The “Summer of Heat” is heating up both in terms of record-breaking temperatures driven by fossil fuels and a series of nonviolent direct actions targeting Wall Street for its contributions to the climate emergency. Protests calling out Citibank led climate campaigners to target finance and insurance giant AIG for refusing to join other insurers in not covering the East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP).
The EACOP project, running nearly 900 miles from Uganda to Tanzania, has faced criticism for displacing communities, destroying livelihoods, and causing violence against African activists. Demonstrations outside AIG’s office in New York City involved activists from the Ugandan diaspora and groups like 350.org, demanding that AIG refuse to insure EACOP and support renewable energy instead. Protesters held signs with messages like “AIG = Climate Crimes” and “Protect Our Land.”
Unity was emphasized in the protest, with participants highlighting global solidarity and the interconnected nature of climate justice movements. The urgency to prevent the construction of the EACOP pipeline and address environmental racism and capitalist exploitation was a central theme of the demonstration.