“It is unconscionable for the [UK] media to create chaos around a good energy dialogue by depicting the actions of latte Liberators as representing either the actions or the views of the British people, the black community in the diaspora, or Africans.”
“The Africans, energy workers, and investors in the London conference are good people and emphasize self-help and personal responsibility … as the best strategy to combat energy poverty and climate change.” – NJ Ayuk
At best, committing outrageous acts of inconvenience to innocents who are busy living their own lives. At worst, law breaking. And all in a false cause. Theirs is a war against human betterment, modern living, happiness. Meet the nut cases of Extinction Rebellion, “a decentralised, international, and politically non-partisan movement using non-violent direct action and civil disobedience to persuade governments to act justly on the Climate and Ecological Emergency.”
Their latest stunt was to disrupt the hotel activities of the Africa E&P Summit and Exhibition featuring African ministers, Africa Oil Corp, and Shell. The UK Daily Mail reported:
Eco-mob storm London’s May Fair Hotel and glue themselves together in lobby: Extinction Rebellion activists spray black paint over entrance and unfurl ‘End Oil Colonialism’ banner during energy summit at £351-a-night hotel
The disruption attempt was taken to task by NJ Ayuk, Chair of the African Energy Alliance. He responded in no uncertain terms on social media:
I think the mayor of London and the police chief should be impeached for dereliction of duty. Many important Africans and energy producers were at risk. You have an obligation to protect African Officials on mission to London with security. It is bad enough when clueless energy polarization exist in places where people are supposed to be educated.
Amazing when rich and privilege people who have never been colonised or even understand energy poverty protest African victims of Colonialism and energy poverty. They are asking Africans to pay for energy transition. This gives Chutzpah a new meaning.
Statisticians have long warned that correlation is not causation, but I might be right when I say they have apparently warned in vain.
It is unconscionable for the media to create chaos around a good energy dialogue by depicting the actions of latte Liberators as representing either the actions or the views of the British people, the black community in the diaspora or Africans.
The Africans, energy workers and investors in the London conference are good people and emphasize self-help and personal responsibility rather than dependence on costly foreign aid, handout and charity programs as the best strategy to combat energy poverty and climate change.
We must support our oil and gas industry in Africa because it’s the only way to retain faith in private enterprise as a strong elevator of upward mobility for Africans.
It’s a shame that these elites and rich people in the name of genuine concerns around climate change have created a self-sustaining “climate poverty industry” that does more good for the rich, bureaucrats, researchers and social workers than it does for everyday Africans who want jobs, industralisation and make energy poverty history. There is dignity in work.I didn’t see these protesters protesting Africa Oil Week in Dubai or their newly launch green energy summit. Crazy.
To the young people protesting, don’t let your antics overshadow your cause. Passion for your cause is crucial to winning people over, but don’t go over the top. People may enjoy the show, but they’re probably going to tune back to the other side…. I can’t wait for AEC African Energy Week.
Final Comment
Extinction Rebellion has the audacity to bring “social justice” and “environmental justice” into their case for climate action. Perhaps the membership can take a field trip to Africa to see the need for first-class energies and the importance of CO2 fertilization in the upgrade.
And then the members can put the big picture together with a reading of Fossil Future, the new best-selling book by Alex Epstein. Futile, false causes are emotionally damaging, after all.
————————-
Postscript:
NJ Ayuk provided an update:
Great Call with the London Metropolitan Police. They assured me that African Officials and Oil Execs will be protected. I explained to them the fear of being a black woman high ranking official being chased around by an all white mob. It’s terrifying. Imagine if it was some black guys chasing a white woman around.
The Police are our friends and we need to support them. I trust the police to get it right going forward. The organisers have done an amazing job is keeping everyone calm.
I have been heckled at airports and meetings and you can get terrified. We must not let the threats define us. We know history is on our side. We need to make energy poverty history and we need a just energy transition.
————————
Also see: