Extinction Rebellion protesters have smashed windows at the headquarters of one other major UK bank for the second time in weeks.
The group of 9 ladies arrived early on Thursday morning to HSBC’s workplaces in London’s Canary Wharf to stage a protest in opposition to the bank’s funding insurance policies.
They pasted stickers on the outside partitions and windows earlier than utilizing hammers and chisels to interrupt the windows.
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Wearing XR masks, they then sat down exterior the workplace and waited to be arrested.
Among them was London mayor candidate Valerie Brown from the Burning Pink celebration who stated corporations like this “must be ashamed”.
The activists laid down their instruments and sat down and waited for the police (REUTERS/John Sibley)
Speaking to the press exterior HSBC’s workplaces, Ms Brown stated: “We don’t have the precise to kill this planet for cash. It doesn’t make any sense. And these folks must be ashamed of themselves, they don’t have any disgrace in any other case they might do one thing, they might cease this.
“I do know that this would possibly look to you want we’re drama queens or infantile or no matter, however you recognize what this firm is doing. You’ve received youngsters, you’ve received households to take care of. Their future is in hazard. Please attempt to look at this as one thing significant. We’re not simply 9 ladies with nothing higher to do.”
The Met Police stated 9 ladies had been arrested on Thursday on suspicion of prison injury and stay in police custody.
This is the second time in weeks that Extinction Rebellion protestors have focused a major UK bank. Seven ladies had been arrested earlier this month after smashing windows at Barclays headquarters in London.
Burning Pink celebration London mayor candidate Valerie Brown is detained by police (Photo: REUTERS/John Sibley)
In an announcement addressing the HSBC protest, Extinction Rebellion stated: “Despite HSBC’s pledge to shrink its carbon footprint to internet zero by 2050, their present local weather plan nonetheless permits the bank to finance coal energy, and supplies no foundation to show away purchasers or cancel contracts primarily based on hyperlinks to the fossil gas trade.”
In tweet it added: “This is an Act of Care. HSBC is Europe’s second-largest financier of fossil fuels and has funded £81bn to fossil gas since 2015 ParisAgreement.”
“These corporations are killing us.”
A spokesperson for HSBC stated: “Constructive engagement on local weather change is essential as we work to ship the Paris Agreement objectives. We welcome significant dialogue on our local weather technique, nevertheless, we can’t condone vandalism or actions that put folks and property at danger.
“We have an ambition to be internet zero by 2030 and to carry our financed emissions to internet zero by 2050. We have additionally dedicated to set out quick and medium time period transition targets, and to section out the financing of coal-fired energy and thermal coal mining by 2040 globally. We stay dedicated to supporting our clients in their transition to internet zero.”
i has contacted Ms Brown’s workplace for remark.
