- Greenpeace-Government Standoff: “Bunker Mentality” Accusation
- Downing Street’s Call to Cease Ties with Greenpeace
- Greenpeace Defiant Amid Severed Ties, Ongoing Protest Consequences
Greenpeace has accused the government of having a “bunker mentality” after it said last week that all departments should cease working with the organization in response to its protest at Rishi Sunak’s residence.
Greenpeace’s protest at Rishi Sunak’s empty residence last week prompted Downing Street to recommend that government agencies sever ties with the organization.
Following the anti-oil stunt, the official spokesperson for the prime minister stated that the organization should not be given a “seat at the table” in Whitehall deliberations on climate-related issues.
However, Greenpeace activists responded by accusing the government of having a “bunker mentality” and claiming that ministers have “shut the door” on civil society organizations, causing them to protest in the manner that they do.
On Thursday, five individuals were detained and later released on bail after scaling the roof of Mr. Sunak’s Yorkshire manor and covering it with a black-oil fabric while he was on vacation with his family.
DEFRA was ordered to stop working with Greenpeace until further notice.
At the time, DEFRA declined to comment on the reports, but Downing Street has now validated their veracity.
The spokesperson for the prime minister stated that communication with the organization was no longer “appropriate” and that all government agencies should sever ties with Greenpeace.
He told the media, “Obviously, we do not believe that those accused of violating the law should have a seat at the table during government discussions.
“From what I gather, DEFRA does not engage with Greenpeace due to these actions”.
DEFRA and other agencies have collaborated with climate action organisations for years.
“However, given their recent actions and arrests, we do not believe it is appropriate to engage with them.”
Greenpeace protested proposals to grant more than one hundred new oil and gas extraction licenses in the North Sea.
The activists hung an oil-black fabric from the roof from approximately 8:00 a.m. until 1:15 p.m. When they were arrested and subsequently released pending the outcome of an ongoing North Yorkshire Police investigation.
Labor and Conservative MPs criticized the targeting of the PM’s private residence. Whereas Greenpeace described it as a “proportionate response to a disastrous decision” to grant new licenses.
Breaking ties with Greenpeace is “extremely detrimental,”
The group remained defiant following Downing Street’s decision to sever ties.
Greenpeace co-director Will McCallum stated that the organization has “a mandate to hold the government accountable”. Because it represents the views of millions of supporters.
He stated, “Burying your head in the sand won’t make the climate crisis go away.”
“We must demonstrate this manner because the government has effectively shut the door on civil society organizations like Greenpeace, as well as ignoring warnings from the United Nations, its advisers, and the International Energy Agency.
“Severing ties with Greenpeace will not alleviate the damage caused by this government’s bunker mentality,” the author writes.
