The actions of the activist group Just Stop Oil have gathered worldwide attention. Recently they stormed the stage and interrupted the performance of Les Misérables at a theatre in London's West End, and now they completed another protest drawing attention to the issue of oil and gas extraction. The group's latest idea will be remembered for a long time.

Using customised fire extinguishers, Just Stop Oil activists sprayed paint on a total of six universities across the UK. The universities of Oxford, Exter, Birmingham, Sussex, Falmouth, as well as King's College London, were painted on 10 October 2023.

Just Stop Oil’s actions aim to force the UK government to immediately halt planned new oil and gas extraction projects. Additionally, activists want to encourage academics and students to take part in a march in London this November.

At around 12pm on 10 October 2023, Arthur Clifton, an English Literature graduate from the University of Exeter, used a customised fire extinguisher to paint the pillars of UCL orange. At the same time, two students from the Universities of Exter and Falmouth "attacked" additional buildings on the Penryn campus.

Ethan Paul, a renewable energy engineering graduate from the University of Exeter, used buckets of paint and spray cans to paint the University of Exeter's Stella Turk building, and Holly Astle, an illustration graduate from the University of Falmouth, painted the vice chancellor’s office, The Link building. The University of Sussex and University of Birmingham libraries were also affected by the protest.

"I cannot stand by in terror and do nothing as my entire generation is sold out for short-term profit. I wonder how long it is before my 10 year old sister has to face the food shortages and violence that so many across the globe are already facing in the wake of social breakdown brought on through climate collapse?" said Just Stop Oil campaigner Arthur Clifton right before the protest began.

Later in the speech, he highlighted why the paint attack is targeted at universities: "Universities are supposed to develop and protect their students and young people, but instead they are sending us into the furnace. The academic research has been done, and it could not be clearer. If these institutions listened to their own staff, they would know how crucial it is that we immediately halt all new oil and gas licences. Instead, they accept millions in funding from oil and gas corporations."

On 5 October it was revealed that major fossil fuel companies have committed tens of millions of pounds in funding to UK universities since 2022. This was the main reason the Just Stop Oil activists decided to act. The University of Exeter was given the largest sum of money since 2022. It is estimated that it received at least £14,700,000.

Source: Just Stop Oil