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Greenpeace volunteers arrived at the HQ in St James' Square, central London, before dawn on Monday. They have encased themselves in specially designed, toughened containers weighing several tons each, blockading all the HQ's main entrances and preventing staff from entering the building. (Photo: Jiri Rezac / @Greenpeace)
We're Shutting Down BP Because It's a Climate Emergency
BP is motivated by profit, regardless of the damage. Their time has come to an end.
May 20, 2019
As you read this, I'm sitting in a big container outside BP HQ in London, blocking one of the main entrances to the building. 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
We're at a critical point in history. We have the science telling us that we are destroying our planet - that we're facing a climate emergency. And one thing we know for sure is that oil and gas must become a thing of the past.
But companies like BP are still exploring for new oil, getting us deeper and deeper into this crisis. They need to stop exploring for oil or wind down their business.
The video below explains BP's climate crimes in one minute. My request of you is that you watch it, then share it on social media - please get the word out however you can.
Future generations will look back at this time and ask why we didn't do more, and I will be able to say I did everything I could. Yes it may get me in trouble, but I was always taught to stand up to bullies and speak up when I think something is wrong. And while I know we can't all afford to take the kind of action I'm taking today, we must all do something. Because the only thing needed for companies like this to get away with stealing our future is for most people to do nothing.
Sometimes you have to take a step back and look at what we consider 'normal'. Sometimes you realise that something you've always thought of as 'normal' is no longer acceptable, and it's time to change how we do things. The way that companies like BP operate is no longer acceptable.
BP are just motivated by their profits, regardless of the damage they're doing. And their time has come to an end.
We do have a future - but BP's not in it.
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© 2023 Greenpeace
Paula Radley
Paula Radley is one of the Greenpeace activists who blocked BP headquarters in London on May 20, 2019 to highlight the climate emergency humanity is currently facing.
As you read this, I'm sitting in a big container outside BP HQ in London, blocking one of the main entrances to the building. 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
We're at a critical point in history. We have the science telling us that we are destroying our planet - that we're facing a climate emergency. And one thing we know for sure is that oil and gas must become a thing of the past.
But companies like BP are still exploring for new oil, getting us deeper and deeper into this crisis. They need to stop exploring for oil or wind down their business.
The video below explains BP's climate crimes in one minute. My request of you is that you watch it, then share it on social media - please get the word out however you can.
Future generations will look back at this time and ask why we didn't do more, and I will be able to say I did everything I could. Yes it may get me in trouble, but I was always taught to stand up to bullies and speak up when I think something is wrong. And while I know we can't all afford to take the kind of action I'm taking today, we must all do something. Because the only thing needed for companies like this to get away with stealing our future is for most people to do nothing.
Sometimes you have to take a step back and look at what we consider 'normal'. Sometimes you realise that something you've always thought of as 'normal' is no longer acceptable, and it's time to change how we do things. The way that companies like BP operate is no longer acceptable.
BP are just motivated by their profits, regardless of the damage they're doing. And their time has come to an end.
We do have a future - but BP's not in it.
Paula Radley
Paula Radley is one of the Greenpeace activists who blocked BP headquarters in London on May 20, 2019 to highlight the climate emergency humanity is currently facing.
As you read this, I'm sitting in a big container outside BP HQ in London, blocking one of the main entrances to the building. 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
We're at a critical point in history. We have the science telling us that we are destroying our planet - that we're facing a climate emergency. And one thing we know for sure is that oil and gas must become a thing of the past.
But companies like BP are still exploring for new oil, getting us deeper and deeper into this crisis. They need to stop exploring for oil or wind down their business.
The video below explains BP's climate crimes in one minute. My request of you is that you watch it, then share it on social media - please get the word out however you can.
Future generations will look back at this time and ask why we didn't do more, and I will be able to say I did everything I could. Yes it may get me in trouble, but I was always taught to stand up to bullies and speak up when I think something is wrong. And while I know we can't all afford to take the kind of action I'm taking today, we must all do something. Because the only thing needed for companies like this to get away with stealing our future is for most people to do nothing.
Sometimes you have to take a step back and look at what we consider 'normal'. Sometimes you realise that something you've always thought of as 'normal' is no longer acceptable, and it's time to change how we do things. The way that companies like BP operate is no longer acceptable.
BP are just motivated by their profits, regardless of the damage they're doing. And their time has come to an end.
We do have a future - but BP's not in it.
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