Oil-Free Future

Reclaim the Streets (RTS) activists occupied a derelict central London petrol station in direct response to the already severely undermined Kyoto climate change summit that began on Monday 1st. The occupation, known as STRIKE OIL!, was given a rousing send-off on Friday evening by a 350-strong Critical Mass, (complete with pedal-powered sound system.). It was set to last until the next weekend as a car-free, corporate-free, community-friendly zone.

There was a steady stream of activists, kids and locals dropping in throughout the week. Ecotrip and Food Not Bombs provided great food initially, and every weekday saw a vegan Car-Free Commuter Café along with acoustic music and traffic-defying feats. An information stall was set up with practical advice on how to kick our oil habit, and even Bill Clinton, complete with devil's horns, strolled amongst the heavy City Road traffic to distribute Strike Oil! leaflets. Passers-by couldn't fail to notice the banners hung round the three sides of the forecourt roof reading 'DROUGHT, FLOODS, FAMINE, POLLUTION: CORPORATE HELL', 'FOSSIL-FUELS = CLIMATE CHAOS', and 'SUN, WAVE, WIND, BIKE: CORPORATE-FREE'.

A STRIKE OIL! spokesperson said: 'The Kyoto summit looks like becoming the nadir of human attempts at environmental protection. Yet again world leaders have been bribed and bullied into inaction by corporate interests, leaving nothing but toxic rhetoric. We believe the time has come to free ourselves from the oil industry's stranglehold on our lives. STRIKE OIL! is a step in that direction, a step that is a celebration of community, clean air and a car-free third millennium.'