- Title: Activists spray paint Total building in Paris, slam its environmental record
- Date: 12th October 2019
- Summary: COURBEVOIE, LA DEFENSE DISTRICT, FRANCE (OCTOBER 12, 2019) (REUTERS) ACTIVISTS IN FAKE PROTECTIVE SUITS PUTTING UP BANNER ON WALL OF TOTAL BUILDING THAT READS (French) "DANGER: TOTAL, OUT OF SERVICE, NEFARIOUS FOR YOU AND FOR THE PLANET" ACTIVISTS SPRAYING BLACK PAINT ON BUILDING ACTIVISTS HOLDING BANNER THAT READS (French): "TOTAL POLLUTES" ACTIVISTS SPRAY PAINTING TOTAL LOGO ACTIVISTS SPRAY PAINTING THE WORD (French) "POLLUTER" ON GROUND OUTSIDE TOTAL BUILDING ACTIVIST SPRAY PAINTING WALL TOTAL LOGO COVERED IN BLACK PAINT (SOUNDBITE) (French) SPOKESMAN OF ANTI-GLOBALISM GROUP ATTAC, MAXIM COMBES, SAYING: "Total is one of the worst mutli-nationals on the global front. It's a multi-national that widely practices tax evasion, which eats up into public funds. They continue to make huge investments in fossil fuel. When they claim to invest 1 euro in renewable energy, they invest more than 18 euros in fossil fuel energy. They are preparing the ground for climate change in the future, all the while knowing its costs." BANNER COVERED IN BLACK PAINT BARRIERS AND BANNERS IN FRONT OF BUILDING ACTIVIST IN PROTECTIVE SUIT POSTING STICKERS THAT SAY (French) "OUT OF SERVICE" STICKER THAT READS (French) "Out of service" (SOUNDBITE) (French) SPOKESMAN OF ANTI-GLOBALISM GROUP ATTAC, MAXIM COMBES, SAYING: "This sector needs to be regulated. Total can no longer behave as if there is no Paris accord, as if there is no mass movement fighting against climate change, as if the youth are not out on the streets. It's these people who are taking Total into account today. And when Total says 'we are already doing a lot for the climate,' in reality, they are struggling in a global warming scenario that will go beyond a 3 degrees Celsius rise. So they have investments in fossil fuels, which will, tomorrow, make this planet uninhabitable." GRAFFITI ON GROUND THAT READS (French): "Polluter" BARRIERS OUTSIDE TOTAL BUILDING (SOUNDBITE) (English) UGANDAN LAWYER FROM AFRICA INSTITUTE FOR ENERGY GOVERNANCE, DICKENS KAMUGISHA, SAYING: "We've been engaging with Total, and we believe that Total has the technology, has the capacity to manage. But the fact that they made the government issue a certificate of approval to being oil activities when there are no mitigation plans, we believe that is impunity. Why can't they listen to the people? They have already displaced communities without compensation. And we think that should not be done, to communities that survive on land. They don't have any other option." TOTAL BUILDING ACTIVISTS SINGING TOTAL BUILDING MARSEILLE, FRANCE (OCTOBER 12, 2019) (REUTERS) ATTAC ACTIVISTS WRAPPING PLASTIC AROUND PETROL DISTRIBUTION TANKS IN SERVICE STATION ACTIVISTS HOLDING PLACARDS ACTIVIST WITH PLACARD THAT READS "STOP TAX EVASION" VARIOUS OF ACTIVISTS CHANTING AND HOLDING PLACARDS
- Embargoed: 26th October 2019 09:46
- Keywords: Total ATTAC anti-globalisation environment climate change
- Location: COURBEVOIE, FRANCE
- City: COURBEVOIE, FRANCE
- Country: France
- Topics: Environment,Climate Politics
- Reuters ID: LVA001B0SK5DZ
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Activists from the anti-capitalist group ATTAC vandalised the Total headquarters building in Courbevoie, Paris's business district, on Saturday (October 12).
They denounced what they deemed 'impunity' of multi-nationals in practices that harm the environment.
About 40 ATTAC members set up barriers and put up posters at the entrance of the Total building, spraying a wall with black paint that resembled crude oil.
"Out of service", the posters read.
Total, one of the world's biggest oil companies, has invested in solutions to innovate and develop more sustainable sources of energy, the company said on its website. It adds that reduction of carbon emissions takes precedence over the price of oil.
ATTAC spokesperson Maxim Combes said Total's claims were misleading and that their priorities still lay with fossil fuels.
ATTAC members in Marseille also protested in a Total service station, putting plastic over the gas distribution tanks, and holding up placards that read "Stop fiscal evasion".
The group calls on stakeholder states, including France and the EU - who are meeting in Geneva from October 8 to 11 in the WTO Public Forum - to introduce regulations that will punish multi-nationals for violating human rights and degrading the environment.
(Production: Noemie Olive, Michaela Cabrera) - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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