The Post Most: WorldMost-viewed stories, videos and galleries int he past two hours

BlogPost
Anchored by Melissa Bell |  Get Updates: On Twitter Twitter |  On Facebook Facebook |  RSS RSS
Posted at 02:42 PM ET, 10/12/2011

‘Oily orgy’ interrupts energy summit (video)

An environmentalist group upset over the U.K. government’s newly soft stance on the pollution of tar sands oil made their opinion heard Tuesday in a rather unconventional way — by having two members engage in a public “oil orgy.”


Two protesters interrupt the Canada-Europe Energy roundtable by having an “oil orgy.” (Image via Vimeo)
Climbing on top of a table in the middle of Canada-Europe Energy roundtable in London, two protesters from the group — dressed in just Union Jack boxers and maple leaf underwear — smothered one another in a substance that looked like oil as they kissed and groped one another.

The man, a.k.a “U.K.” says to “Canada” at one point in a video of the incident: “But wait — what about human rights?” to which Canada says: “This is more ethical than Saudi Arabia!” “Oh, you’re filthy,” U.K. shoots back with a grin.

Meanwhile, attendees of the round table look on unsure whether to laugh or try and stop the oil orgy:

"Oil Orgy" invades Energy Summit from You and I Films on Vimeo.

Emily Coats of the U.K. Tar Sands Network, which organized the protest, explained why they interrupted the roundtable:

The UK and Canadian governments flirtations are developing into friends with benefits. This seedy relationship puts profits for the oil industry and banks ahead of much needed legislation which will curb emissions from transport fuel in Europe.

In short, the group is upset that the Canadian government continues to extract tar sands despite the harm it does to the local environment and global climate, and that the U.K. is now poised to support it.

But the Post’s editorial board on Monday pointed out that while it it’s clear the petroleum from Alberta’s “tar sands” isn’t very clean, there is no stopping its extraction at present.

In large part, the editorial argues, that’s because Asia will take the oil even if Britain or the United States don’t, which could result in further environmental damage when the oil is shipped abroad.

For the time being, then, it seems inevitable Canada and Britain’s “orgy” will continue.

By  |  02:42 PM ET, 10/12/2011

Tags:  World, tar sands, Canada, U.K., oil, environmentalism

Loading...

Comments

Add your comment
 
Read what others are saying About Badges
     

    © 2011 The Washington Post Company
    Section:/blogs/blogpost