UK Climate Activists Jailed, With Controversial Protest Restrictions Coming
by Dominic Glover
November 19, 2021
https://www.courthousenews.com/uk-clima ... ns-coming/
Introduction:
(Courthouse News) — Nine climate protesters were jailed in the United Kingdom this week for contempt of court, following a campaign of civil disobedience which has disrupted the country's motorway network for months.
In defiant scenes outside London's Royal Courts of Justice on Wednesday, activists from the group Insulate Britain claimed that their actions were justified, and said that the verdict demonstrated "cowardice" on the part of the government.
A High Court judge determined that "the balance between the protesters' right to protest and the right of members of the public to use the highways is to be determined not by the say-so of the protesters, but according to the law."
Since September, more than 150 Insulate Britain protesters have been arrested a total of 854 times whilst blocking critical transport arteries, such as London's orbital highway, the M25, and the Port of Dover, by gluing themselves to roads. Their actions have sparked frequent confrontations with commuters, and led to the government securing four separate High Court injunctions against the group to prevent the obstruction of traffic.
The group is calling on the government to fully fund the insulation of all houses in the U.K. by 2030, arguing that British housing is the least energy efficient in Europe, with home heating contributing to nearly 15% of the country's emissions.