BP stations across London put out of action by Greenpeace volunteers

Posted by jamie - 27 July 2010 at 5:58am - Comments

This morning, starting at  5.30am, teams of Greenpeace volunteers have been shutting down BP stations across London. We aim to close dozens down this morning.

Watch the action as it happens - pictures, video and text updates from the teams.

The teams - each named after an animal threatened by BP's reckless oil exploration - fanned out across the capital in their electric and hybrid cars, going station to station and disabling the pumps.

Why today? Because BP is expected to announce later the appointment of Bob Dudley as the company's new head to replace the gaffe-prone Tony Hayward, who led BP during the disastrous Gulf of Mexico oil spill.

We want to send a strong message to BP's new boss to ditch the spin and actually move 'beyond petroleum'.

But there's more. This is also about realizing what we can achieve if we set our minds to it.

We can end the oil age. We already have the tools we need to leave it behind and move towards a clean energy future. All that's missing is the determination to make it happen fast.

Over the coming months we'll be calling together to "go beyond oil". There will be many actions to get involved in, from lobbying politicians to transforming our local communities.

Today we're asking you to take a first step, and help push for the strongest possible European law on fuel quality.

BP and other oil lobbyists are hard at work trying to water down the Fuel Quality Directive which hopes to set limits on how much of the dirtiest, most polluting fuels can be imported here and put in our tanks.

So while teams of volunteers are out on the streets of London stopping BP selling its fuel, we can all help curb the company's ability to cause further damage to the environment - whether in the Gulf of Mexico or the Tar Sands of Canada.

Write to transport minister, Theresa Villiers, to make the UK support a European law which restricts imports of the most damaging fuels. Together we are louder than the BP lobbyists.

Great job Greenpeace! Actions speak louder than words. Maybe BP will listen when their profits are at risk. This is an excellent non-violent direct action with a clear message. Keep it up!

There have been a lot of negative comments on this blog, however I am happy that someone is doing something to highlight this situation. Media coverage has not been sufficient so far. Sometimes it takes a bit of disruption and inconvenience to draw people's attention to what is happening in this world and perhaps to remind us all that we should be looking at alternatives to move 'Beyond Petroleum' http://www.thevenusproject.com/technology/energy

Very brave things to do and just at the right time! Hopefully this will be the last direct action you ever need to do towards BP. They need to listen and understand. Go Beyond Petroleum BP! Oil is destroying our planet with pollution. The oil spill is destroying peoples homes, lives, the animals and habitats of hundreds of species native the the Gulf of Mexico. The Canadian Tar sands are destroying homes of natives. Hundreds of species of plants and animals. Birds dive and die in pits of poisonous lakes of acid. This cause is justified by the mere fact that BP have sent thousands of people and animals alike to their deathbeds in the name of corporate greed. There are few companies that rival the destructive power of BP on this planet, and the fact that it's everywhere means that BP needs to lead the way to a sustainable future so like-companies can follow suit. It's a long shot. But someone has to make the first step. Thank you Greenpeace.

So some posters here seem to think we can’t change the world with little direct actions. Well you are wrong, - aren’t you? But if you do fancy delivering pro-oil PR, (you all have such a way with words), there is not much point trying that here. - Why don’t you tell the newspapers yourself about the benefits of the oil business? You can earn loads of money doing that as well, and they’d love to hear from you.

I see many people here are missing the point of this campaign. If someone turned up to this protest in a car it would be no less valid. It's a commentary on what we've allowed ourselves to become dependant on and the damage it's done. It makes perfect sense to target BP given what has happened in the Gulf and the fact that it highlights the damage drilling for oil does. The campaign would hardly have the same media coverage or impact at any other petrol station right now. Again, people are missing the point of using a prime opportunity to send an important message in the face of yet another oil spill the worst in history. Who else to target than those responsible for it. We are all hypocrites it does not mean we should not protest to change the way we live and make personal changes and world changes. “Be the change you wish to see in the world” Gandhi

I think that their motives are good but what are they doing to help the families who are just trying to run their businesses. Many of them only signed contracts to sell BP gas. These stations are not even owned by BP. This seems a little unfair. These gas station owners are humans. But I am sure Greenpeace has thought of that and will do something to help these families.

