Climate activists disrupt Republican state visit dinner in Windsor Castle.
Activists from Fossil Free London staged a protest at the Republican Overseas UK State Visit Dinner held at the Windsor Guildhall, where supporters congregated to “celebrate the state visit of Donald J. Trump”.
The activists chanted, “if you drill baby drill, how many will you kill?” and displayed banners proclaiming “oily money kills” as they were escorted out of the venue. Eyewitness accounts suggest that some attendees reacted aggressively, reportedly slapping and punching the protesters.
Robin Wells, director of Fossil Free London, expressed concern, stating: “’Drill baby drill’ could lead to the deaths of billions. This isn’t just our perspective; it’s echoed by the serious-minded individuals in the insurance industry.
Wounds
“The Institute and Faculty of Actuaries estimate that nearly half of the global population could face fatal climate impacts in our lifetime. This cascading risk is unprecedented and represents the most significant security threat we have ever encountered.
“Trump’s promotion of fossil fuel exploitation, which profits him and elite associates, should be reconsidered. It is our responsibility to oppose Trump’s coercive influence on policymakers.
“We must halt drilling operations. Failure to do so jeopardizes our existence. From oil fields in the North Sea to drilling initiatives in Greenland and the USA, the mantra remains: keep it in the ground.”
Demonstration
Experts have cautioned against Trump’s “drill baby drill” approach, arguing it has regressed decades of global environmental advancements. A January report from risk analysts highlights that previous evaluations underestimated the severe consequences of climate change. Current projections suggest that as many as four billion people could perish by 2050 if global temperatures rise by 3C or more.
Trump has openly criticized the UK’s shift from fossil fuels towards renewable energy sources, instead urging the nation to reinforce its reliance on oil and gas.
Meanwhile, the UK government is anticipated to make a critical decision soon regarding the potentially contentious Rosebank oil field, as its owner, Equinor, is poised to resubmit its development application.
The dinner took place mere minutes from Windsor Castle, where President Trump is hosted by King Charles during his visit. Last night’s protest is part of an escalating series of actions against Trump’s UK visit, with a major demonstration organized by the Stop Trump Coalition set to occur in Central London on Wednesday.
This Author
Brendan Montague is involved with the editorial team at The Ecologist online.
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