Sheffield protesters call on Barclays Bank to tackle climate change

Protesters in Sheffield have called on Barclays Bank to tackle climate change as part of a national day of action.
Protesters outside Barclays Bank in Pinstone StreetProtesters outside Barclays Bank in Pinstone Street
Protesters outside Barclays Bank in Pinstone Street

Campaigners from Momentum Sheffield gathered outside of the Barclays bank, in Pinstone Street, on Saturday, May 25, to take part in the day of action organised by Momentum International. 

They held banners and chalked slogans such as ‘dirty bankers’ and ‘bankrupt climate change’ as they joined others who stood outside of Barclays banks across the UK – a company campaigners say are contributing to climate change by ‘funding fracking corporations’.

Protesters chalked slogans outside Barclays Bank in Pinstone StreetProtesters chalked slogans outside Barclays Bank in Pinstone Street
Protesters chalked slogans outside Barclays Bank in Pinstone Street
Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Similar action also took place on May 24 in Frankfurt, Amsterdam and Madrid.

Momentum Sheffield co-chair Jennifer Dunstan said: “The chalk will wash away in the rain in a matter of days and will cause no lasting damage, but the damage caused by fracking could literally end life as we know it.

“Barclays must stop funding fracking and they need to stop now they really do need to get their priorities straight.

“We have nothing against the people who work in Barclays they are our friends our neighbours and some of them are our family members but Barclays as an international cooperation have spent over 85 billion dollars in fossil fuel finance between 2016 and 2018 and that's what we're protesting about.

Protesters outside Barclays Bank in Pinstone StreetProtesters outside Barclays Bank in Pinstone Street
Protesters outside Barclays Bank in Pinstone Street
Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“They encourage people to save for their children's future while simultaneously taking that future away, it simply doesn't make sense?”

“Barclays need to stop funding fracking corporations and instead concentrate on funding renewable energies and green jobs not just for the people of Britain but globally; this affects all of us.

“We have collectively protested outside dozens of Barclays branches today not just in Britain but internationally. I'm all over their funding fossil fuel finance we're going to continue to do so, we deserve better and so do our children."

In a statement, Barclays said: “We recognise that climate change is one of the greatest challenges facing the world today, and are determined to do all we can to support the transition to a low carbon economy, while also ensuring that global energy needs continue to be met.

“We continue to develop our green products suite and in 2018 we facilitated £27.3bn in social and environmental financing across our business including green bonds and renewable financing.”