Latest news with #WeekofAction
The Star
3 hours ago
- Business
- The Star
Environmental activists protest against Standard Bank and Total Energies over fossil fuel financing
Koketso Phasha | Published 17 minutes ago A coalition of activist groups, Stop East African Crude Oil Pipeline (StopEACOP) embarked on a protest in Johannesburg with the intention of voicing their frustrations against Standard Bank and Total Energies for their alleged exploitative and non-environmentally friendly activities in Africa. According to StopEACOP, Standard Bank has positioned itself as a chief accomplice to Total Energies' wreckage across the African continent and is bankrolling the exploitation, destruction and harm imposed onto so many communities. In a memorandum on Tuesday, the coalition said to Total Energies: "We, organisations, communities and ordinary people from across South Africa and the African continent, are united in our unequivocal condemnation of Total Energies and its destructive fossil fuel operations. "As communities and activists demonstrate, come together and speak out through this week of action (18-24 August 2025), we send a clear and urgent message that Total must back off." Zaki Mamdoo, a coordinator of the StopEACOP outlined that the demonstration, part of a continentwide Week of Action (August 18-24), calls on the bank to sever ties with the oil giant over alleged plundering and ecological destruction across Africa. Expressing contentment and hope to succeed, the coalition said: "We welcome the decision of the Western Cape High Court setting aside the exploration right granted to Total Energies and its partners to pursue offshore oil and gas drilling along South Africa's southwest coast. The court found that the Department of Mineral and Petroleum Resources (DMPR) and Total Energies failed to adequately consult affected communities and ignored the serious environmental and climate risks posed by the project. This judgment is a victory for coastal communities, small-scale fishers, and environmental defenders who have long resisted the imposition of destructive projects that threaten their livelihoods, marine ecosystems, and our collective future." Mamdoo said: "For years, Standard Bank has not only ignored the legitimate concerns of communities but has met peaceful protest with arrogance and repression. Instead of engaging in good faith, Standard Bank has chosen to brutalise activists, dismiss civil society, and double down on investments that endanger millions of lives across Africa." StopEACOP said Standard Bank has by virtue of financing the Mozambique LNG Project, Coral FLNG (Floating LNG) Facility and East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP) contributed to the destruction of communities across Africa, the carbon emissions driving climate collapse, the violence, human rights abuses, and ecological destruction that accompany these so-called 'developments. Under pressure from protestors, Total Energies committed to providing a written response to the memorandum within 14 days. Similarly, a Standard Bank representative promised a written response to the demands within 14 days, despite one protestor angrily demanding an immediate answer. IOL News Get your news on the go, click here to join the IOL News WhatsApp channel.
The Star
4 hours ago
- Business
- The Star
Protest to demand Standard Bank, TotalEnergies cut ties over alleged 'ecological destruction'
A coalition of activist groups is set to stage a protest on Tuesday in Rosebank, Johannesburg, targeting Standard Bank and TotalEnergies offices for their alleged exploitation activities in Africa. The demonstration, part of a continent-wide Week of Action (August 18-24), calls on the bank to sever ties with the oil giant over alleged plundering and ecological destruction across Africa. Organisers have said the protest will begin at Standard Bank HQ and proceed to TotalEnergies' local offices. It is timed to highlight what they describe as the financiers' complicity in fossil-fuel projects that harm communities and the environment. Zaki Mamdoo, coordinator for the Stop East African Crude Oil Pipeline (StopEACOP) Coalition, issued a statement linking the action to a broader regional campaign. 'As part of the continent-wide Week of Action, communities and movements from Uganda to Mozambique, from Benin to the Cape, Tanzania to Senegal, Nigeria to Zimbabwe, are rising to demand an end to TotalEnergies' plunder and widespread destruction.' 'We will march from Standard Bank, Africa's biggest funder of fossil fuels and one of Total's most arrogant supporters, to the headquarters of TotalEnergies, whose operations have been linked to land grabs, displacement, and ecological devastation ,' said Mamdoo.
