While I detest the thugs posing as concerned activists calling themselves Greenpeace, I am happy enough that they should be allowed to exercise legitimate protest. I don’t care what the protest is about – even if it is to reduce our liberties. I want what they have to say to be out there in the open. Let us all see it. Let us have the ability to recognise the misanthropy for ourselves and soundly reject the argument. That is, after all, the fundamental strength of free speech.
What happened today, though, was not free speech.
BP filling stations across London have been shut down by activists.
Environmental group Greenpeace said it had cut fuel supplies to all 50 BP stations in the city. The oil firm said 35 had been shut but 18 have now reopened.
The protesters stopped the fuel by removing safety switches on forecourts.
Protesting outside the forecourt is fine. Go ahead. Let us see you and laugh at you. Cutting the supplies by messing with the equipment is not fine.
Greenpeace demonstrate[sic] yet again, that they are nothing more than thugs and hooligans. If they wanted to get their message across, they are making a fair job of alienating the very people they want to influence.
Ye Gods! Those safety switches are there for a bloody reason and they don’t just turn off the pumps either they also lock through a valve the underground tanks to shut off the supply totally. Those bloody idiots could have caused a catastrophe.
They don’t care though, do they? As long as they get their pious message across, that is all that matters to these obsessives. It has not occurred to them that the reality is that an alternative to petrochemicals isn’t a current option. Electric cars are a non-starter (and how is electricity generated?). Renewables are not technologically advanced enough to take over from oil. So, for the moment, oil it is.
Twats. Dangerous twats at that.
This is dangerous criminal behaviour…and those responsible should be prosecuted.
Can a charge not be made against Greenpeace for this? Not for terrorism, or anything, but surely it’s a serious H&S matter?
Damn right they should be prosecuted. Doubtless, they would claim the same as those protesters at Drax, that their action was necessary to save Gaia.
“…idiots could have caused a catastrophe…”
I don’t agree with their actions, but please explain how operating a safety switch could result in a catastrophe?
And typically for these enviro-fascists, BP does not own the petrol stations in question. They are franchises run by the proverbial “man and a dog” (except in Muslim areas…) 🙂
There is clear prima facie evidence of conspiracy to cause criminal damage, actual criminal damage and if Plod and CPS could find their backsides with an atlas many other charges to consider. Greenpeace is pretty much an organisation involved almost solely in quasi-criminal activities rather than debate. As for ignorance, remember Greenpeace wanted a total ban on Chlorine, an element in the Periodic Table!
Of course, despite the TV and media, Plod did not manage to “detect” a single one…
XX but please explain how operating a safety switch could result in a catastrophe?
Comment by KenS — July 27, 2010 XX
DO try reading the article before making a further fool of yourself.
It clearly states; “by REMOVING safety switches on forecourts.”
DO try to catch up with your reading comprehension.
Why don’t they identify them from the CCTV footage ,all garages have these ?