May 5 2012 was the date for international mobilisations against the tar sands as well as 350′s visual ‘Connect the Dots’ campaign on the effects of climate change.

From record breaking heat in the US to freezing snaps in Europe that have been linked to decreasing Arctic ice mass and now the UK’s the ‘wettest drought‘ on record; 2012 is still young and yet we’re seeing some worrying weather patterns emerging.
Despite the overwhelming evidence of anthropogenic climate change we seem to be steering towards further climate chaos, ramping up production of extreme energy resources such as the Canadian tar sands when we need to rapidly decarbonize.

The May 5 day of climate action in London consisted of a climate twister game, a tour of the climate criminals who reside in the local vicinity as well a poignant and moving talk on the devastating effects of the Pakistan floods by Sabiha Teladia of Muslim Hands. I spoke about the destruction of the Canadian tar sands, Danny Chivers talked of important campaigns to engage with and Pete the Temp provided thought provoking poetry.

On a global level, the images that have been streaming in to 350.org over the weekend highlight the pressures that people from all over the world are feeling as climate change starts to bite. They also reveal a defiant community who are making a stand against the polluting industries that are undermining their rights, and the rights of their children, to a safe climate.

At this time of drought and flash flooding across much of the UK, London has its own climate story to share. However, what made the City of London specifically so befitting a setting for both International Stop the Tar Sands Day and Connect the Dots is the way in which the capital’s financial centre actively drives the destruction of the planet.

James Leaton, who blogs for the LSE, reveals the extent of the City’s complicity:

The coal, oil and gas reserves sitting on the London stock exchange are equivalent to ten times the UK’s domestic carbon budget to 2050…A decade ago, the FTSE100 was around 10% natural resources companies. By May 2011, one third of the FTSE100 was mining, oil and gas companies by market capitalisation.

The UK’s active role in the tar sands through loans and extractive projects through corporations such as BP, Natwest and the Royal Bank of Scotland further strengthen our imperative for action.

So too does the fact that our ministers will have yet another opportunity to vote on the European Fuel Quality Directive (FQD) early next year – legislation that could effectively ban tar sands oil from Europe. We must not let Big Oil’s aggressive lobby shout louder than us. We must make it clear that we want EU climate legislation upheld; that the polluting nature of tar sands oil must be recognized; that Ministers must say YES to the Fuel Quality Directive.

An inspiring day came to a close with the Occupy London crew attempting a daring guerilla screening of ‘Taking on Tarmageddon‘ from right within the Tate Modern museum. Unfortunately, we were forcibly denied on this occasion; the gallery clearly siding with their corporate sponsors, BP.

We will not be silenced

Despite Saturday’s run in with Tate Modern security, neither BP nor its beneficiaries will not be there to shut down every screening of this new film. Details on how you can put on an event, with a speaker, within your own university or community are available through the People & Planet website.

Taking on Tarmageddon captures why UK activists must not ease off from the struggle against the tar sands despite the continuous delays within the EU on the FQD vote. This year’s Summer Gathering on June 24-28 provides an amazing opportunity to regroup and strategize on actions to take against the tar sands over the coming months. I’ll be there. I hope you will too.

This blog was posted by Philippa DeBoissiere – one of the students who visited the tar sands in Alberta last summer as part of People & Planet’s tar sands solidarity youth exchange project.