A 70-member eco-mob abducted a meeting of Shell executives in central London today, singing their own rendition of Queen We Will Rock You’s hit song before telling shareholders, “We’re going to dismantle you!”
Eco-fanatics led by Extinction Rebellion were filmed interrupting the company’s annual general meeting (AGM) at Methodist Central Hall in Westminster, forcing it to be suspended.
This comes when Shell has to ask its shareholders to vote on a resolution supporting its climate strategy and reject an activist climate resolution, another version of which won 30% of the vote at last year’s general meeting.
A video today shows the moment when a group of protesters disguised as shareholders get up and start singing “We will, we will, we stop you!” Before other members begin delivering speeches, telling CEOs: “We will make it impossible for you to exist.
A protester is seen as a man with a face mask pulls on his collar before a fellow protester pushes his hand away.
Then she shouts to the stage: “You are deliberately leading us to disaster, you are a disgrace, Shell must fall!”
Extinction Rebellion fans were filmed interrupting the company’s general meeting at Central Hall in Westminster, forcing it to suspend
Protesters from the eco-crowd unfurl signs at the Shell General Meeting in central London, with one of them: “Shareholders finance death”
Protesters boarded Methodist Central Hall in Westminster, where the Shell General Assembly was being held
Police arrive at the Shell Assembly while protesters continue to sing and chant
Climate activist attends protest in front of Shell’s general meeting in central London on Tuesday
A shareholder is heard shouting, “Shell forever,” as eco-warriors continue to read their messages.
After a while, Shell Chairman Sir Andrew Mackenzie said: “I do not want to get to that, but if necessary I will ask you to leave the meeting so that we can continue with the annual general meeting,” he added.
He then told the group that he had asked the police to “come and restore order” and remove them from the meeting.
“You have not given me an alternative,” he added.
The rally continued to be delayed as dozens of protesters also gathered outside, drumming and chanting, “The shell must fall.”
Some raised banners reading “No faith in fossil fuels” as police officers were filmed arriving at the scene.
At least two were seen climbing the building in masks before firing flares.
Former Green Party leader Caroline Lucas also attends protest (pictured)
A protester was depicted holding a sign reading, “They came, they broke, they smashed the planet,” as a metropolitan police officer looked up.
Former Green Party leader Caroline Lucas also attended the protest.
She shared photos of herself in Westminster today, wearing a yellow coat and a Ukrainian badge.
She wrote: “Let’s say it loud and clear. When he earns £ 7.3 billion in the first three months of this year alone, while planning to spend more than £ 6 million a day on climate-damaging oil and gas, what Shell is doing is criminal.
The protesters come from several different groups, including Money Rebellion, Extinction Rebellion, Christian Climate Action, Fossil Free London, Shell Must Fall and Stop Ecocide.
They say about 80 protesters were in the meeting room.
Fossil Free London’s Joanna Warrington said: “We can deal with the climate crisis and the cost of living scandal, but Shell stands in the way.
“It continues with reckless oil and gas projects that would take us far beyond safe climates, such as the controversial Jackdaw gas field.
Protesters unfurled a placard reading “Guilty of Ecocide” ahead of Shell’s meeting in London on Tuesday
Extinction Rebellion activists demonstrate in front of Methodist Central Hall on May 24, 2022 in London
Protesters in front of Shell’s general assembly today accused the oil giant of profiting from the war in Ukraine
“Shell must fall,” reads a yellow sign held by protesters at the company’s general meeting
The meeting of Shell’s CEOs and shareholders had to be suspended
Meeting police officers are trying to discourage eco protesters at the Shell General Assembly in Westminster
“As millions struggle to pay their bills, Shell is making record profits by keeping energy prices high and paying zero tax on its oil and gas in the UK.
“This government needs to invest in turbochargers in renewable energy and insulation, not provide huge tax breaks to companies that burn our future for profit.”
At 12 o’clock the shareholders were noticed to leave the building.
Meanwhile, protesters inside continued to applaud and sing as they slowly began to be escorted by police.
Metal barriers have been erected in front of the building as the number of protesters grows to hundreds.
