- Title: Climate change activists, eat money, target BlackRock in London
- Date: 14th October 2019
- Summary: LONDON, ENGLAND, UNITED KINGDOM (OCTOBER 14, 2019) (REUTERS) ***WARNING CONTAINS FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY*** SIGN READING (English): "BLACKROCK" / CLIMATE CHANGE ACTIVISTS LYING ON GROUND OUTSIDE BLACKROCK BUILDING CHANTING SLOGANS ACTIVIST LYING ON GROUND / POLICE OFFICERS STANDING IN FRONT OF BUILDING POLICE OFFICER TALKING TO ACTIVISTS LYING ON GROUND HOLDING HANDS ACTIVIST SHOUTING (English): "We're here because we know that if we don't fight to save our planet then we won't have one for very long.†VARIOUS OF POLICE OFFICERS MOVING ACTIVISTS AND MEDIA BACK PROTESTER CHANTING (English): "INVEST IN RENEWABLES NOW" POLICE OFFICERS LINED UP FACING PROTESTERS PROTESTERS CHANTING (English): "BLACKROCK DIVEST NOW" 57-YEAR OLD CLIMATE CHANGE ACTIVIST, JO, GLUED TO BLACKROCK BUILDING HAND GLUED TO BUILDING (SOUNDBITE) (English) 57-YEAR OLD CLIMATE CHANGE ACTIVIST, CAREER ADVISER AND GRANDMOTHER, JO, SAYING: "This company are one of the major reasons this Earth is in such a mess. And I know there will be people inside in BlackRock who are working hard to provide for their kids. And shortly they'll get the message that they are the ones who are making their future less safe and their planet not fit for habitation." VARIOUS OF JO WITH BANKNOTE IN MOUTH AS POLICE OFFICERS QUESTION HER VARIOUS OF POLICE OFFICER TAKING GLUE OFF JO'S HANDS VARIOUS OF ACTIVISTS WEARING WHITE ROBES CHANTING SLOGANS CROWD OF PROTESTERS SEATED ON GROUND OUTSIDE BLACKROCK PROTESTERS STAGING MOCK DINNER PARTY, EATING BANKNOTES PROTESTER WEARING SIGN READING (English): "BLACKROCK NO. 1 OWNER OF GAS AND COAL" PROTESTERS CHEWING BANKNOTES SIGN READING (English): "BLACKROCK IS THE REAL CRIMINAL / ECOCIDE" PROTESTERS GATHERED OUTSIDE BANK OF ENGLAND PRETENDING TO READ MOCK NEWSPAPERS MOCK NEWSPAPER READING (English): "DON'T PANIC! WE'VE STILL GOT 23 TREES LEFT" VARIOUS OF PROTESTERS WITH SKELETON FACE PAINT READING MOCK NEWSPAPERS
- Embargoed: 28th October 2019 13:18
- Keywords: Climate Change protests BlackRock
- Location: LONDON, ENGLAND, UK
- City: LONDON, ENGLAND, UK
- Country: United Kingdom
- Topics: Environment,Climate Politics
- Reuters ID: LVA001B12M1QF
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text:Climate change activists targeted BlackRock, the world's biggest asset manager, in London on Monday (October 14), demanding that the world's major financial institutions stop funding what they describe as a looming environmental catastrophe.
Extinction Rebellion, which promotes revolt against established political, economic and social structures as a way to publicize its dramatic climate message, is in the middle of two weeks of civil disobedience in London.
Its activists thronged the financial heart of London on Monday, blocking streets around locations such as the Bank of England and BlackRock.
Activists glued themselves to the doors of BlackRock while others staged a mock dinner party with rolled-up banknotes on their plates, a Reuters reporter said.
"This company are one of the major reasons this Earth is in such a mess," said 57-year-old grandmother and climate change activist Jo as she stood outside BlackRock with her hand glued to the doors.
"There will be people inside in BlackRock who are working hard to provide for their kids. And shortly they'll get the message that they are the ones who are making their future less safe and their planet not fit for habitation," she told Reuters shortly before being removed from the building and escorted away by police officers.
There was no immediate comment from BlackRock.
Extinction Rebellion wants non-violent civil disobedience to force governments to cut carbon emissions and avert a climate crisis it says will bring starvation and social collapse.
Critics say the group is proposing what amounts to the overthrow of capitalism without any clear idea of what would replace it, and that the world's energy needs cannot be met without fossil fuels.
Police reported more than 1,300 arrests so far.
(Production: Will Russell, Iona Serrapica) - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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