FOSSIL FREE
Friends,
For the past 12 days, thousands of people on six continents have stepped up their commitment to keep fossil fuels in the ground with courageous actions that have challenged business as usual across the world.
Click here to see photos and stories from Break Free actions worldwide!
Thousands of Ende Gelände activists shut down lignite coal mining for over 48 hours in Proschim, Germany
Break Free stopped everything entering or exiting the world’s largest coal port in Australia, stood up to South Africa’s most powerful family and left coal at their front door, and occupied train tracks overnight on both coasts of the United States to stop oil-filled ‘bomb trains’ from rolling.
South Africans return coal to the Gupta family compound after attempts to silence their peaceful protest. Photo: Shayne Robinson | Mutiny Media
3,500 people shut down one of Europe’s biggest carbon polluters in Germany, 10,000 marched against a coal plant in Batangas, the Philippines, 3,000 more sent an ear-splitting message to Indonesia’s president with a whistle demonstration against coal in Jakarta — and so much more.
A flotilla of kayaks surround the Kinder Morgan oil terminal in Metro Vancouver, Canada – proposed destination for a new tar sands pipeline.
A joint wave of action of this diversity and intensity had never been attempted before. And together, we pulled it off with great beauty.
Nigerians march through Ogoniland to protest Big Oil’s ongoing pollution in the Niger Delta. Photo: Babawale Obayanju
As the planet becomes dangerously hot, our greatest collective hope is that this movement continues to grow in size, strength and boldness. The past few days show what we can accomplish together.
Indonesians lead noise protest outside the presidential palace in Jakarta to call for an end to coal pollution. Photo: Jurnasyanto Sukarno – Greenpeace
In every country that took action this week — Australia, Brazil, Canada, Ecuador, Germany, Indonesia, New Zealand, Nigeria, the Philippines, South Africa, Turkey, United Kingdom and the United States — organising to break free from fossil fuels will continue stronger than ever, but they are certainly not alone.
People everywhere see the writing on the wall: as the planet heats up, renewable energy becomes more affordable, and the industry enters financial crisis, the time has come to stand up to the power and pollution of the fossil fuels industry.
People gather on train tracks outside Anacortes, Washington to block oil by rail ‘bomb trains’ from traveling to nearby refineries.
The movement will continue to grow in all of its forms: divesting from fossil fuels, blocking fossil fuels extraction and transportation, passing fracking bans, stopping new coal plants, ending fossil fuel subsidies, securing commitments build a 100% renewable economy – and standing in solidarity across all these efforts.
Several dozen people block the road to the Aliso Canyon, California gas storage facility, site of the largest methane leak in US history. Photo: Brooke Anderson, Project Survival Media
Thanks to you, there has never been a better time in history to break free from fossil fuels. Let’s seize this moment, with all our strength.
With gratitude and awe,
Will, and the 350.org Break Free team – Daniel, Débora, Duncan, James, Hoda, Matt, Matthew and Thelma
Fossil Free is an international network of campuses and communities that are divesting from the fossil fuel companies that are causing the climate crisis. Connect with us onFacebook and Twitter, and sign up for email updates on our homepage.
