Extinction Rebellion Ireland protest BlackRock's fossil fuel investment

Extinction Rebellion Ireland are currently protesting against fossil fuel investment outside the offices of BlackRock in Ballsbridge.

"BlackRock are putting their profits over the planet’s future. This cannot continue! When our planet is under attack - stand up, fight back!" protesters chanted.

The climate-driven organisation will target polluters and not the public in its upcoming campaign of civil disobedience. The group is taking the first step in its 2023 campaign holding a surprise protest against BlackRock today.

BREAKING! Extinction Rebellion Ireland are glued on and protesting outside the entrance of @BlackRock Dublin. #BlackRock are investing in fossil fuel and fuelling planet-wide ecocide. pic.twitter.com/gOxccfLI9Q

— Extinction Rebellion Ireland (@ExtinctRebelsIE) February 27, 2023

“Many people out there, the general public out there, don’t now that a lot of banks and vulture funds are investing in fossil fuels and they are all operating here in Ireland,” Extinction Rebellion spokesperson Manuel Salazar told Newstalk this morning.

“A lot of people don’t know as well that the Government is complicit in allowing these companies to carry on, business as usual. The Government should be an entity to safeguard our environment and it is not happening.

“The Government themselves, they subsidise also fossil fuels so they are one of the main culprits of all of this," Salazar added.

“So, we have to highlight all of this. We want the people to take action as well and to put the pressure on.”

In a slight change from earlier protests before Covid-19, Extinction Rebellion will solely be targeting polluters.

Photo: Daniel Acker/Bloomberg/Getty Images.

“We think the Government are not effective enough to tackle climate change, but also companies and corporations that are investing actively in fossil fuels," Manuel noted.

“That is basically our target. It is not the public. It is not what you have seen in other countries. The plan this year is attacking polluters.”

"We feel that the public is on our side," he added of the protests. “It is not for Extinction Rebellion Ireland, the objective of blocking roads.

“We are going to have some awareness of course. Sometimes we have to make ourselves visible and explain the issues we want to raise about climate change but it is not what we have seen in other countries. I have seen that people are concerned about the tactics we use to highlight the issues."

The Fridays for Future climate strikes will also return on March 3rd, this Friday at noon.

The location has yet to be announced, but XR Ireland are hoping for major crowds of students especially - from UCD, TCD, DIT and more.

📢FRIDAYS FOR FUTURE CLIMATE STRIKE!
🗓️March 3rd
⏰12 noon
🏦Location TBC soon

SHARE 🔁AND JOIN US! @ucddublin @TCD_Envirosoc @TCD_Environment @UCCEnvirosoc @UCCGreens @UCC @MTU_ie @WeAreTUDublin @MU_AHI @myIADT @IcatNui @GretaThunberg #TomorrowIsTooLate #FridaysForFuture pic.twitter.com/GvInwOxhhj

— Extinction Rebellion Ireland (@ExtinctRebelsIE) February 24, 2023