A protester affiliated with the activist group “Just Stop Oil” caused major disruption for over 4,000 plane passengers during a demonstration against the UK’s record-breaking temperatures. Cressida Gethin, a 22-year-old music student from Cambridge University, climbed a gantry above the M25 near Heathrow on July 20, 2022, just after the UK experienced its first-ever temperature above 40°C.
According to Edwin Hall, a senior manager at British Airways, the protest led to cancellations and delays affecting 3,923 British Airways customers. Notable environmentalist Chris Packham recounted being stuck in traffic for hours during his journey from Hampshire to Surrey, where he was working on a BBC program. Packham expressed sympathy for the protest’s cause, acknowledging the urgency of addressing climate change.
During her trial, Gethin explained her intent to disrupt normal business operations and draw attention to the urgent climate crisis. Despite the disruption caused, she emphasized that she did not choose the location realizing its proximity to Heathrow. Gethin urged jurors to consider the broader context of the climate emergency, highlighting the deadly consequences of extreme heatwaves and the impending global catastrophe.
Prosecutors argued that Gethin’s actions hindered thousands of individuals from freely using the M25 and surrounding roads, asserting that one individual’s beliefs should not impede the rights of others. Gethin, however, maintains her innocence, denying the charge of causing a public nuisance under the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022.
The trial continues as the court deliberates on the implications of Gethin’s protest amid the pressing climate crisis.
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