‘Climate protectors’ block entry to offices
Small groups of climate protesters blocked the entrances to Todd Energy’s offices in New Plymouth yesterday in an attempt to stop workers attending an online forum.
In a statement, Climate Justice Taranaki said the Energy Resources Taranaki Forum was supposed to hold its annual conference in New Plymouth yesterday but, due to climate activists coming from across the country to stop them, they decided to cancel and meet online.
So, “climate protectors” blockaded Todd’s central New Plymouth building yesterday morning, with small groups holding signs at several entrances and stopping workers from entering.
There were several police officers present near the entrance on Gill St observing the seven protesters there. Those workers who did approach the door were politely but firmly told they could not enter.
“We’re here to disrupt the oil and gas industry from their business as usual, to send them a message that they have no social licence to continue harming our communities and our planet,” Climate Justice Taranaki’s Rob Baigent-ritchie said.
Despite Resources Minister Shane Jones claiming activists didn’t want to talk, Baigent-ritchie said they had asked to speak at the forum but were refused entry.
“So we said we’d protest and they called us a ‘threat’ and now they hide their secret invite-only conference online. We are not violent. We are peacefully blocking the doors to their building for the people of Tuvalu and all other front line communities struggling with companies and politicians who don’t appear to give a damn about them. We’re just here to speak truth to this industry’s violence.”
Drilling companies like Statoil, BP, Shell, Anadarko, Chevron, TAG and Petrobras all left with OMV leaving too now. Todd Energy is one of the last big companies still stubbornly refusing to face reality, Baigent-ritchie said.
Jones and Energy Minister Simeon Brown were due to address the online forum. Others due to speak included Energy Resources Aotearoa chief executive John Carnegie.
There are also several panel discussions, including one with Ventura Taranaki chief executive Kelvin Wright, Ara Ake’s Jonathan Young and BlueFloat Energy and Elemental director Justine Gilliland.
In written response to a request for comment about the blockade of the New Plymouth Todd building, a spokesperson for Energy Resources Aotearoa said they respected the right of all New Zealanders to protest.
“We understand there are differing views across the energy and climate discourses but prefer to take a collaborative approach, to work together towards our shared low-carbon future,” they said.
The statement said the decision to cancel the New Plymouth forum had not been taken lightly, but they considered it the best course of action to guarantee the safety of attendees, venue staff and our team.
Jonty Coulson was part of a group of five barricading the front door of Todd Energy House in New Plymouth. The Canterbury University student had travelled from Christchurch for the protest. He said he was part of the action because because he didn’t see a future for himself.
“I’m 23 and I am a biology major. All I have studied for the last five years is the collapse of ecosystems around the world. All that is going to happen with the Fast Track Bill is we’ll have the same thing happening here,” he said.
“The takeaway from action like this is sometimes it feels hopeless but taking action is where the hope is.”
“Aotearoa is falling behind the global race to decarbonise,” Michelle Ducat, from Rise Up For Climate Justice, added.
“We have to prepare to live without fossil fuels from here or any other country.”
The world was transitioning away from harmful extractive, export economies towards local, regenerative economies living again within ecological and social boundaries, Ducat said.
Todd Energy has been approached for comment.