Yahoo News Everything you need to know about the controversial activist group Just Stop Oil
Just Stop Oil is a British environmental activist group primarily focused on the issue of human-caused climate change.
It is a successor group to Insulate Britain, which blocked Britain's roads in the autumn of 2021 to highlight the need for home insulation.
It’s explicitly focused on young people taking action.
The group is also linked to Extinction Rebellion – with veteran activist Roger Hallam cited as the mastermind behind all three.
I cannot rationalise the rage against Just Stop Oil around #stonehenge . I get the fustration, but if you were all as outraged about the vandalism of the planet as you are by rock-nationalism we wouldn't be in this mess. Its some dye on a rock or we all die on a rock.
— Dr Janaway (@drjanaway) June 20, 2024
What is Just Stop Oil and what are its aims?
Just Stop Oil (JSO) wants the UK to stop approving new fossil fuel projects, which are a major cause of climate change.
The group says it uses "non-violent civil resistance" and will stop protesting when the government announces an end to fossil-fuel production.
Just Stop Oil is linked to other environmental groups, including Extinction Rebellion and Insulate Britain.
What do Just Stop Oil protesters want?
The group’s mission statement reads: “We must urgently end our reliance on fossil fuels to avoid irreversible changes in the earth’s climate system.
"We cannot continue to burn fossil fuels in the belief that future developments in carbon capture and storage and other so-called ‘unicorn technologies’ will allow us to suck vast quantities of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.”
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It wants the UK to begin this immediately, by stopping new fossil fuel projects – giving the country eight years to transition to a zero-carbon economy.
The group continues: “Everyone knows we have to engage in massive changes. Just Stop Oil is a coalition of groups demanding the no-brainer things be done immediately – actions that will reduce the demand for fossil fuel energy dramatically such as insulating our homes, rethinking how we travel, getting on with renewable energy and making sure no one is left behind.”
What are Just Stop Oil's tactics?
The group became prominent when its activists shut down major roads such as the M25 and Dartford crossing in November 2022.
Since then, JSO has also targeted several major sporting events, including the Wimbledon tennis championships, the second Ashes Test at Lord's Cricket Ground and the World Snooker Championship in Sheffield.