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How childish. You are as bad as the vandals who blight our towns and cities. You are damaging the infrastructure of the country - many petrol stations are already making little profit and are closing down. BP is a major (mainly) British company on which many people depend for their livelihood or pension. You are making a bad situation worse. Grow up.

Well done Greenpeace. BP has has destroyed the Gulf of Mexico with oil spill. It's time to take charge of their responsibility. No more oil. Renewable energy now

I mean, really, in begining of may the ESTIMATED cost of cleaning was 12 billion, and that was in May, before they flunked at controlling it, with only 2 weeks of spilling. now nobody knows how much it is going to cost, and you have to add all the fisheries issues, the turism losses and, how are they going to clean the bottom of the sea that is going to die from the sunken oil masses? I would really love to see BP spending 20 billion on cleaning and damage compensation. I would also love to see Santa coming down my chimeney... I think I'm more realistic with Santa. Ohh and BTW, it's funny how the first 6 coments look writen by the same person... GOOD ONE GREENPEACE, THIS IS A NICE CALL TO ATTENTION.

Great job!! Bravo Greenpeace, the real heroes of humanity!!

The 5 easy steps to being green and adverting the worst effects of climate change and peak oil. And they just make good economic sense and create jobs: 1) Stop SprawL!!! 2) R.R.Recycle 3) ReForest/FoodForest 4) Wind/GeoThermal/Solar 5) Electric Trains/Cars

What is the aim of this act of vandalism? If it is about reducing reliance on carbon then it failed completely. Motorists just drive a bit further to another gas station. (and thus using more fuel!!!) If it is about punishing BP for what happened in the Gulf of Mexico, then Greenpeace needs to realise that BP don't even own these gas stations. Poor research leads to too much collateral damage.

You do realise that petrol stations are franchised family businesses? BP has the same relationship with them as your friendly international brewery group does with your local landlord. You are hitting the wrong people.

To those who seem confused about the aim of the action - it's to highlight the dangers of BP investing in Tar Sands, and other 'marginal' sources of oil (such as deep oceans which led to the Gulf spill). BP don't avoid responsibility by subcontracting the work out...

Congratulations from Spain. I bounce this on alargador.org Join The Resistance: Give a cable to electric vehicules sharing your socket at alargador.org http://www.alargador.org/hstar16.html

Oh dear I think a lot of people have missed the point, Greenpeace are just pointing out that BP are trying to make themselves look nice and green with their pretty green logo, but they are not investing in any clean technologies, in fact they are investing in Tar Sands in Canada, which is a very dirty way to produce oil.

People haven't missed the point in my view, this is appalling action from an organisation that should be able to utilise its resources in a much more positive way. BP has done significant damage to both the environment and itself in recent months, Greenpeace hardly need advertise that fact. Greenpeace can however take a constructive role in using resources to inform people in a positive way of what needs to change. To inconvenience people to try and make a point, and to interfere with safety systems, is frankly, pathetic. It suggests that Greenpeace has no argument, just seeks to use direct action to get into the media. Like others, I'll switch to BP now for petrol for a few weeks. Greenpeace really are becoming entirely pathetic.

Isn't it time your shabby bunch of confused and misdirected zealots was treated by govt. as a terrorist organisation? Prison sentences are surely justified for this stupidity. You have become ever more misguided and extreme in your activities, have lost any further support financially and morally from me (and no doubt many others after today's potentially dangerous stunt) and have gone far too far now.

Having just had self-inflicted misery of reading through all of the other posts I need some time with a bucket to get rid of the cloying, sick feeling that some of the (typical) sycophantic drivel entered by the naive lentilists here. I've been on forums populated by some annoying halfwits before, fools who espouse to live by (or just spout) unscientific and unsubstantiated nonsense but some of these 'bravos' are simply shocking in their stupidity and ignorance ('citiizen++', 'evilie' et al). Cretins who should research the facts before applauding needless and pointless criminality.

