A group of environmentalists have occupied a 27,000 ton oil rig to prevent it being installed off the coast of northern Scotland. They are demanding that BP shut down drilling operations and invest in renewable energy.
Image: picture-alliance/dpa/Greenpeace
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Greenpeace activists said Sunday they had blocked a BP oil rig from leaving port in Inverness.
The rig was set to be installed off the coast of northern Scotland as part of the oil giant's North Sea exploration program. But a team of activists in boats drew up alongside the rig to prevent it from leaving Cromarty Firth, Greenpeace said in a statement.
The environmentalists demanded that BP, one of the world's biggest energy companies, end drilling new wells and invest only in renewable energy or cease operations and return cash to its investors. They said they are prepared to stay on the rig "for days" if necessary.
"This rig, and around 30 million barrels it seeks to drill, are a sure a sign that BP are committed to business as usual, fueling a climate emergency that threatens millions of lives and the future of the living world," a Greenpeace activist from Scotland only identified as Jo said.
BP called the protest "irresponsible" and said that it was working with Transocean, the rig's owner and operator, and other authorities to resolve the situation.
"While we recognize the right for peaceful protest, the actions of this group may put themselves and others unnecessarily at risk," the company said in a statement.
Cartoons for Future: An exhibition bangs the drum for the environment
With 100 illustrations by international artists "Cartoons for Future," an exhibition in Turkey tips the hat to the "Fridays for Future" movement.
Unfair assignment of tasks
The stork can hardly believe his eyes — what is in the huge bundle the raven is carrying? Turkish cartoonist Menekse Cam, who brought the exhibition "Cartoons for Future" to Turkey, has named her drawing "Clean the World."
Difficult balance
In this cartoon by Turkish artist Burak Ergin, a man is trying to balance out technology and ecology. Ergin's often quite gloomy works have won numerous national and international awards.
Too late?
Greta Thunberg, the leading figure in the climate activism movement "Fridays for Future," is up to her neck in water in this drawing by Austrian Marian Kamensky: Her "school strike for the climate" (as it says in Swedish on the poster) kicked off too late.
Great view?
Tourism at any cost? The couple is taking a selfie in front of the sunset, but is apparently oblivious to the fact that they're standing on the mountain of trash.
The globe in despair
Many of the illustrations in the exhibition address the plastic garbage that has contaminated the world's oceans. Here, the Earth holds its face in its hands in a moment of desperation.
A wet grave
The environmental crisis will also have consequences on migration. In this sharp-tongued cartoon, a mother calls to her children in the Mediterranean Sea: "Come out right now! You're not supposed to play in a cemetery!" It brings to mind the image of the drowned three-year-old refugee Alan Kurdi, as well as the thousands of migrants who've lost their lives at the world's deadliest sea crossing.
From one disaster to another
This illustration by Burkinabé artist Damien Glez reflects on the fate of thousands upon thousands of refugees and migrants: The supposed better life elsewhere has its owns risks.
Clean drinking water for everyone?
Rather than a bowl full of water, this girl tries to imbibe dried-out soil. Hungarian illustrator Gergely Bacsa calls attention to the water shortage in many countries.
