Local World Development Movement (WDM) activists yesterday protested outside a branch of HSBC on Fishergate hoping to make bankers come clean about their fossil fuel finance.
The protest was part of a global month of action against dirty energy. Over four weeks protests will be held up and down the country that will target the HSBC bank and other financial institutions for financing of fossil fuels.
Earlier this month protesters managed to shut the flagship branch of HSBC in the City of London. HSBC is the UK’s largest underwriter of fossil fuels bonds and shares.
The protesters from WDM dressed as coal miners and cordoned off the area outside the bank using ‘climate crime scene’ hazard tape and eviction notices. WDM activist Kirsty Wright said: “we set up an extraction zone outside HSBC to bring the reality of what the banks are financing back to the City.“
By pouring billions of pounds worth of finance into fossil fuels each year, HSBC is destroying people’s homes, lives and the climate. For example, HSBC is financing companies mining coal in Indonesia, which are pushing people off their land and polluting their water. HSBC must stop this reckless investment.”
WDM say the UK financial sector is bankrolling climate change by ploughing billions into the dirty projects of fossil fuel companies. But, new regulations coming into force later this year will mean the UK’s biggest businesses will have to report on their carbon emissions. However, the financial sector has been let off the hook from disclosing the climate impacts of their investments.
WDM suggest emailing Vince Cable, the minister in charge of company carbon reporting, to try and call on the government to urge bankers to come clean on the emissions they are bankrolling.
The Central-Lancashire WDM group meet monthly in Preston, on second Tuesday of each month (December, August excepted). For further info about time and venue, contact kencridland@yahoo.co.uk
Dirty Energy Month is taking place until 11 November. See http://reclaimpower.net/ for more information.
Do you think banks should come clean on their carbon emissions? Let us know in the comments below