How easy is it to forget the cost of human life that BP have ruined - the first nation people of Alberta now suffering agonizing death by cancers caused by toxic poisoning caused by the Tar Sands mining process - the irredeemable damage to one of the most beautiful regions of Canada - the death of millions of animals, birds & fish - the years of environmental destruction & the earth laid to waste - Oh Yes and the 11 lives lost in the BP oil spill caused by the neglect of a company driven by mass profits - I'm not suggesting they did this on purpose - the real crime is that they did nothing for months - and how very un-British of GP activists to actually do something other than sit on their fat asses & write a whingeing email/blog - If all you BP employees / supporters are going to make assumptions & sweeping generalisations at least research something more intellectual than yahoo news!

Gas stations don't choose where they get their gas from. They contract with a transporter who decides which company the fuel is purchased from. If you really want to affect BP, find which supplier delivers the fuel to the BP branded stations and prevent them from distributing it. That's how you would really hurt them. Awesome start though. We need to organize this in the US.

30 comments: 5 for give thanks, 25 to give injuries to GP. Why? Because oil time is out, and many wheeled pigs have to change to electric vehicles, perhaps less powerfull but completely useful, yes or yes. And this is not what they want... They want to make noise, support absurd costs, mantain war, contaminate air and water, and pay too much for absurd spares until the end of petrol age, because they were educated for this from TV. internete 1234567 PD: Thanks GP, for reeducating... PD: Join The Resistance: Share your socket to charge EVs at alargador.org

We here in the United Kingdom have no idea of the scale of the disaster in the gulf of Mexico. Which has undoubtedly cost thousands of people their lively hoods. Not to mention all the environmental damage that which will not just go away, or be simply cleaned up by BP, it has ruined ecosystems that cannot simply be undone. Then there are the TAR SANDS if you do not know about this I recommend that you find out, as there is more of the above with the added bonus of people contracting rare forms of cancer and huge forests being uprooted. All this is happening because we are running out of conventional sources of oil and the oil companies are turning to the stuff that's harder to get to. Thank you to all who took part!

I think we should take a look around and what is going on, just because this oil spill is in the Gulf of Mexico and not in our back yard we can choose to be critical of direct action, how about of it was in our back yard or even more serious how about if it was in the back yard of a county who did not have the muscle like the USA to order a clean up and pay compensations thus keeping it all in the headlines. BP would have have paid a Minister some hush money and it all goes away for now. Well done Greenpeace keep up the good work at least someone is willing to do something about these reckless companies.

This was an ill conceived concept akin to a childish prank, the fact you boast about using a prius is laughable, lets just do a breakdown as to why:, how did this vehicle get here?, it came by boat which as you should know is the single most polluting form of transport on the planet,although you pride yourself in having a fleet of ships of your own, then of course there is the energy it took to build it , while your at it you might want to find out how much fossil fuel it takes to charge the thing, then there is the batteries themselves, filled with toxic chemicals such as lithium etc & recycling will be a nightmare, it would have been far more sensible to drive an old rover diesel that was built in this country so no freight pollution,less Co2 & more miles per gallon, & if its the fuel you object to then run it on veggie oil, I do trust that you will be apologising to the owners of these petrol stations as their only crime is owning a filling station, yes the oil slick was a terrible accident & i think that B,P should pay for it which they are, now lets just get on with life & leave innocent people out of it shall we?.

Accidents happen . . . We can keep attacking each other on who are to blame, or we try to develop and use better more safe alternatives. we all have made mistakes in the past or even in the present, its very hard to avoid all mistakes, it doesn't mean we should continue to do so, particular if there are better alternatives. There should not be a protest needed from Greenpeace, BP as all the other energy companies should be doing so all by themselves. people should have the right to be able to chose a green alternative in products in every company.

According to these nutters, if you don't agree with their ILLEGAL, counterproductive, dangerous, attention seeking actions you must be stupid, "educated by TV", selfish or in the pocket of oil companies These people are turning off the general population, without whom they can achieve nothing but publicity stunts. But maybe that's what they want anyway...

Dit is gewoon zielig. Heel slecht.

