Just Stop Oil, a group that is campaigning to put a stop to all new fossil fuel projects in the United Kingdom, has made headlines yet again, as two of its supporters disrupted the Gallagher Premiership rugby union final between Saracens and Sale at the Twickenham Stadium on May 25, 2019. This was just two days after a similar incident occurred at the Chelsea Flower Show, where three women were arrested for criminal damage after throwing orange paint over a garden.
During the Saracens vs. Sale match, two men invaded the pitch midway through the first half and threw powdered orange paint on the field, resulting in a stoppage of play. The match resumed with orange powder still visible on the pitch, but Saracens went on to win. The men involved in the protest were identified by Just Stop Oil as Dr Patrick Hart, a 37-year-old GP from Bristol, and Sam Johnson, a 40-year-old construction worker from Essex.
After the protest, Just Stop Oil released a statement saying that the two men were demanding a halt to any new licenses for oil, gas, and coal projects in the UK. The group has been organizing a series of protests in London for the past five weeks.
Twickenham Stadium later confirmed that the two men were arrested and that the incident was now a police matter. The stadium also thanked its stewarding team for acting decisively and swiftly to remove the protesters from the pitch.
This was not the first time Just Stop Oil has made a scene in a major sporting event. In April 2019, during a match between Robert Milkins and Joe Perry at the World Snooker Championship in Sheffield, a member of the group poured orange paint on a snooker table. Another woman attempted to do the same on another table but was apprehended by the referee, Olivier Marteel.
The incident at the Chelsea Flower Show involved three women named by Just Stop Oil as Stephanie Golder, Naomi Goddard, and Rosa Hicks. The group said that the demonstration was part of their fifth week of action in London.
Just Stop Oil has been campaigning against new oil and gas projects as part of its wider mission to reduce fossil fuel dependency and prevent climate change. In recent years, there has been growing concern about the impact of fossil fuel extraction on the environment and the need to transition to cleaner, more sustainable sources of energy.
Although Just Stop Oil’s methods of protest have been controversial, they have succeeded in drawing attention to the issue and raising awareness about the urgent need for action to tackle climate change. However, some critics argue that the group’s activism is disruptive and counterproductive, and that it risks alienating the wider public and hindering progress in finding solutions to the issue.
In any case, it is clear that climate change is one of the most pressing challenges of our time, and that more needs to be done to reduce emissions and transition to a low-carbon economy. Whether or not Just Stop Oil’s tactics are effective, their message is an important one that deserves greater attention and action from governments, businesses, and individuals alike.
