February 24, 2003
Greenpeace activists forced the closure of scores of Esso petrol stations today, before giving themselves up to police as part of an anti-war protest. The group claimed it had sabotaged 100 stations, forcing them to close. An Esso spokesman said that between 70 and 80 of its 1,300 stations across the UK were closed as a result of the protests and that 25 of them remained closed at 12.30pm.
After targeting stations across England and Wales, the protesters congregated at eight stations, from Southampton to Leeds. They chained themselves together and waited for police to arrest them.
Earlier up to 1,000 staff at the Texas-based oil firm's Surrey headquarters were sent home after a Greenpeace road blockade at the building raised staff safety fears.
Around 300 activists were taking part in a day of action against Esso and its parent company, ExxonMobil, in protest at what Greenpeace alleges is the company's support for war and "environmental crimes". The firm denied the group's claims.
The volunteers - some dressed in tiger costumes - began raiding Esso petrol stations at dawn, cutting power to the pumps and locking nozzles together before moving on. Handles from electricity switches were removed and posted to Esso board members in Texas, Greenpeace said. Between 70 and 100 activists protesting at Esso's headquarters in Leatherhead, Surrey, blocked its only road entrance by parking a lorry across an access point and bolting a container to the road.
A Surrey police spokeswoman said: "There were around 40 protesters on foot outside the building, 12 people on the roof and some more inside an HGV trailer which has been bolted to the tarmac outside. "For safety reasons staff have been told to go home for the day. Surrey Police officers are currently negotiating with the company as to the next steps."
By midday, eight activists had been arrested after refusing to conduct their protest off the road, the police spokeswoman said. About 50 activists up and down the country had been arrested as a result of the petrol station protests, according to Greenpeace.
Greenpeace campaigner Anita Goldsmith said: "This looming war is a barely disguised attempt by George Bush to get his hands on Iraqi oil and no company has done more to fuel the crisis than his paymasters at Esso.
"They have spent millions keeping the US hooked on oil, bank-rolling pro-war lobby groups and fighting international action on climate change. If people want to stop oil wars and global warming, one thing we can do is refuse to buy petrol from Esso."
Esso spokesman David Eglinton said people had "every right to express their views" but that it was "ludicrous to suggest that ExxonMobil is in any way encouraging a potential war in Iraq".
He went on: "ExxonMobil has not been asked, has not inquired and has not had any discussion with the Bush administration - or any other government - regarding military action.
"Esso's environmental track record is among the best in the industry worldwide. Just last year the international quality assessor Lloyds Register rated the company 'among the leaders in industry' worldwide when it comes to integrating environmental management into our business."
Referring to the protesters who got on to the partially-glazed roof of Esso's headquarters, he said: "We deplore any protest which puts the safety of our staff at risk."
Meanwhile, police said today that they had questioned 10 men and three women arrested yesterday after breaking into a US air base at RAF Fairford, Gloucestershire, during a "mostly peaceful" anti-war demonstration attended by some 450 people.
Seven people were arrested on suspicion of aggravated trespass, three of criminal damage, two of theft and one to prevent a breach of the peace. Ten were released on police bail, to report back in March, pending further inquiries. Two were cautioned and one was released without charge.
FAIR USE NOTICE: This page contains copyrighted material the use of which has not been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. Global Policy Forum distributes this material without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information for research and educational purposes. We believe this constitutes a fair use of any such copyrighted material as provided for in 17 U.S.C § 107. If you wish to use copyrighted material from this site for purposes of your own that go beyond fair use, you must obtain permission from the copyright owner.