. . and deserve to be hurt. So it seems from the apologists and zealots. Hurt them financially, lose them revenue, put them out of business . .. for daring to provide a service that nearly all of us use directly and ALL rely on. Franchise is no excuse. Having to earn a living is no excuse. No direct link to BP is no excuse. Damage them. Damage them to get back at BP. That will hurt BP won't it? That will help the clean up? Not for nothing is cupid stunts an appropriately ironic anagram for that shower of unproductive, self-serving attention seeking clowns. Oh and as for that arrogant twit ‘nature girl’ (says it all really) and her naive and irrelevant remark about education some of us here (not all BP employees) are scientifically trained and actually study the fields of energy supply and manmadeup global warming scientifically. Rather than bleating on emotively but ignorantly about stopping something (now) that is impossible without ruining our economies just because we've seen something terrible and upsetting. The BP fiasco was terrible, the various companies concerned should be ashamed and should have/ should in future be made to do a far better job. But that does not mean we can do without oil, especially given the lentilists’ objection to nuclear fuel and ridiculous faith in wind power which has absolutely no chance of meeting even our basic needs anytime soon. Perhaps when the lights go out (and the hospital incubators, traffic control systems, food safety control systems etc. ) you won't mind . . sitting in your teepee with the candles on listening to the chaos on your clockwork radios. Idiots.

WELL DONE GREENPEACE. BUT NEXT TIME YOU MIGHT WANT TO TRY AIMING FOR SOMETHING A LITTLE BIT BIGGER.

Seriously, everybody. I am one of the country's leading experts for online reputation management with over 30 years experience. I have, honestly, won awards for it very recently. Online reputation management and monitoring using tools such as BrandMonitor and Vocus is a standard marketing practice amongst the informed digital community (and I know most of them!). The negatives towards this action are so clearly set up by BP or their agencies that is it is as transparent as glass in water. Come on BP - if you want to do reputation management then you seriously have to do better than that! Yes, we all use energy - such is life. We exist, therefore we consume energy. All we ask is that we do so responsibly and with the minimum impact not irresponsibly for maximum profit. Spurious comments, pseudo-"streetwise" comments, "political" comments, "youff" language comments? They're all so tired and well known in the digital reputation management industry. Let's just salute the positive and responsible action (yes, they turned off the switches first!) of a couragious group of activitists who acted in the best interest of us all (except the corporate profiteers!) Well done guys and girls! You have my undying admiration and I so wish that I had a less public profile that I could join you. God bless, and carry on regardless!

ihaveausername@gmail.com wrote: "BP has said it will pay for all damages and cleanups." How on earth can BP pay for all? How do you bring back to life millions of animals? Please, tell me... I'd really like to know. Of course, it could be the case you couldn't take care less about those animals and such. "BP has said it will pay for all damages and cleanups." BP also has said it will exploit The Canadian Tar sands. This is not a good thing, mind you... but i don't think you really mind. "BP has said it will pay for all damages and cleanups." BP also has said it will pay the former boss who is responsible for the huge mess, gets millions at his lay off. Instead of paying the people who really run BP - like the people working at the gas stations - the people responsible for the huge mess get paid - BIG time! "You are absolute hypocrites for protesting against BP when you have gladly used their services in the past." You don't take into account any new information - like the gross mismanagement of BP, which surfaces (just) now. Such gross mismanagement is more than enough reason to look elsewhere - for example, looking at sustainable energy resources. Which oil certainly is not. BTW, it's total foolish to BURN perfectly good oil - as it can be used for many other (better) things, than just burn it for some temp. energy. "You are absolute hypocrites for protesting against BP when you have gladly used their services in the past." You don't take into account that nobody could foresee or even knew that such gross mismanagement would take place. "You are absolute hypocrites for protesting against BP when you have gladly used their services in the past." You don't take into account that few people (if any) can CHOOSE which energy their plane uses. (Of course, one could choose not to fly - like many do - be it alone, they can't even pay for that (expensive) gazoline slurping flying machines.) Also, you don't take into account that people already can choose not to use BP oil anymore (by not filling up at BP-stations anymore, for example). Also, you don't take into account that BP doesn't provide ALL gas for heating. "You are absolute hypocrites for protesting against BP when you have gladly used their services in the past." You don't take into account that if even if such people would be hypocrites, they still want change for the better. That is: not following BP's old path. Or do YOU STILL really want BP and other oil companies to follow that old path? Or be it only because they want to be able to choose energy from better companies. Furthermore, governments subsidize oil companies BIG TIME. Thus, by doing that, they stop (or at least slow down, in such a way that probably more disasters of this magnitude will arise) the change for the better. All this, because of the right wing parties, who don't care about any environment at all in the first place.

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