A BANK saw two concurrent protests staged outside its branch in Reading today (Saturday, February 10), with accusations of funding of fossil fuel projects and companies supplying arms to Israel.
Members of Extinction Rebellion were joined by activists from other groups in protesting outside Barclays bank on Broad Street for an hour in opposition to the bank’s “climate-wrecking investments.”
They also sought to raise awareness in customers and members of the public about what they say is a “reckless disregard of the scientific evidence” in its funding policies.
Another protest took place outside Barclays concurrently, with attendees accusing the bank of “funding the Apartheid,” by funding arms for Israel.
As of last year, Barclays owned around £1.3bn in shares in companies supplying Israel with weapons and military technology.
Extinction Rebellion cites figures from the Fossil Fuel Finance Report which showed that Barclays is the biggest financer of fossil fuels in Europe– and the seventh largest in the world– having given around $190 billion into fossil fuel projects.
These include lending to hydraulic fracturing (fracking) companies in the USA, a coal mine in Columbia, and meat production company JBS, which they say is the biggest contributor to global emissions of its type.
Dani, who was among the protestors, says “I moved my account away from Barclays Bank three years ago when I became aware of its climate-wrecking investments.
“Barclays has funneled billions into fossil fuel extraction and I just couldn’t turn a blind eye to a bank that chooses to support projects contributing to the devastating world crises we are in.
“Not in my name”
Annie, also taking part in the protest, said: “Barclays continues to fund fossil fuels; they said they were going to clean up they act, but it’s green-washing.
“There’s still going to be fracking in America for example, so it’s just not solid at all.
“The public has been really good today– they realise through changes in the weather, rising food prices, droughts and forest fires, that it’s affecting everyone.”
“We’re an older generation, but we’re concerned– we love our planet, and we can’t sit back and watch this happen.
“Humanity is sitting on a thin branch and cutting the branch off at the stem, it’s just crazy and nonsensical.”
