Media Release Oil Free Wellington 16/12/15

For immediate release

Two days after Paris Agreement signed, Govt already pretending it doesn’t exist

The announcement of new exploration permits on and off shore in Taranaki just a few days after the Paris climate agreement is another stark reminder that we can’t rely on our government to solve the climate crisis.

“It is more important than ever for people to stand up and resist the exploration for oil by companies like Todd, Shell, OMV, Chevron, Statoil and Anadarko,” says Oil Free Wellington spokesperson Michelle Ducat.

“It’s clear from the results of this block offer that their push for deep sea oil is failing, with no new areas bid for and no deep sea oil bids being made. But the Government’s commitment to keep trying, somewhat desperately, to attract overseas oil companies shows they have no plans to follow through on anything they signed up to at the Paris climate talks.

“Just a week ago John Key was at the Paris climate talks supporting the abolition of fossil fuel subsidies to reduce carbon emissions. Today his government has opened up even more of our ocean and land to oil companies happy to make profits while the planet burns. ” added Ms Ducat.

Oil Free Wellington’s statement comes after organising a community flotilla and hundreds of people onto boats, kayaks, and stand up paddleboards as well as onshore last Sunday. The community flotilla and onshore rally demonstrated to oil companies that they should expect resistance to their plans, and was a practice run for further action.

“Oil Free Wellington’s on-water mobilisation acknowledged that it’s up to us as communities to take real action on climate change. We have sent a strong message to the oil and other fossil fuel industries planning to expand their extraction that they can expect resistance.”

“We stand in solidarity with communities all over Aotearoa who continue to resist the expansion of the fossil fuel industry. All over the world we can see that it is the people standing up to the fossil fuel industry who are making the difference.”

Media release ends

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