NOT AMUSED: British anti-oil activists jailed for highway blockage

Usually staid Brits are increasingly losing patience with anti-oil activists after a court sent five of them to prison for what a judge called ‘fanaticism’.In November of 2022 ,‘Just Stop Oil’ protestors climbed gantries on Britain’s main M-25 highway in a bid to cause gridlock across southern England. The succeeded. So much so, Judge Christopher Hehir said Roger Hallam, 58, Daniel Shaw, 38, Louise Lancaster, 58, Lucia Whittaker De Abreu, 35, and Cressida Gethin, 22, had "crossed the line from concerned campaigner to fanatic.".The action resulted in chaos on the M25 over four successive days, causing nearly 51,000 hours of driver delays, the court heard.People missed flights, medical appointments and exams. Two trucks — ‘lorries’ — collided, and a police motorcyclist came off his bike during one of the protests while trying to bring traffic to a halt in a “rolling road block”.Prosecutors alleged the protests led to an economic cost of at least £765,000 (CAD$1.3 million), while the cost to the Metropolitan Police was put at more than £1.1m (CAD$1.95 million)..The group has gained notoriety for attempting to vandalize the original Mona Carta and throwing canned soup at priceless paintings.At Southwark Crown Court, Hallam was sentenced to five years' imprisonment while the other defendants each received four-year jail terms.The sentences are the longest since the introduction by the prior Conservative government of a new law of conspiracy to cause a public nuisance, in a bid to clamp down on disruptive protests.Judge Hehir said the defendants were "parading their political views" by appointing themselves as "sole arbiters of what should be done about climate change.”The defendants were unapologetic and without remorse. Hallam said in a statement during the trial: “The corruption of our judges by the carbon state has crossed a line in the sand.”“This is an opportunity, and an obligation, to act. We only have a limited amount of time to halt the unimaginable horrors of climate and social collapse — and to save our democracy.”.This is what the Western Standard is up againstThe Trudeau government is funding lies and propaganda by directly subsidizing the mainstream media. They do this to entrench the powerful Eastern, woke and corrupt interests that dominate the political, social and economic institutions in Canada. Federal authorities are constantly trying to censor us and stop us from publishing the stories that they don’t want you to read. Ottawa may weaponize our taxes and police against us, but we’ve got a powerful ally on our side.You. Free men, and free women. We need you to stand with us and become a member of the Western Standard. Here’s what you will get for your membership:Unlimited access to all articles from the Western Standard, Alberta Report, West Coast Standard, and Saskatchewan Standard, with no paywall. Our daily newsletter delivered to your inbox. .Access to exclusive Member-only WS events.Keep the West’s leading independent media voice strong and free.If you can, please support us with a monthly or annual membership. It takes just a moment to set up, and you will be making a big impact on keeping one the last independent media outlets in Canada free from Ottawa’s corrupting influence.