Campaigners from Fossil Free London and Climate Defiance interrupted the Republican Overseas UK celebration yesterday evening (20 January). Republican supporters had gathered to mark the first anniversary of Donald Trump’s return to the White House.

The group chanted “if you drill baby drill, how many will you kill”, as they were shoved out of the room.

Earlier this month, Trump announced he was pulling the United States out of 66 international groups. These included the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), and the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). Trump claimed they are “contrary to the interests of the United States”.

This comes after Trump announced his intention to release Venezuela’s oil, after the US forces raid on the country on 3 January. Trump has also caused controversy in Europe this week over his statements on Greenland.

Robin Wells, Director of Fossil Free London said:

A year after Trump’s inauguration, the impact of his fossil-fuel obsession is clear. He is willing to jeopardise global stability to benefit the oil industry and enrich himself and his allies.

As wildfires rise and typhoons surge, Trump is hellbent on dragging us down with his ‘Drill Baby Drill’ agenda, not just dooming his country to the catastrophic consequences of climate breakdown, but the whole world.

Whether it’s stealing Venezuela’s oil, colonising the Gaza strip, or extracting Greenland’s rare earth minerals, the members of Republicans Overseas UK who are here tonight, raising a glass to Trump’s first year, should be ashamed of themselves. We don’t want Trump’s oily imperialism here in the UK.

Featured image via the Canary

By The Canary

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