In recent years April 1st has been designated "Fossil Fools Day" by environmental activists, and has become a day of multiple disruption actions. In 2008 150 direct action events were staged. While the world’s attention is focussed on demonstrations today around the G20 Summit, there is a risk of environmentalist/anti-capitalist direct actions against the following types of facilities worldwide:
- Coal-fired power stations
- Oil refineries, including biofuels facilities
- Lock-ons and barricades at petrol stations
- Aviation facilities
- Gas installations (eg LNG import facilities)
- Pipelines and pipeline construction sites
- Mines
- Financial targets (eg RBS) – possibly even local bank branches as a symbolic protest
- High-profile media events involving energy companies
- Road construction sites
Types of actions include:
- Protests outside buildings
- Attempts to occupy buildings
- Banner drops
- Lock-ons
- Leaflet distribution
- Power switch off (eg petrol stations, cola conveyors at power stations
- Dumping outside HQ buildings
- Actions against directors’ residences
- Hoax press releases to media companies – it is very easy to spoof your email addresses
- Billboard poster replacement
- Bicycle takeover of roads
- IT attacks
Security staff should be advised to look for the unusual behaviour, such as a sudden gathering of media, or a group of people dressed in fancy dress, such as clowns, “biohazard” suits or polar bears.