IOL News
a day ago
- Business
- IOL News
Protest to demand Standard Bank, TotalEnergies cut ties over alleged 'ecological destruction'
A coalition of activist groups is set to stage a protest on Tuesday in Rosebank, Johannesburg, targeting Standard Bank and TotalEnergies offices for their alleged exploitation activities in Africa. The demonstration, part of a continent-wide Week of Action (August 18-24), calls on the bank to sever ties with the oil giant over alleged plundering and ecological destruction across Africa. Organisers have said the protest will begin at Standard Bank HQ and proceed to TotalEnergies' local offices. It is timed to highlight what they describe as the financiers' complicity in fossil-fuel projects that harm communities and the environment.
Scotsman
16-07-2025
- General
- Scotsman
Campaigners in Queensferry to protest against plastic pollution ahead of Global Plastics Treaty negotiations
Campaigners and the community in South Queensferry are rallying in a National Day of Action against plastic pollution this Saturday, 19 July. Sign up to our daily newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to Edinburgh News, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... The Surfers Against Sewage 'The People vs Plastic' campaign will see protestors descend on the UK's beaches, city streets and everywhere in between to send a clear message: the government must act decisively to tackle plastic pollution at its source, to position the UK as a global leader in the fight against single-use plastics. The campaign aims to ramp up the pressure on Government ahead of the Global Plastics Treaty negotiations, reconvening in Geneva from 5-14 August. Earlier talks collapsed in South Korea, last year, with countries failing to agree on reducing plastic production. Campaigners say that a legally binding Global Plastics Treaty is urgently needed to cut pollution at its source and protect blue spaces. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Ahead of the National Day of Action, communities from coast to city will host grassroots events, from 'Trash Mobs' in local schools to community-led cleans, building momentum for the nationwide protest. Data will be collected during the community cleans, which will help Surfers Against Sewage map the true scale of plastic pollution, and name the brands and retailers most to blame. Your World The public can get involved by heading to the Surfers Against Sewage website to find a local protest to join or show support during the Week of Action by getting involved with a local Plastic Free Community close to home. Communities and schools are at the forefront of Surfers Against Sewage's campaign against plastic, with over 400 active Plastic Free Communities and over 3,000 Plastic Free Schools leading the way in the fight against plastic in their local area. So far in 2025, over 88,000 people have taken part in over 3,600 local cleans, collecting over 40,000kg of rubbish, as part of the charity's Million Mile Clean initiative. Plastic Free Queensferry is organising a protest in on the beach in Queensferry. They said: We are going to send a clear message ahead of the Global Plastics Treaty talks that we want to see an end to plastic pollution. We will be spelling out a human message with all of our volunteers to #EndPlasticPollution. Following that we are joining with other community groups, such as Clean Ferry and Dalmeny & Queensferry Parish Church EcoCongregation to carry out a beach clean, litter pick and brand audit around Queensferry. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Surfers Against Sewage is calling on the UK Government to deliver on the goals of the Global Plastics Treaty immediately through joined up and ambitious national plans to end plastic pollution, including: Setting legally-binding targets to cut plastic pollution Implementing an effective circular economy centred on reuse and refill, including the implementation of a comprehensive Deposit Return Scheme and introduction of binding reuse targets Holding polluters to account by enforcing current laws and delivering Extended Producer Responsibility schemes that make polluters pay. Giles Bristow, Chief Executive at Surfers Against Sewage said: 'Broken promises, stalled progress, surging pollution. We are drowning in the toxic tide of plastic that continues to rise. Enough is enough, so we are rising up too. As families pack their buckets and spades and the summer holidays begin, there's no better time to shine a light on the plastics choking our shores. The UK remains one of the worst offenders for generating single-use waste that travels the globe, and our government is still dawdling on action. 'We're sick to death of plastic-pushing corporations fuelling this crisis while spinning greenwashing lies and pointing the finger at consumers. They churn out mountains of non-recyclable packaging, sabotage vital policies behind closed doors, and consistently miss every voluntary target. The Labour government pledged us a zero-waste future, we're all ears, but we won't settle for anything less. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'That's why, on Saturday 19 July, as the school holidays get underway, we're calling on Ocean Activists from Penzance to Porthcawl and everywhere in between to make their voices heard. Whether you're clearing your favourite beach or marching through city streets, communities hold the power to drive change. With Global Plastics Treaty negotiations just around the corner, we must turn up the heat. Together, we can become a force impossible for leaders, and polluters, to ignore.' Protest locations and National Week of Action information can be found on the Surfers Against Sewage website. Following the protest, the charity is encouraging people to sign a petition to put pressure on the Government to tackle the problem. For more information, visit the campaign page here.