A Shell spokesman said: “We respect everyone’s right to express their views and welcome any commitment to our strategy and the energy transition, which is constructive.
“However, this kind of interruption of our general meeting is the opposite of a constructive commitment.
“We agree that society needs to take urgent action on climate change. Shell has a clear goal of becoming a zero-emission business by 2050. “
Environmental groups have stepped up protests in recent months.
At least six Eco-fanatics at Extinction Rebellion were arrested last week after a group broke into a five-star hotel in central London, clung to the lobby and sprayed black paint on the front in new protests against oil.
Extinction Rebellion activists stage protest at Methodist Central Hall as they raise the building and sound the alarm
The protest told Shell: “Think of the planet above profit” as he joined the protests in London on Tuesday
Metal barriers were erected in front of the Westminster building as the number of protesters rose to hundreds. (Pictured: One of the protesters)
Dressed in high-rise jackets, eco-protesters used ladders to climb to the top of the May Fair hotel for £ 350 a night, unfurling a banner reading “End Oil Colonialism.”
The video shows a group of activists lying inside the building shouting the same phrase, while others hold banners outside that read “Justice for Africa.”
The hotel, just a short walk from Buckingham Palace, hosted the annual Africa E&P Summit and Exposition.
According to the event’s website, the summit “aims to” unite the African industry up the chain for a unique event designed for companies active in the oil and energy game in Africa “.
Representatives of a dozen African governments attended the event, and speakers included Somali Resources Minister Mohamed Hashi Arabey Abdi, president and CEO of Africa Oil Corp, Keith Hill, and representatives of oil giant Shell.
US energy giant ExxonMobil and French oil company TotalEnergies have been named as sponsors of the summit, which costs up to £ 500 to watch from a distance with an online ticket.
Police glued an area around the hotel entrance during the protest, with Scotland Yard saying that some protesters were sticking inside the building and police “sticking teams” are currently trying to peel them off.
This comes after the UK’s leading offshore energy body warned today that environmental activists could undermine the country’s energy security and thwart its efforts to reach net zero.
The group unfurled a banner with “End of Oil Colonialism” in front of the May Fair Hotel on Stratton Street
Environmental activists walk into a luxury five-star Mayfair hotel as part of a protest against oil last week
Protesters managed to get on the balcony next to the hotel and stayed there with a poster reading “The planet can not breathe.”
According to Offshore Energies UK (OEUK), protests, lawsuits and advertising stunts by organizations including Extinction Rebellion, Just Stop Oil and Greenpeace could deter investment in the North Sea and hamper the UK’s efforts to reduce emissions.
Addressing his counterparts at the annual OEUK conference in Aberdeen on Tuesday, CEO Deirdre Mickey said pressure groups were trying to block further investment in oil and gas in UK waters. more dependent on other countries for energy, which may include Russia.
Activists have refuted her comments, saying the country’s dependence on fossil fuels undermines energy security, not the people who stress the problem.
Ms Michi emphasized the role of energy and oil and gas products for British consumers, noting that emissions come from the country’s infrastructure and not from its fuel source.
“Our conference today follows months of interruptions, protests and legal action involving groups such as Extinction Rebellion, Just Stop Oil, Greenpeace and others,” she said.
“It is not ironic to say that we are in line with their long-term vision of a low-carbon UK, but we do not agree with their approach on how to get there, because the actions they are taking – grabbing headlines but harmful – are another risk. for investor confidence.
OEUK claims that the United Kingdom has 32 million petrol and diesel vehicles, 24 million homes that rely on gas boilers and 35 power plants that use gas to produce 40% of the country’s electricity, Ms Michi said that it “needs change.”
“But – and this is not an excuse – it will take time for these changes – so for decades to come, much of our energy will inevitably come from oil and gas,” she added.
Last week, protesters from Extinction Rebellion demonstrated at the May Fair Hotel in London. The group was seen holding a “Justice for Africa” sign.
The group hung banners reading “End of Oil Colonialism” and “Justice for Africa” from the porch and lobby of the hotel for £ 351 a night.
Protesters from Extinction Rebellion demonstrate at the May Fair Hotel in London. …
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