This weekend local climate activists took a theatrical protest to Barclays Bank in Bangor.
Protesters were joined by Carolyn Thomas, Welsh Labour Member of the Senedd for North Wales Region, to demand the bank ‘clean its act up!’ As part of a National Day of Action to highlight the bank’s role in the climate and ecological emergency.
Protesters covered their hands in black oil, representing Barclays’ funding of oil exploration in the Arctic, a pristine and environmentally sensitive area.
Banners and placards held by protesters highlighted that Barclays is the biggest funder of fossil fuels in Europe, and is increasing its investment in coal, fracking, arctic and offshore oil and gas, and tar sands.
Leaflets were handed out to members of the public informing them about Barclays’ unethical practices and suggesting alternative banks who do not invest in fossil fuels.
Gwynedd Council banks with Barclays, despite having declared a climate emergency in 2019. HMRC uses Barclays, the worst polluting bank in Europe, to collect our taxes for the government, so your tax money is being invested into Barclays.
Sophie Miller, from Felinheli and a member of Extinction Rebellion, said: “We are here today to raise awareness about our banks’ contribution to the climate and ecological crisis.
“Barclays Bank need to clean up their dirty act, it’s truly filthy. Banks invest staggering amounts of money into fossil fuels, and Barclays is the biggest funder of fossil fuels in Europe.
“All this whilst we are in a climate emergency. Barclays are directly responsible for the destruction of the living world by funding fracking, arctic oil and gas extraction, and industrial animal agriculture. We have delivered a letter today with a clear demand to the bank to act now.”
Cazzie Wood from Bangor, a forest school leader and youth worker, said: “Barclays must clean up its act immediately. Fossil fuel companies can’t access fossil fuel reserves without borrowing large amounts of money from banks, so banks are key to how much fossil fuels are extracted. We need to keep fossil fuels in the ground, but projected fossil fuel investment is currently set to rise.”
Read the full report: Banking on Climate Chaos: Fossil Fuel Finance Report, 2021 Here: https://www.ran.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/Banking-on-Climate-Chaos-2021.pdf
