The climate activist group, Just Stop Oil, are known for their extreme protest methods. The organisation has now taken their protests to universities in England, splashing orange paint over the buildings.
Just Stop Oil, or JSO, are fighting for no licensing of coal, gas, or oil projects. The international group have gone viral several times for their, often destructive, protest methods. From blocking off busy roads by sitting in front of traffic, to throwing orange paint over buildings, these activists know how to draw attention to themselves.
However, the attention is almost entirely negative. TikTok videos show how disruption to the roads are affecting citizens with some pleading to the protesters to let them past to access hospitals.
The lack of empathy the group seems to have for the average person doesn’t help their negative look. They can be seen refusing to move for most people in TikTok videos, even when they are begged to let them past.
People are also confused about their execution in relation to their message. JSO are fighting for an eco-friendlier planet yet sit in front of traffic and let cars be idle during their protests.
Other videos show members interrupting tennis games by throwing orange (eco-friendly) confetti and jigsaw pieces onto the court. Spectators boo the protestors as they carry out this disruption, and cheer when they are removed from the crowd. This sums up the public’s relationship with JSO.
Just Stop Oil’s latest protests
Now, the group are moving on to target universities in England. They are using the right to protest to vandalise and cause criminal damage to university buildings, covering them in orange spray paint. While university officials have commented that they respect the right to a peaceful protest, they say that these methods are unfair on both staff and students.
Just Stop Oil have a good message and are fighting for a good cause – the protection of our planet. However, their methods and relationship with the public are wrong. They are affecting the public more than they are those in power.
If they went about things differently, and got their message across in other ways, then I believe it would be more powerful. Currently, the public sees the group as a joke, and as a nuisance. If they took on board public advice and feelings, more people may be sympathetic to their message.
Featured Image Credit: JustStopOil.org
Second year student journalist studying Bachelor of Arts with Honours in Journalism Studies.
Writer for Brig and Discovery Music, Chief Sub Editor for Brig
