Media TV
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NOS News•today, 15:36•Amended today, 17:14
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The action of Extinction Rebellion climate activists in ING offices across the country has ended, except for three branches. The activists demanded that the bank stop financing the fossil fuel industry. According to Extinction Rebellion, 23 branches in 20 cities were occupied.
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ING reported that action was taken in 14 branches. A spokesperson said there was no occupation. “We can just work and help customers. The atmosphere is friendly, activists are handing out flyers for the office, for example.”
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In three bank branches, in Amsterdam Osdorp, Nijmegen and The Hague, the action was still going on around 4.45 pm, ING reports. In Amsterdam, Den Bosch, Utrecht and Almere, the police arrested activists, in most cases because they did not want to leave after closing time.
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Chained or glued
The climate activists argue that ING invests about 8.5 billion euros annually in oil, gas and coal, including in new projects “for which there is no longer room in the escalating climate crisis”. Extinction Rebellion reports that activists have chained or glued themselves in some bank branches and will not leave until ING has promised to immediately stop financing the fossil industry.
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ING calls that requirement “unrealistic, because a transition period is needed to move from fossil fuels to renewable energy”. The bank says it wants to continue to support its customers during this transition.
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Extinction Rebellion has campaigned several times this year against ING’s financing of the fossil fuel industry, especially at the head office in Amsterdam-Zuidoost.
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