The latest in Life’s series of Science Speakeasy debates, Climate Criminals, is on 19 September, and examines the very topical issue of environmental activism.
Organisations such as Just Stop Oil and Extinction Rebellion have gained attention for applying temporary graffiti on Stonehenge and disrupting events like Wimbledon – acts which may be non-violent but are now classed as illegal and have resulted in thousands of arrests.
In July 2024, five Just Stop Oil activists received the longest ever sentences given in the UK for non-violent protest, after being found guilty of planning to block the M25 (each receiving either five or four-year sentences).
Earlier this year, the Court of Appeal also ruled that environmental activists cannot rely on their beliefs as a defence, raising the prospect of more protestors being convicted for direct action. This comes in the wake of reports of an overcrowding crisis in our prisons leading to the start of an early release of prisoners this week.
So are environmental activists galvanising the public to join the climate cause or uniting people against the protesters!
Leading an open debate with the audience on this at our Science Speakeasy at Life Science Centre, Newcastle, is a panel of experts in the field including Anna Holland – a postgraduatestudent spokesperson for the climate action group, Just Stop Oil, who made the news in 2022 by throwing Tomato Soup at Van Gogh’s “Sunflowers.” Anna is awaiting sentencing for this later this month.
It promises to be a lively and entertaining evening examining areas such as:
• Is it okay to do something disruptive if it saves lives in the long-term? How can we fight for our futures when there is increasing legislation against even the most peaceful of protests?
• Should penalties against big polluters be increased to hold them to account to the same degree?
• And if illegal protests aren’t the best way to draw attention to the cause, what is?
Tickets are limited and cost £10 per person. Book now on our webpage.