Eco warriors to set their sights on RBS in summer protest camp

Published on Monday 31 May 2010 21:57

ECO warriors are to set up a protest camp in Edinburgh this summer to target Royal Bank of Scotland because of what they claim is its role in financing companies whose activities harm the environment.

Camp for Climate Action activists, who have previously fought the expansion of Heathrow Airport, the City of London and Kingsnorth power station in Kent, said there would be a "spectacular" event during its four-day protest between 21 and 24 August.

Ed Thompson, the group's spokesman, said: "We're coming to Edinburgh because that's where the RBS have their headquarters. Our plans are kept under wraps until the day, but we can certainly promise a well-planned spectacular during the week.

"We're also concentrating on 'action training' for those attending."

Activists claim that RBS is the UK bank most heavily involved with financing fossil fuel companies around the world and is the UK bank most involved in investing in "tar sands", a particularly carbon-intensive form of oil extraction in Canada.

An RBS spokesman said: "We are committed to supporting our customers in the transition to a low-carbon economy – in recent years we have been a leading arranger of finance to the renewable energy sector.

"We welcome constructive dialogue with any group interested in our business"

A Lothian and Borders Police spokesman said: "We look to liaise with any group planning to protest to ensure the passage of a peaceful demonstration and will deploy the appropriate resources after careful consideration of the circumstances that we are presented with."