Eight Greenpeace volunteers today expressed disappointment at being found guilty by Hull Magistrates Court of charges relating to a protest on April 26th this year during which they installed solar panels on the roof of Deputy PM John Prescott's Hull residence (1).
Laura Yates, one of the volunteers said, "We are disappointed to have been found guilty, but we remain proud of highlighting Mr Prescott's failure to act on climate change."
"This protest aimed to show Mr Prescott and his department how easy it is to drastically reduce the global warming gases pumped out by houses. Mr Prescott admits climate change is 'the most serious environmental threat that the world is facing' and says everybody must 'do their bit' - why doesn't he do his?"
According to the World Health Organisation, climate change is already killing 150,000 people every year. UK housing currently accounts for over a quarter of total UK CO2 emissions. Today even homes built to new UK building regulation standards use around 65% more energy than a new home built in Sweden.
In court the volunteers testified that they were motivated to act to prevent dangerous climate change and that they had no intention of causing alarm or distress to anyone. They were not aware that anyone was in the house until several hours after the protest began.
Laura Yates said, "The protest was calm and peaceful at all times. Greenpeace is completely committed to non-violence and over our 34 year history we have never deviated from this principle. This protest was no different. We never had any intention of alarming anyone and simply wanted to make an effective protest about the most important issue facing the world but if anybody did feel alarmed by our activities we regret that."
Testimony in court given by the armed officers tasked with protecting the Prescott house made it clear that they considered the protest peaceful and orderly and that it posed no threat. One of the officers testified that he had communicated with Mrs Prescott 10 minutes after the action had begun and told her that the protestors were from Greenpeace.
During the protest the volunteers fitted four solar panels to John Prescott's roof and hung a banner across his house, reading "Oi, 2 Jags! Hit Targets not Voters". They also left low energy light bulbs and loft insulation outside the Prescott's front door. The panels and associated equipment, worth over £4000, were left as a gift for Mr Prescott.
For more information, stills and video call Greenpeace press office on 020 7865 8255 or at court on 07801 212993. A media briefing on how the government has failed to take action to meet its energy efficiency targets is available from the press office.
Notes
The volunteers were found guilty of contravening section five of the public order act and failure to obey a police direction to leave the premises. All defendants have been sentenced to 80 hours of community service.
The defendants are Andy Taylor, 36, from Gloucestershire, Cat Dorey, 36, from Highbury, London, Martin Cotterill, 38, from Cumbria, Sarah North, 36, from London, Sammy Daniel, 33, from London, Steve Scott, 34, from Derbyshire, Laura Yates, 28, from London, and Vicky Thomas, 27.
