To BP or not to BP?

Hundreds of climate activists protest at British Museum over BP sponsorship

Isobel Frodsham

PA Media: Entertainment

8 February 2020

Around 1,500 people have protested at the British Museum over energy
company BP’s sponsorship of a Troy exhibition.

Climate activists BP Or Not BP? wheeled a 13ft-high Trojan horse into the
grounds of the museum on Friday in response to the sponsorship deal.

The horse, which had space for 10 activists inside, had speakers that
played sounds of drilling and horses neighing.

As part of Saturday’s mass protest, the British Museum allowed the
pressure group to host talks and group singing activities inside some of
its exhibition rooms.

In front of the main gates, activists dressed as Greek gods and Trojan
soldiers handed leaflets to supporters and museum visitors.

Crowds of supporters could be heard cheering and clapping as the activists
gave speeches about climate change.

At 3.45pm they staged a “sit-in” inside the Great Hall for 15 minutes,
singing and chanting “BP must fall”.

The campaigners also organised speeches from people of different heritages
who condemned colonialism.

Primary school teacher Lydia Somerville, 56, travelled to London from her
Hertfordshire home with her daughter Scarlett, 14, to take part.

They told the PA news agency they had previously participated in a
“die-in” protest at the National Portrait Gallery over its BP sponsorship
deal.

Trojan horse BP protest

Mrs Somerville said: “The protest is good fun. It’s really organised –
we’ve joined in the singing. It’s really powerful and there’s a good mix
of ages. The Trojan horse too is a great message.”

Scarlett said: “Accepting the sponsorship essentially accepts what they’re
doing is right. They’re one of the biggest oil companies in the world.”

Former education professor Stephen Bolton, 72, and his wife Gillie, 68, a
former senior medicine researcher, who are retired and live in London,
said they championed BP Or Not BP’s cause as they are “respectful” and
“pacifists”.

Mrs Bolton said: “We’ve resigned our friendship (with the museum) over the
BP sponsorship because we think the world is hurtling towards disaster and
BP isn’t helping at all – it’s hindering.

“BP is a danger to the world and to our children and grandchildren. We
strongly object to the British Museum accepting sponsorship from BP and we
want them to follow steps from other museums in giving up the
sponsorship.”

Mr Bolton said: “We think the Trojan horse is brilliant, we helped
crowdfund it because it’s an amazingly good cause.”

Jess Worth, co-founder of BP Or Not BP?, said: “We brought in the Trojan
horse early in the morning through a side gate and took one of the wheels
off so it couldn’t be moved.

“We negotiated with the British Museum and told them what we were planning
to do. The negotiation went really well and they allowed two of us to stay
overnight last night. There has been a lot of good-natured, mutual respect
from the British Museum.

“It’s brilliant to have so much support. People really, really care when
they see the British Museum partnering with organisations like BP. They
feel personally upset and motivated to protest about it.”

A spokesman for BP said: “Our new CEO, Bernard Looney, will set out his
low-carbon ambition for BP next week. He understands the frustration and
anger and shares protesters’ deep concern about climate change.

“He hopes that what he has to say then will give people a sense that we
get it and are very serious about working to address the problem.”

The British Museum has been contacted for comment.