil fuel empire is a massive task, but every action we take takes its toll, and there is no doubt that our resistance is growing and our struggles are uniting year by year. So whether you’ve been looking for a chance to dip a toe into the growing climate action movement, or have had your kick-ass action planned since last year, now is the time to do it – whatever it is.
On April 1st, join the global day of resistance and pull a prank that packs a punch.
UK Contact: info@risingtide.org.uk
US Contact: contact@risingtidenorthamerica.org