With the government announcing they will not be issuing any future licences to oil and gas companies, Just Stop Oil sees this as a victory and has announced that they will no longer block motorways or throw soup on priceless artworks. We take a deep dive into the issue.
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00:00Just Stop Oil, the climate protest group known for their disruptive campaigns, has made a
00:06significant announcement. They will cease their direct action protests after three years
00:11of staging high-profile disruptions, including blocking roads, targeting oil terminals and
00:16gluing themselves to iconic works of art. The group has now said its mission has been
00:20accomplished, so this marks a major shift in their strategy, but what exactly led to
00:24this decision? Founded in 2022, Just Stop Oil has focused
00:28on demanding an end to new oil and gas projects, calling for a transition to renewable energy
00:33to prevent catastrophic climate change. Their message has always been urgent. The climate
00:38crisis is worsening and governments are not doing enough. The group's founders argued
00:43that the only way to draw attention to this urgent issue was through direct action. For
00:48them, it was about waking up the public to the reality of climate inaction. But these
00:53protests have sparked intense debate. For some, the group's actions were necessary
00:57to get the message out. Their disruption, though controversial, brought climate change
01:03to the forefront of public conversation. High-profile protests, like blocking major roads or gluing
01:09themselves to famous works of art, ensured that their cause couldn't be ignored. They've
01:14said their actions were meant to show the urgency of the situation. However, not everyone
01:19agreed with their methods. Many criticised the group for causing public inconvenience,
01:25with some arguing that their tactics alienated people who might otherwise support the fight
01:29against climate change. Critics questioned whether such drastic measures were counterproductive,
01:36pushing people away rather than bringing them closer to the cause. Despite the backlash,
01:42Just Stop Oil claims that their actions have achieved meaningful change. Recently, the
01:47UK government announced plans to halt new oil and gas extraction, a policy shift that
01:52Just Stop Oil sees as a victory. The group believes their persistent protests played
01:57a key role in influencing this decision, pushing the issue of fossil fuel dependency higher
02:02on the political agenda. Now, as they take a step back from direct action, Just Stop
02:08Oil says they're satisfied with the progress made. But with the group's supporters and
02:12critics alike watching to see how the movement evolves moving forward, with the protests
02:17ending, it's clear the conversation around climate action will continue, whether through
02:22traditional means or other forms of activism. One thing's for sure, the conversation about
02:27climate change is far from over.