Morgan Trowland

PM Sunak defends ‘severe’ Just Stop Oil sentences

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Morgan Trowland and Marcus Decker protest and close the M25 Dartford Bridge.
Morgan Trowland and Marcus Decker protest and close the M25 Dartford Bridge.

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c6pxn4z1rqno

At a glance

  • The PM has defended sentences handed to two Just Stop Oil activists
  • The United Nations had warned the long sentences could stifle protest
  • The protesters caused gridlock after climbing the Dartford Crossing bridge

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has defended sentences handed to two Just Stop Oil climate campaigners following criticism from the United Nations.

Morgan Trowland, 40, was jailed for three years and Marcus Decker, 34, for two years for causing a public nuisance after scaling the Dartford Crossing Bridge.

The UN had warned the government in a letter that the “severe” sentences could stifle protest.

Mr Sunak said in response in a post on X, formerly Twitter, that those who break the law should feel the full force of it.

“It’s entirely right that selfish protestors intent on causing misery to the hard-working majority face tough sentences,” he said.

“It’s what the public expects and it’s what we’ve delivered.”

…

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c6pxn4z1rqno

One of the many occasions climate change denier and UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak uses a private jet.
One of the many occasions climate change denier and UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak uses a private jet.

What an asshole Rishi Sunak is calling Just Stop Oil protesters selfish. So they’re protesting for the benefit of the planet and all it’s inhabitants human or animal, risking prison sentences and criminal records. C’mon Sunak you assole, you had better explain how exactly that is selfish?

Isn’t it people like Sunak and fossil fuel investors that destroy our planet, nature and everybody’s future for profit who are the real selfish bastards? The oil industry has known since the 60s that their actions were destroying the planet and they did it regardless for profit. Isn’t that selfish? Of course, these are the selfish bastards.

Sunak when he was Chancellor introduced huge fossil fuel subsidies that are intended to extract every last drop of oil from the North Sea despite knowing full well that that the World is likely to hit 3 degrees C warming as a result. This will lead to more and more extreme climate events as if we didn’t have enough already. It’s uncertain that humans or the planet can take 3 degrees increase due to fossil fuels and this total cnut has the audacity to call those campaigning against this selfish …

Image of InBedWithBigOil by Not Here To Be Liked + Hex Prints from Just Stop Oil's You May Find Yourself... art auction. Featuring Rishi Sunak, Fossil Fuels and Rupert Murdoch.
Image of InBedWithBigOil by Not Here To Be Liked + Hex Prints from Just Stop Oil’s You May Find Yourself… art auction. Featuring Rishi Sunak, Fossil Fuels and Rupert Murdoch.
Continue ReadingPM Sunak defends ‘severe’ Just Stop Oil sentences

Just Stop Oil bridge climbers get 3 years in longest ever sentence for peaceful climate action

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Just Stop Oil at Dartford QE2 bridge M25 crossing. Image: Just Stop Oil

Two Just Stop Oil supporters have been given draconian custodial sentences after occupying the Queen Elizabeth II Bridge at Dartford in London. The Just Stop Oil supporters were demanding that the government halt licensing and consents for the development of any new fossil-fuel projects in the UK.

The pair appeared before Judge Collery at Southend Crown Court. Morgan Trowland has been sentenced to three years and Marcus Decker has been sentenced to two years and seven months. These are the longest sentences for peaceful climate action in UK history.

The pair scaled the QE2 bridge on October 17th 2022 and remained at height for 37 hours. Both men have been held on remand since the incident.

Speaking before the sentencing, Morgan Trowland, 40, a bridge design engineer from London, said:

“Marcus and I demonstrated what any two ordinary people will do, when the death screams of the world become unbearable. I cannot enjoy liberty in a society when our government makes plans to kill people on a massive scale. Drilling new oil and gas wells in 2023 means death for many of the most vulnerable on earth. I will not be complicit in that.”

Speaking outside the courtroom Stephanie Golder, a Just Stop Oil spokesperson, said:

“What Morgan and Marcus did was extraordinary, risky and extremely disruptive. But what should you do when your government refuses to protect the people? When it ignores the repeated warnings of the world’s climate scientists. When you know that new oil and gas extraction will eventually result in the deaths of billions of people?”

“Nonviolent civil resistance is the answer. It’s what the Suffragettes did, it’s what the Civil Rights movements did. It’s our best chance of getting the scale of change we need, in the time we need it.”

“Just Stop Oil will not be deterred by these draconian sentences. Where they imprison one of us, ten more will take their place. When they imprison ten of us, one hundred will stand to take their place. We must unite against this genocidal government and be brave.”

“For now, that means slowly marching around the streets of London. It is an act of self respect, an act of solidarity, an act of love and necessity. We urge you to join us, because together we can stop the harm that is new oil and gas. Our campaign resumes on April 24th. Sign up at juststopoil dot org.”

Since the Just Stop Oil campaign began on April 1st 2022, there have been over 2,000 arrests and 138 people have spent time in prison, many without trial. There are currently two Just Stop Oil and five Insulate Britain supporters in prison, serving sentences for actions taken with the campaign.

This is the moment for us to come together and resist the destruction of everything we love, something that is being imposed on us by a few, who only seek to enrich themselves. 

from a Just Stop Oil press release

Continue ReadingJust Stop Oil bridge climbers get 3 years in longest ever sentence for peaceful climate action

Just Stop Oil QEII Bridge activist ‘was delivering climate warning’

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11.15am The video changed shortly after I posted. It was originally far more critical of UK government and urging people to take action, far more like this one ;)

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-essex-65127506

A Just Stop Oil protester has told jurors he climbed the Dartford Crossing bridge to deliver a “warning message”.

Morgan Trowland, 40, of Islington, north London, and Marcus Decker, 34, of no fixed address, are on trial accused of causing a public nuisance.

The court has heard the Queen Elizabeth II Bridge, linking the M25 in Essex and Kent, was closed between 04:00 BST on 17 October and 21:00 the following day.

…

“We climbed it to deliver a warning message – to put up a banner saying ‘Just Stop Oil’ and to speak that message through interviews with journalists,” he told Basildon Crown Court.

…

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-essex-65127506

Continue ReadingJust Stop Oil QEII Bridge activist ‘was delivering climate warning’

QEII Bridge climbers trial at Basildon Crown Court

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Just Stop oil protesters scale QE2 Bridge at Dartford Crossing

Two Just Stop Oil supporters who climbed the QEII bridge last October are currently getting tried at Basildon Crown Court from Monday charged with public nuisance.

Marcus Decker and Morgan Trowland are appearing before Judge Collery after spending over 160 days in prison on remand for climbing the QEII bridge to demand that the government halt licensing and consents for the development of any new fossil-fuel projects in the UK.

Continue ReadingQEII Bridge climbers trial at Basildon Crown Court