Yesterday, two supporters glued to Andy Warhol’s Campbell’s soup I series at the National Gallery of Australia. The security were very heavy handed, using extreme force to remove them from the building.
Today, while out at a cafe, Bonnie Cassen was approached by police and arrested for this action. She is simply asking for the government to stop fossil fuel subsidies.
Bonnie Cassen, currently undergoing chemotherapy, said
"Security grabbed my lymphedema arm very forcefully, and ripped my glued hand off the painting. I reminded them that I have cancer and are undergoing chemotherapy so am very fragile but that did not stop their behaviours. They justified their behaviours saying it's 'in the act'.
They pushed me out of the building and forced me to leave the area. I acknowledge what I have done and I am willing to risk the legal consequences, but I was forced out of the area by security.
I am simply asking the government to stop fossil fuel subsidies. I have requested meetings with MPs but this is the only way I can be heard."
We are Stop Fossil Fuel Subsidies - regular citizens who have faced climate-change fuelled floods, fires and storms. We care deeply about our children, their children and all future generations and we will not stand by and allow government support for fossil fuels to continue.
Stop Fossil Fuel Subsidies #StopFFS, a new civil resistance campaign is in Canberra during global COP27 talks to demand that all levels of Government immediately stop all subsidies to the fossil fuel industry. [2] Last week a volunteer fiery, glued herself to a display at the Suffragette’s Exhibition at Parliament House. Yesterday two supporters glued to Andy Warhol’s Campbell’s soup I series at the National Gallery of Australia. Today, multiple supporters blocked a busy Canberra intersection.
Stop Fossil Fuel Subsidies #StopFFS is part of a Global Civil Resistance Network, called the A22 Network. [6]
Notes:
[1] About Stop Fossil Fuel Subsidies #StopFFS.
Stop Fossil Fuel Subsidies #StopFFS is a politically unaffiliated group of ordinary citizens calling on our federal government to respond urgently to the climate crisis by not directly subsidising the fossil fuel industry.
[2] Our demand: We demand that all levels of Government immediately stop all fossil fuel subsidies to the fossil fuel industry.
[3] At the COP26 in 2021, 197 countries agreed to accelerate efforts to phase-out ‘inefficient’ fossil fuel subsidies. Australia has since allocated an additional $2bn https://www.un.org/en/climatechange/cop26
[4] Forget 2050, experts say it’s 2030 or bust for net zero emissions https://www.thecitizen.org.au/articles/forget-2050-experts-say-its-2030-or-bust-for-net-zero-emissions
[5] IPCC 6th Assessment report
https://www.ipcc.ch/report/ar6/wg2/about/factsheets
[6] Stop Fossil Fuel Subsidies #StopFFS is part of an International Civil Resistance Movement: the A22 Network.