Scotsman
16-07-2025
- General
- Scotsman
Campaigners in Queensferry to protest against plastic pollution ahead of Global Plastics Treaty negotiations
Communities up and down the country will unite on Saturday 19 July to take a stand against the Government's inaction on plastic pollution •Protests and beach cleans will be taking place across the country as part of a National Day of Action Sign up to our daily newsletter – Regular news stories and round-ups from around Scotland direct to your inbox Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Campaigners and the community in South Queensferry are rallying in a National Day of Action against plastic pollution this Saturday, 19 July. The Surfers Against Sewage 'The People vs Plastic' campaign will see protestors descend on the UK's beaches, city streets and everywhere in between to send a clear message: the government must act decisively to tackle plastic pollution at its source, to position the UK as a global leader in the fight against single-use plastics. The campaign aims to ramp up the pressure on Government ahead of the Global Plastics Treaty negotiations, reconvening in Geneva from 5-14 August. Earlier talks collapsed in South Korea, last year, with countries failing to agree on reducing plastic production. Campaigners say that a legally binding Global Plastics Treaty is urgently needed to cut pollution at its source and protect blue spaces. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Ahead of the National Day of Action, communities from coast to city will host grassroots events, from 'Trash Mobs' in local schools to community-led cleans, building momentum for the nationwide protest. Data will be collected during the community cleans, which will help Surfers Against Sewage map the true scale of plastic pollution, and name the brands and retailers most to blame. Your World The public can get involved by heading to the Surfers Against Sewage website to find a local protest to join or show support during the Week of Action by getting involved with a local Plastic Free Community close to home. Communities and schools are at the forefront of Surfers Against Sewage's campaign against plastic, with over 400 active Plastic Free Communities and over 3,000 Plastic Free Schools leading the way in the fight against plastic in their local area. So far in 2025, over 88,000 people have taken part in over 3,600 local cleans, collecting over 40,000kg of rubbish, as part of the charity's Million Mile Clean initiative. Plastic Free Queensferry is organising a protest in on the beach in Queensferry. They said: We are going to send a clear message ahead of the Global Plastics Treaty talks that we want to see an end to plastic pollution. We will be spelling out a human message with all of our volunteers to #EndPlasticPollution. Following that we are joining with other community groups, such as Clean Ferry and Dalmeny & Queensferry Parish Church EcoCongregation to carry out a beach clean, litter pick and brand audit around Queensferry. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Surfers Against Sewage is calling on the UK Government to deliver on the goals of the Global Plastics Treaty immediately through joined up and ambitious national plans to end plastic pollution, including: Setting legally-binding targets to cut plastic pollution Implementing an effective circular economy centred on reuse and refill, including the implementation of a comprehensive Deposit Return Scheme and introduction of binding reuse targets Holding polluters to account by enforcing current laws and delivering Extended Producer Responsibility schemes that make polluters pay. Giles Bristow, Chief Executive at Surfers Against Sewage said: 'Broken promises, stalled progress, surging pollution. We are drowning in the toxic tide of plastic that continues to rise. Enough is enough, so we are rising up too. As families pack their buckets and spades and the summer holidays begin, there's no better time to shine a light on the plastics choking our shores. The UK remains one of the worst offenders for generating single-use waste that travels the globe, and our government is still dawdling on action. 'We're sick to death of plastic-pushing corporations fuelling this crisis while spinning greenwashing lies and pointing the finger at consumers. They churn out mountains of non-recyclable packaging, sabotage vital policies behind closed doors, and consistently miss every voluntary target. The Labour government pledged us a zero-waste future, we're all ears, but we won't settle for anything less. 'That's why, on Saturday 19 July, as the school holidays get underway, we're calling on Ocean Activists from Penzance to Porthcawl and everywhere in between to make their voices heard. Whether you're clearing your favourite beach or marching through city streets, communities hold the power to drive change. With Global Plastics Treaty negotiations just around the corner, we must turn up the heat. Together, we can become a force impossible for leaders, and polluters, to ignore.' Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad
