By Mihai Rosca, 2nd Year Philosophy and Politics
From 11 to 2pm on the 2nd of November, the Extinction Rebellion(ER) protested outside the Tokio Marine branch in Clifton Village.
The protest consisted of about 40 ER activists, seemingly led by Mel Clarke from Bath.
Speaking to Mel, the reason for protesting was that Tokio Marine along with other corporations insure new fossil fuels projects around the world, for example oil fields and mining for coal. She said that like all projects, fossil fuels need insurance, and because companies like Tokio Marine provide it, it is enabling fossil fuels companies to keep burning fossils making the world hotter. This makes insurance companies the “Achilles heel” of the fossil fuels industry- without insurance fossil fuels projects can’t go ahead.
Mel also informed us of the success ER had with getting Zurich Insurance, the previously 6th biggest insurer of fossil fuels to stop insuring fossil fuels projects after a week of protests. They want to do the same with Tokio Marine. They hope that by holding demonstrations at their different branches in Bristol, London, Manchester and Birmingham they can spread the word of what’s happening to the public in order to use public pressure to get Tokio Marine to stop insuring fossil fuels.
Mel got involved with ER after she watched a ER protest on TV in 2019. She became convinced of their message and later went to one of their meetings.
Apart from the usual banners, there was also lines of children's clothes that were put out to dry around the demonstration. Asking about the lines of children’s clothing, Mel explains that their work is for the children. She is a Grandmother of three who says, with tears in her eyes, that she is “so sad to think about the world that they could inherit”
“In Britain we’re so lucky, we’re so fortunate, and one of the reasons is that we have a history campaigning for rights and privileges that I now benefit from. And I feel I have a duty to be out on the streets, campaigning for a future for my grandchildren”.
“There’s no other reason, no profit motive, no other reason than concern for the future, we want to avoid another situation like Valencia.”
Mel is hopeful about the future. She thinks ER will be successful in pressuring Tokio Marine and the other insurance companies in changing their ways because they were successful with Zurich- showing progress is possible.
However, a student at the protest displayed less optimism:
"I admire their sense of responsibility in wanting to create a safer future for younger generations. However, I remain skeptical about how impactful this protest can be, and I wonder whether Tokio Marine is even in a position to bar its parent company from ensuring oil projects"
She is also hopeful because she thinks we’ve reached a “tipping point”. She thinks we’re at that point in time when enough people know about climate change and that enough people want to put a stop to it that it’s just a small matter of time before change comes about- it’s simply bound to happen. She encourages all people to spread the word and get involved.
