(London) Activists from the environmental group Just Stop Oil briefly interrupted a cricket match between England and Australia on Wednesday morning in London.
In the middle of the match, two activists from the organization entered the field, throwing orange powder. One was carried off the pitch by England wicketkeeper Jonny Bairstow. A third was prevented from entering the field.
The match took place at Lord’s Cricket Ground, the temple of this very popular sport in Great Britain and in the former British colonies.
The three activists, including “a 69-year-old grandmother” according to the organization, were arrested by the police.
The Just Stop Oil group is calling on the UK government to suspend any new oil or gas projects in the UK.
“Cricket is an important part of our culture, but how can we enjoy an England-Australia match when so much of the cricketing world becomes unfit for human life? asked a Just Stop Oil spokesperson in a statement.
A spokesman for Conservative Prime Minister Rishi Sunak denounced « selfish and guerrilla tactics aimed at events that bring joy to millions of people ». « This is exactly why the government has introduced new powers so that the police can take swift action, » he added.
“I will never abandon our economy and our security to these anarchist gestures,” reacted the Minister of Energy, the Conservative Grant Shapps.
Just Stop Oil is a group accustomed to punch actions. He has already attacked several sporting events in the United Kingdom, interrupting the Formula 1 Grand Prix, a rugby final, Premier League matches and the world championships of billiards. Three activists had also spread an orange powder in one of the gardens of the famous Chelsea Flower show at the end of May.
On Tuesday morning, activists from this group also sprayed orange and black paint on the headquarters of TotalEnergies in London, in order to denounce a mega oil project by the French company in Uganda.
