FROME Extinction Rebellion (XR) members recently held a demonstration at the Barclays Bank on Stony Street to protest and draw attention to Barclays continued investment in fossil fuels.
FROME Extinction Rebellion (XR) members recently held a demonstration at the Barclays Bank on Stony Street to protest and draw attention to Barclays continued investment in fossil fuels.
The protestors were wearing banners saying, “Barclays lent £4 billion for new fossil fuel projects in 2021 alone”, “I am here for my grandchildren” and “Sorry for the inconvenience, we’re trying to save the planet”.
The demonstration was part of a national wave of protests as hundreds of people took action at over 100 Barclays banks across the UK to protest against the high street bank’s investment in fossil fuels.
A spokesperson for Frome XR says, “Barclays is the UK’s and Europe’s largest financier of fossil fuels.
Although the International Energy Agency says, ‘There is no need for investment in new fossil fuel supply’, last year Barclays invested nearly £20 billion in fossil fuels. Since the Paris climate agreement their total investment in fossil fuels is almost £150 billion.”
Robert Lee, a data architect from Frome, said, “Scientists say keep the coal in the hole to stop global warming. Barclays are going against everything scientists are saying. I’m not sure that most Barclays customers are aware that this is where their money is being invested.”
John Clarke also from Frome said, “I am here for my grandchildren and their future, I don’t want them to them to have a future where they have to live with climate chaos. Barclays Bank can and should take real action to divest from Fossil Fuels. For me, my children and my children’s children.”
