Member-only story
It’s OK people! ‘Just Stop Oil’ doesn’t mean Just Stop Oil tomorrow.
There I am, standing in the middle of a London bridge, orange Just Stop Oil hi-viz flying in the breeze, trying to give out leaflets to a White Van Man who is shouting at me.
And I’ve realised that, in a way, he’s right.
I told him that we want the government to just stop selling licences for exploitation of gas and oil in the North Sea.
He goes ballistic. He hates us because we are irresponsible hippies and students who want to make it impossible for him to do his job which means he’ll go bankrupt and his children will starve and who do we think we are to mess up his life like this…
Suddenly, I understand. He thinks that Just Stopping Oil means we want to stop having any gas or petrol tomorrow — or at least, this year. He’s clinging on as it is with the power companies. He can’t afford it.
He tells me to get a job, does an illegal u-turn and drives off.
Now what I know and he seemingly doesn’t is that a licence for the exploitation of gas and oil in the North Sea is basically like getting planning permission for a house extension, only longer. It takes about 20–25 years before any oil or gas can be pumped, and there are a lot of possible blocks in the way.
