Just Stop Oil Ends Protests, Shifts Focus to Legal Action

Just Stop Oil (JSO) has announced it will halt direct-action protests starting in April, following the UK government's commitment to phase out new oil and gas licenses, a key demand of the group. JSO claims its efforts have successfully kept over 4.4 billion barrels of oil underground, marking it as one of the most impactful civil resistance campaigns in recent history. In the wake of JSO's decision, a new group called Youth Demand, inspired by JSO, is planning a month-long campaign of mass civil disobedience in London, aiming to disrupt the city and push for a trade embargo on Israel while holding the wealthy accountable for climate damages. Critics highlight that JSO's shift may signify the limits of symbolic protests, as public backlash has led to increased repression and new anti-protest laws. The Prime Minister and opposition leader have both criticized JSO's previous tactics, emphasizing the need for a more constructive approach to climate activism. JSO plans to pivot towards legal challenges, indicating a strategic transformation in response to the challenges faced by disruptive activism.