People Before Profit stands in full solidarity with climate activists facing criminal charges on February 9th. We are sharing the following statement of support. Please fill out the form below if you would like to add your name to the statement:
https://forms.gle/5fNdf1hCAdLzhRiZ8
Statement:
We, ecosocialists, trade unionists, environmental scientists and advocates, climate justice activists and organisations call on the state to drop the charges against Orla Murphy and Zac Lumley. Their brave act of nonviolent civil disobedience, painting “No more empty promises” on the Department of Foreign Affairs on 28 March, 2021, was not a crime. It was an act of political protest against a state that has refused to follow the science and take the necessary action to rapidly reduce carbon emissions and halt the destruction to our ecosystems.
Ireland has missed target after target, racking up millions of euros in fines and condemning the poorest, most vulnerable people to extreme weather events, famine, and an uncertain future. Already millions of people are killed, displaced, or suffer deprivation from climate-related disasters. The people most affected today, and who will be most impacted in the future, are those who contributed the least to climate change.
The real crime is acknowledging that business as usual would result in potential societal collapse, declaring a climate and biodiversity emergency, but then doing virtually nothing to address it.
Orla Murphy and Zac Lumley were right to draw attention to the “empty promises” of the government and to demand they take immediate action. We need more people willing to stand up and call out the empty promises of “net-zero by 2050”.
We also note with serious concern how, rather than taking the necessary actions to reduce emissions, governments worldwide are instead introducing legislation to increase penalties against protestors. It’s clear they want to send a signal to anyone else who dares to draw attention to their inaction.
Protest is not a crime. In a time of mounting ecological and social emergencies, with few precious years to act, we must stand with those who dare to resist and join them in bringing attention to the failures of this government and governments around the world.
We demand:
Drop the charges against Orla Murphy and Zac Lumley
Immediate action to reduce emissions – no more empty promises
_________________________________
Bríd Smith, People Before Profit TD
Paul Murphy, People Before Profit TD
RISE
People Before Profit
Karen Smith, Lecturer in Equality Studies
John Molyneux, People Before Profit , Environment Caucus Convenor and Global Ecosocialist Network Coordinator.
Cllr. Tina MacVeigh, People Before Profit
Theresa ODonohoe
Ailbhe Smyth, Climate Justice Coalition Ireland
Saoirse Sheehy Ariff – Postrgaduate Researcher UCD
Paul McCormack Cooney / Parent / Extinction Rebellion
Thomas Pringle TD
Gerry Carroll MLA
Natasha Ariff Self-employed Landscape Architect
Michela
Extinction Rebellion Ireland
Brian O’Boyle, TUI
Cllr Madeleine Johansson
global citizen
global citizen
Laura Kehoe, University of Oxford
Senator Eileen Flynn
Adrian Curran, People Before Profit
Sarah Hayes Extinction Rebellion
Jess Spear, National Organiser, RISE
Adrienne Wallace PBP Cllr
Barry McMullin
Ruth Coppinger
Devin Quinn, RISE / People Before Profit
Idil Bilgic/Auditor/UCD Women+ in STEM
Colin Coulter, Professor of Sociology, Maynooth University
Robert Wade, PhD researcher, Queen’s University Belfast
Rosie Meade, Lecturer, Cork, Ireland
Eoghan Ó Ceannabháin, People Before Profit
John Barry, Professor, Queen’s University Belfast, University and College Union
Des Hennelly, People Before Profit
Kevin Handy, Extinction Rebellion Ireland
Memet Uludag
Patrick Bresnihan, Lecturer, Maynooth University
Darragh Adelaide
David Regan, Member, BECTU
Ruth Flood, People Before Proft
Tim Hannon PBP Clare
Kate Mooney Teachers Union of Ireland
Rohana Perera
Liam Butler, People Before Profit, Orla’s Classmate.
Laura Fahy
Petra Sheehan
Eliya Lavine
Collette O’Hagan, PBP, Unite the Union.
Steph Hanlon – Lecturer in Social, Political & Community Studies
Ailbhe Finegan, Solicitor
Katy Smyth
Anne Lawton Teacher INTO
Catriona Griffin
Richard Boyd Barrett TD
Cllr Melisa Halpin
Francis O’Reilly
Róisín McAleer
Patrick Rogerson
Róisín McAleer/APAN
Amelia Conophy
Gweebarra Conservation Group
Emma Hendrick
Meryl McGowan
Caroline Kuyper Extinction Rebellion Derry/Donegal
Vincent Kavanagh
Olivia Byrne/ PhD researcher
Kellie McConnell, People Before Profit, FORSA
Tom Roche – Founder Just Forests
National Animal Rights Association
Julia Hammond, Unison Rebel Elders (XR)
Fiona Boyd PBP SWN
Saoirse mchugh
Councillor Gino O’Boyle
Michael Cronin TCD
Róisín Cellarius
Ewelina Smolen
Aoife O’Sullivan, UCD undergraduate Science Student
suzanne kearney, artist and teacher
Holly English
Dr Camilla Fitzsimons
Ronan Browne, Mobilise Peace
Ronan Browne
Bhavini Patel , XR Hackney
Emma Ryan, science student UCD
Joe Moore, Anti Deportation Ireland
Patsy Moran
Cllr Kieran Mahon – Socialist Party
Cllr Melisa Halpin, People Before Profit
Richard Boyd Barrett TD, People Before Profit
VinuthaShivakumar
Cllr. Liam Sinclair – An Rabharta Glas
Fiona Boyd
Darryl Horan, Campaigns Officer UCD Students’ Union
