Climate protesters use Spice Girls and Shakespeare to disrupt Barclays AGM | Business News

Shakespeare and the Spice Women have been utilized by environmental protestors to repeatedly disrupt the Barclays annual basic assembly (AGM) in central London on Wednesday morning.

Activists from Extinction Rebel, Fossil Free London and Local weather Choir have been protesting the UK excessive road financial institution’s funding in new fossil gas tasks regardless of heavy safety on the AGM venue.

The primary interruption got here as dozens of protestors broke out in tune with a variant of the Spice Woman’s Cease with lyrics modified.

“Cease proper now, no extra oil and gasoline. Cease burning fossil fuels and finish this insanity.

“Hey you, burning up the earth… we have had sufficient.”

“You soiled, soiled financial institution” they sang.

The singing continued for a number of minutes because the protesters have been ushered out of the room and will nonetheless be heard outdoors the room when all singers had left.

It was the primary of quite a few disruptions as Fossil Free London used Shakespearean dialogue to sporadically interrupt audio system.

“Do not shuffle off this mortal coil”, protestors mentioned, “maintain it within the soil” they added, referencing their name to not extract extra fossil fuels.

Groans have been audible as people began Shakespearean speeches after different protesters have been escorted out.

Barclays group chairman Nigel Higgins mentioned he wished the protesters “would shuffle off”. The Barclays firm secretary and Mr Higgins continued to talk all through speeches.

“I am sorry about this as a result of I do know the overwhelming majority have come right here to ask questions and we won’t reply to this”, Mr Higgins mentioned.

Particular person protesters additionally stood up with indicators and shouted calls to not spend money on new fossil gas tasks, with one man seen carried out of the venue.

Mr Higgins mentioned the financial institution has enhanced local weather measure and welcomes suggestions on how they’ll enhance.

Within the AGM discover, Barclays mentioned: “Addressing the local weather problem continues to be one of many board’s prime
priorities, and we now have made progress in implementing our technique, as set out intimately in our 2022 annual report.”

“We’ve got additionally introduced ahead the phase-out of US (and all OECD) coal-fired energy financing from 2035 to 2030”.

“There have been calls, together with from the IEA [International Energy Agency] and the UN, for no new oil and gasoline exploration if the world is to remain beneath 1.5 levels warming.

“On the identical time, the struggle in Ukraine has shone a brand new gentle on the significance of vitality safety and affordability for nations around the globe.

“Any transition to a low carbon economic system wants to make sure communities have entry to reasonably priced vitality.”