Press
Press Release, 28 March 2008
Climate activists to pull a prank that packs a punch on April Fools Day
Proclaiming April 1st ‘Fossil Fools Day,’ climate change activists with the international Rising Tide network and its allies will be targeting the fossil fuel industry at over one hundred locations around the world on Tuesday.
Protests will focus on the companies responsible for runaway carbon dioxide emissions, as well as complicit governments and those promoting false solutions. Possible targets in the UK include oil, gas, coal, aviation, agrofuel and carbon offset operations and headquarters.
“We are taking action to prevent the fossil fuel industry from destroying our future,” said Brian Kelly from Rising Tide. “Vested interests in business and government are bent on pursuing economic growth at all costs. We need to shrink, not protect, the fossil fuel economy if we are to survive climate change.”
Groups involved in the UK include Rising Tide, the Camp for Climate Action, World Development Movement, People and Planet, the Network for Climate Action and Earth First!
While most activists are keeping their plans under wraps until the day, public events have been called for Parliament Square (where People and Planet will be building a coal power station complete with 12ft cooling towers), Porsche HQ in London (where a public apology will be issued on behalf of Porsche), the Department for Enterprise, Business and Regulatory Reform (where WDM will be holding the world’s first laugh-in over plans for new coal at Kingsnorth) and Manchester City Centre (for a parade touring the city’s biggest fossil fools) to name but a few.
“Myths like clean coal and agrofuels are a dangerous distraction from the root causes of this crisis,” said Sophie Price. “The only real solution to climate change is to keep fossil fuels in the ground.”
For interviews, for more information about the public events listed above, or to find out more about Fossil Fools Day, contact Rising Tide:
07961 917 535
info@risingtide.org.uk
www.fossilfoolsday.org / www.risingtide.org.uk
** Updates will be available throughout the day on April 1st at www.fossilfoolsday.org **
Press Advisory, February 1st 2008
The count down to Fossil Fools Day begins
Last summer’s Camp for Climate Action catapulted direct action against the root causes of climate change into the headlines. Inspired by the camp and unable to wait till next summer (time is something we don’t have), activists are joining together again on April 1st 2008 - Fossil Fools Day.
On January 1st 2008 the International Rising Tide network and its allies called April 1st as a day of action against the fossil fuel industry. With two months to go, activists are plotting and planning, intent on bringing the spirit of carnival and mischief to the fight for climate justice.
In the UK, the day is being supported by the Climate Camp movement and in the US by Global Exchange and the Rainforest Action Network among others. Over 25 actions are expected in the UK alone, with possible targets including oil, gas, coal, aviation and biofuel operations and headquarters.
The next time we hit the headlines will be April 2nd – ‘Climate activists pull a prank that packs a punch.’ If you want a head start on the story, or for more information, contact Rising Tide UK:
Tel – 07961 917535
Email – info@risingtide.org.uk
Web – www.fossilfoolsday.org / www.risingtide.org.uk
