Just Stop Oil and Chris Packham: Economic Terrorists and Dangerous Ideologues
In the latest display of brazen economic terrorism, Just Stop Oil and its supporters, including the ever-patronising Chris Packham, have shown their true colours. They disguise themselves as environmental saviours, yet their actions tell a different story – one of chaos, economic damage, and utter disregard for the law and public welfare.
This past week, five Just Stop Oil activists, including co-founder Roger Hallam, were sentenced for their role in orchestrating protests that paralysed the M25 motorway. This premeditated act of sabotage led to significant economic and social costs, including an estimated £765,000 in direct disruption and over £1.1 million to the Metropolitan Police. Moreover, their actions caused more than 50,000 hours of vehicle delays, affecting over 700,000 motorists, leaving the M25 compromised for over 120 hours. Such disruption to one of the UK’s major transport arteries is nothing short of economic vandalism.
Hallam and his accomplices, Daniel Shaw, Louise Lancaster, Lucia Whittaker De Abreu, and Cressida Gethin, received sentences ranging from four to five years, highlighting the gravity of their offences. The meticulous planning behind these protests, as evidenced by a covertly recorded Zoom call, showed a high degree of organisation aimed at maximising disruption. Their conspiracy to cause public nuisance is a clear demonstration of their contempt for law-abiding citizens who rely on this essential infrastructure.
Enter Chris Packham, the self-styled champion of the environment, who had the audacity to defend these actions. Packham, who seems to thrive on his public image as a naturalist and television personality, expressed his dismay at the sentencing, calling it “judicial thuggery”. His melodramatic outburst outside the courthouse was a slap in the face to all those affected by the protests. His statement that the world is “on fire” and “flooding” might carry weight if it weren’t so hypocritical. Packham’s support for such reckless activism only fuels further division and does nothing to address the real issues.
Packham’s endorsement of these lawbreakers is not just misguided; it is dangerous. By lending his voice to the cause, he legitimises actions that threaten the stability of our society. It is high time the BBC reassesses their relationship with him. His position as a public figure should be contingent upon responsible advocacy, not the promotion of economic terrorism.
The actions of Just Stop Oil and the support from individuals like Packham highlight a disturbing trend among radical environmentalists. Their unwillingness to engage in constructive dialogue and their preference for destructive tactics undermine any legitimacy they might claim. Such groups are not merely activists; they are economic terrorists, willing to sacrifice public order and safety on the altar of their extremist beliefs.
The court’s decision to impose significant sentences is a necessary step in upholding the rule of law and protecting the public from such wanton disruption. It sends a clear message that the UK will not tolerate economic terrorism under the guise of environmental activism.
Just Stop Oil and its apologists must be called out for what they are – a menace to society. Their actions stopped people getting to hospital, Ambulances stopped and are a direct assault on the economic well-being and social order of our country. Chris Packham, with his misguided support, should face repercussions from the BBC and be held accountable for his role in promoting these dangerous ideologies. The public deserves better than to be held hostage by a group of fanatical ideologues who have no respect for the rule of law or the livelihoods of ordinary citizens.
Stan Robinson
Voice Of Wales
