Crime Scene Highlights Barclays' Fossil Ties

While delegates from across our planet were arriving in Azerbaijan last weekend for COP29, passers-by, both locals and visitors to Winchester on Saturday, were met in the High Street by an arresting sight...'What on earth....?' 'Why....?' 'What's happening...?'

It was a crime-scene alongside Barclay's Bank as fully attired, masked and white-suited forensic scientists silently conducted close inspection of the taped-off site. There was a motionless prostrate body, and an attendant police vehicle nearby. Help was at hand, intermittently, as one of the forensic scientists took to a megaphone explain what was going on.

'The fossil-fuel Finance Report 2024 - Banking on Climate Chaos.' In 2023, according to the Report, Barclays was the highest financier of fossil fuels in the UK and Europe, even though shareholder pressures, (and some significant customer actions) resulted in some scaling back. Barclays also invests in military equipment companies that supply Israel.

There are ethical alternatives for those who care to choose. 'Money Saving Expert' cites Triodos Bank, Co-op Bank, Nationwide and other building societies.

This was a non-disruptive intervention by members of Extinction Rebellion Winchester.

The group concluded with a walk of witness along the High Street to the Outer Close (pictured).