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Climate activists staged a series of “rambling” protests through London today.
Two main groups of up to 100 people targeted banks and companies across the city.
At one point a group of 12 people super-glued their hands to the floor in the foyer at the Royal Bank of Scotland headquarters in Bishopsgate.
Around 100 more people demonstrated outside.
Later protesters moved to Victoria where they invaded the offices of the PR company Edelman, whose clients include E.on which owns the coal-fired power station at Kingsnorth in Kent.
Some stripped naked and held up a banner while others occupied the roof of the building.
Activists dressed as construction workers used stepladders, locks and superglue to form a blockade at the RBS building at around 8am.
They unfurled banners which read “RBS: under new ownership” and “Ethical renovation in progress”.
They said they were protesting against the bank's investments in fossil fuel projects, especially funding for the coal industry and tar sands extraction in Canada.
Protester James Clarke said: “RBS is 70%-owned by the public but it is completely against the public interest for our money to be used to fund climate change. Yet again, the banks are putting profit over people.”
Another protester, Bryony Taylor, 20, said: “It is outrageous that bankers are being given multimillion- pound golden hellos from taxpayers' money while showing total disregard for the future of the planet.”
The RBS protest lasted a few hours until police unglued the protesters and evicted them from the building. One protester was arrested.
Another group staged a protest in Trafalgar Square and went on to demonstrate outside the BP headquarters in St James' Square.
The campaigners, who are camping at Blackheath, have already protested at the European Climate Exchange, Barclays Bank and the Treasury.
Yesterday they blocked the toilets at London City Airport in an attempt to disrupt flights.
Alice Fielding, a protester at the Edelman headquarters, said: “Edelman PR are nothing more than new coal spin doctors, intent on making profit out of E.On's activities at the expense of the global climate.”
Edelmen's chief executive officer Robert Phillips said the Climate Camp protesters caused “no disruption whatsoever”.
“We offered them the opportunity to come and discuss the issues with us - preferably fully clothed - but they declined,” he said.
“Everyone all around the world is concerned about a balanced energy policy but the fact remains that someone has to keep the lights on.”
Reader views (14)
I agree that no attempt should be made to unglue these twits. Let them suffer the consequences of their actions - put the screens round them and everyone else just carry on with their lives.
I few puddles on the floor and they will be asking their mates to get the anti-glue, even if it is made from boiled up whales....
- Scots Lass, Scotland, 01/09/2009 19:40
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RBS has helped prevent climate change by creating so much poverty and unemployment a pity about Sir Fred Goodwins pension pot.
- Brian Edmonds, Farnham UK, 01/09/2009 18:18
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The ones who have clued themselves to the floor should be left to starve. Do us all a favour and get lost the lot of you. Such losers!!!
- Karenf, london, 01/09/2009 18:09
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This is very reminiscent of the sixties hippie culture,who could possibly forget John and Yoko's silly stunts, I feel that these protesters are entitled to demonstrate, if its a cause worth stripping off for then it must be serious,-whereas lennon and Ono were simply protesting because they were bored,"viva la democratic circus".
- Auf Deutsch, Canterbury forgotten city of Europe., 01/09/2009 17:28
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Well, they can hardly complain when they're arrested this time. Indecent exposure has no legal defence. (It's not just their backsides - or front sides for all I know - that they are exposing here, but their pea brained, self important and quasi-scientific environmentalism in all its ultimate silliness - not illegal I know, but surely embarr-ass-ing when they actually think about reality on occasion)
- Rogan, Irving, 01/09/2009 17:23
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CLIMATE CHANGE IS BECAUSE SUN HEATH AND EARTH ATMOSPHERE REACT.IT IS ALREADY HAPPENED MANY TIMES.THOSE PEOPLE SO CALLED GREEN ACTIVIST ARE JUST SILLY IDIOT.
- Gian Barbanti, London, 01/09/2009 16:27
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Electricity in real terms is much cheaper than in the 1950s and 1960s.
Raising the price of electricity is the only way to deter use.
Increased petrol prices have resulted in more fuel efficient cars, and electric appliance manufacturers would have to follow suit if consumers demanded them to.
We should copy Swedish house building technology as their houses are much more fuel efficient than ours.
- John Jones, Westminster, 01/09/2009 16:05
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Who let them in???!!
- Peace Man, London, 01/09/2009 15:27
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This photo demonstrates the advantages of climate change!!!
How come they were not on the outside looking in?
- Melvyn Windebank, Canvey Island, Essex, 01/09/2009 15:14
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"...it is completely against the public interest for our money to be used to fund climate change" says one of the RBS protestors.
What an gloriously nonsensical statement!
- Grassy Knollington, London, 01/09/2009 14:57
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The actions of this rabble is indicative of the degenerate state of Third World banana republic EUSSR, previously known as England.
- Reuben Camara, Morecambe Compound, EUSSR, 01/09/2009 13:44
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Why not just leave them superglued to the floor? Would be fun to watch them when they need the toilet!
- Dannyp, Egham, 01/09/2009 13:21
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Put the water cannons on them or rubber bullets.
- P Staker, London, 01/09/2009 11:20
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No doubt they turned up AFTER all the bank staff had arrived for work. There are reports that they have glued their hands to the trading floor ... all the easier to kick up the backside, while those bank staff that cycle to work jave somewhere to park their bikes now!
- Paul, London, 01/09/2009 10:16
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