Just Stop It! No more gas, no more coal, no more oil! XR at Ampol depot.

Protestors atop truck, with Oilies. Click on image for greater clarity.

Yesterday, Tuesday, XR protestors arrived just after dawn in convoy at the Ampol Depot in Newport. We came with 4 rented trucks, and a determination to close down the entire plant for as long as possible. By blocking access to the two main gates we aimed to impede the tankers from collecting and distributing their petrol supplies. 

 

Climbing the Heights. Click on image for greater clarity.

Two volunteer climate heroes scaled each truck and locked on in the full knowledge that eventually this would lead to their arrest.  

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The Oilies were there to make their point that our over-dependence on petrol is killing us.

On this grey morning I started out at the side street entrance of the plant, where the climbers were quickly supported by other performers wearing their messages not only on their sleeves but on their whole bodies: 

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The police arrived early and kept silent watch from a distance.

 

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 And soon the tankers too began arriving, and were redirected by police and plant staff, who with one exception, took our presence in their stride.

 

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Protestors supported each other on the ground, and on top of the trucks. Marian mingled among the crowd live-streaming, asking protestors what had inclined them to get out of bed so early, to travel in darkness to the other side of the city and to take part in this action. 

 

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On hearing that the police were about to start removing the locked-on protestors at the main entrance, I made my way around there. The police had banned protestors, except for a few from XR liaison, from the forecourt. We were restricted to watching the brave climbers from the other side of the road.

 

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As they were removed we applauded and cheered from a distance, acknowledging them for the climate heroes they are.

 

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By the end of the day nine protestors were arrested and taken away in the police van. I am in awe of their bravery. 

And I had a wonderful and unexpected experience earlier. When I arrived at the second site and positioned myself to take photos I had noticed two young women working in tandem to show the sign - 'Honk for climate action' - to passing motorists. 

 

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During the time I was standing near them I was amazed at how much honking was going on for what is often characterized as extreme and disruptive actions. Small cars, large cars, passing trucks - a medley of drivers demonstrated their support and obviously the increasing universality of fear for our future and that of the planet. 

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