Three campaigners have been arrested as members of Extinction Rebellion and Just Stop Oil staged country-wide protests today.
In Aberdeen, campaigners erected posters at the Barclays branch and their offices in the Silver Fin building on Union Street.
Orange paint was also sprayed over windows at the Silver Fin.
Last night, some people carried out some fly posting on the branch on Union Street before a few gathered to protest outside the building today at 10am.
Part of a UK-wide campaign called “Better without Barclays”, the protest in the city was just one of hundreds happening nationwide in branches in several cities.
Extinction Rebellion Highlands and Islands and Moray also gathered in front of Barclays branch on Union Street in Inverness this morning.
Standing in front of a pile of manure, around 10 supporters gathered outside the building holding up banners and armed with a megaphone.
A large cheque was used in a demonstration to show how much money is reportedly helping to fund fossil fuels from the bank.
‘We’re desperate’
One of the Extinction Rebellion supporters in Aberdeen, Jean Boucher, warned the planet is in “serious crisis if we don’t stop business as usual”.
“Climate activists are doing this because we are motivated by love,” he said.
“We love this planet, this is our home, but right now its ecological systems are breaking down and we want to change that.
“So for us, we’re desperate. We’ve turned to what I call symbolic warfare, which is you get into the media, and you start shaming these companies who are the real criminals.
“We look like we’re the criminals, but they’re the criminals because they don’t know how to change off the oil and gas addiction.”
The 58-year-old who works as an environmental sociologist in Aberdeen added: “We just have to somehow let these companies know that they have to change.”
Lee Matthews, a student in politics and international relations at Aberdeen University was one of the Just Stop Oil supporters in attendance.
He said: “Communities around the world, particularly in the global south, are already paying the price for what the fossil fuel industry among others is doing.
“Continuing to invest in fossil fuels is abhorrent and we must do everything in our power to stop them from doing so.”
Three people arrested and inquiries ongoing
A Shell spokeswoman said in response to the protest: “We respect the right of people to protest and express their point of view. We agree that society needs to take urgent action on climate change.
“Shell has a clear target to become a net-zero emissions business by 2050.
“We are also deeply committed to the UK and are planning to invest between £20-25 billion in the UK energy system over the next decade – more than 75% of this will be in low and zero-carbon products and services, including offshore wind, hydrogen and electric mobility.”
The paint sprayed over windows at the Silver Fin has since been cleared, however, police say three people have been arrested and inquiries are ongoing.
A police spokesman said: “We were made aware of paint thrown at a building on Union Street in Aberdeen shortly after 12.05pm on Monday, November 14.
“Officers from Aberdeen city centre attended and three people, aged 24, 23 and 22 have been arrested in connection with the incident.
“Inquiries are ongoing and anyone with any further information can call 101, quoting reference 1259 of November 14.”
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