According to Greenpeace, activists blocked the entrances to BP’s headquarters in London, demanding an end to all new oil and gas exploration. The campaigners arrived at 3 am, on Monday, May 20 and climbed the heavy containers; The protest is linked to BP’s annual general meeting on Tuesday, May 21.
Specifically, Greenpeace said its activists would continue the protest until they receive an acceptable response from BP but by the evening, most had been removed by the police.
According to the Guardian, the five shipping containers in front of BP’s entrances, each weighing several tonnes, were designed to perfectly fit each entrance to the office building.
The protesters inside the containers varied from the age of 25 to 60; They noted that they had enough food and drink to last a week, as also portable lavatories.
In the meantime, Paula Radley, one of the protesters wrote
Along with a team of climbers on the roof, and more people in containers like mine, we’ve shut down the building. This is one of the scariest things I’ve ever done, but I know it’s the right thing.
She continued that the climate is on a state of emergency, an BP keeps on looking for more gas, allegedly having significant impact on the environment.
Concluding, in light of the protest, BP released a statement according to which:
We welcome discussion, debate, even peaceful protest on the important matter of how we must all work together to address the climate challenge, but impeding safe entry and exit from an office building in this way is dangerous and clearly a matter for the police to resolve as swiftly as possible.
