Climate change activists from Ocean Rebellion staged a dramatic protest on Friday outside the United Nations International Maritime Organization (IMO) in London, symbolically "drowning" themselves in oil to raise awareness about the environmental threats posed by liquid natural gas (LNG).
The protesters, undeterred by onlookers and police, performed the unsettling demonstration at the IMO's headquarters, which is responsible for regulating maritime transport.
One of the activists, dressed as an "ocean goddess," wore a fishbowl filled with black liquid on her head, dramatically mimicking the act of drowning as the liquid engulfed her face. Others wore gas masks and brandished petrol pumps, symbolizing the dangers of fossil fuels.
Ocean Rebellion shared images of the protest on social media, criticizing LNG as a falsely marketed "green" solution and warning of the harmful effects of methane leaks from LNG ships, which they claim are 80 times more damaging than carbon dioxide. The protest coincided with the conclusion of the IMO’s Maritime Environment Protection Committee meetings, where delegates were discussing ways to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from ships.
The activists accused the IMO of prioritizing fossil fuel interests over environmental protection. "LNG is a dirty fuel disguised as clean," Ocean Rebellion posted online, demanding the agency show accountability and transparency in protecting the oceans.
This protest is part of a growing wave of high-profile climate demonstrations in the UK.
Activists have made headlines by disrupting major sporting events and even targeting art galleries. In a recent incident, members of Just Stop Oil threw tomato soup on Vincent van Gogh's famous "Sunflowers" paintings in London to protest continued oil and gas exploration.