A British court has sentenced five climate change activists who organised non-violent protests to between four and five years in prison.

A British court has sentenced five climate change activists to four and five years in prison for taking part in a Zoom call to plan a peaceful protest on a major London motorway in 2022. The activists, from the direct action organisation Just Stop Oil, were found guilty of “conspiracy to disturb public order” in a case that has sparked widespread outrage. Michel Forst, UN special rapporteur United nations On the plight of environmental activists, he warned: “This sentence should shock the conscience of any member of society.” Meanwhile, Greenpeace UK said: “We are giving free rein to the polluting elite who are stealing our habitable planet while we lock up those who try to stop them.” Dozens of protesters gathered outside the London courthouse to support the activists, known as the “Fact Five,” as they were taken to prison in a lorry. These were the words of Just Stop Oil spokesman Graham Boss.

Graham Boss“It is clear that we do not live in a functioning democracy. A functioning democracy is one in which we are allowed to act, to make change, to protest. The democracy we have is not working. The oil companies and the rich make our laws, and people have to vote once every five years. This does not generate any kind of change; [en su lugar,] We see a new government taking office that is essentially pursuing the same policies as the outgoing government. How can we talk about a functioning democracy when we are in the midst of climate collapse and our government does not acknowledge it or take action to protect us? This is absolutely shameful. “This has to end.”