19th October 2023, London - A new sketch
from the makers of the BAFTA-award-winning “The Revolution Will be
Televised” and Global Witness launched today. It targets oil
executives who have been schmoozing government officials at the Energy
Intelligence Forum at the five-star Intercontinental Hotel on London’s Park
Lane.
Released on the final day of the #OilyMoneyOut protests led by climate activists, including Greta Thunberg, the sketch features Jolyon Rubinstein playing an angry oil executive who has been denied access to the conference.
Global Witness analysis finds that the conference, which was attended by a UK government minister, had speakers representing publicly listed companies worth over £1 trillion.
Greta Thunberg and 26 climate activists were arrested under Section 14 of the Public Order Act earlier this week. The protest was also joined by Caroline Lucas MP.
The conference was met by three days of protests, organised by Fossil Free London. Activists across the capital blocked the Intercontinental Hotel, as well as the headquarters of JP Morgan, Barclays and TotalEnergies.
Global Witness is calling for the charges against Greta Thunberg and the protestors involved in the Oily Money Out demonstrations to be dropped.
The video can be viewed here:
X: https://twitter.com/JolyonRubs/status/1715036384057078250
Downloaded here: https://media.globalwitness.org/?c=3986&k=f1891eaff4
Jolyon Rubinstein said:
“Hardworking oil executives who have made billions in profit deserve a bit more respect. Yes, a lot of this money has come from the war in Ukraine and high-sky bills but hey, my yacht isn’t cheap either. My audience with Graham Stuart, the UK’s Minister for Climate, was sadly cancelled due to Greta Thunberg.”
Alice Harrison, Fossil Fuels Campaign Leader at Global Witness, said:
“In a year that has seen much of the globe ravaged by wildfires, floods and droughts, it’s hard to understand why the UK government continues to roll out the red carpet to oil executives.
“The fossil fuel firms gathered in London’s glitzy Intercontinental Hotel sit at the heart of multiple global crises. Fossil fuels are the single biggest driver of climate breakdown. The UK’s over-reliance on gas left it particularly hard-hit by the energy crisis. The last thing we need now is to consult oil executives on the future of our energy.
“With time running out to avert climate disaster, governments need to get out of the pockets of polluters, come to their senses, and transition away from oil and gas and onto cheaper, cleaner homegrown renewables.”
Notes
- Your publication has full access and rights to the video provided in this release