UK climate activists block entrance to Dover ferry port



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LONDON (AP) – Climate protesters blocked the entrance to Britain’s busiest ferry port on Friday to highlight the climate crisis and fuel poverty in the UK

Vehicles were stranded in queues as more than 40 protesters from climate group Insulate Britain blocked the main road to Channel Port. The Port of Dover is the busiest ferry port in Europe and handles 17% of the UK’s merchandise trade.

“The port of Dover confirms that protesters are currently blocking the entrance to the port,” the operators said in a statement. “Please allow extra time for your trip and check with your ferry operator for updates. The port remains open.

Police said they arrested 17 people.

The protest group, which blocked London’s orbital M25 motorway for five days this month, apologized for the disruption but said it was “the only way to keep the isolation issue at bay. the agenda and draw attention to how poorly insulated homes cause health problems, misery and premature death for thousands of people.

The group, an offshoot of Extinction Rebellion, called for better insulation of UK homes to reduce emissions and energy costs. Britain, like other European countries, is facing soaring natural gas prices that are expected to cause home heating prices to soar as the UK heads into winter.

The UK government has a court injunction against the motorway protesters, meaning members of the group could be jailed if they block the M25 again.

The blockade of Dover comes amid a disruption of supplies across the UK largely due to a shortage of truck drivers. Supermarkets have reported a shortage of some products and a handful of gas stations have closed. The UK government has urged people not to panic to buy.

Environmental activists, many of whom are students missing from school, held rallies around the world on Friday to call for tougher action on climate change.

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