Stopping Oil: Climate Justice and Hope

Stopping Oil explores the politicization of deep-sea oil exploration in Aotearoa New Zealand, featuring the mobilization of community groups, activists, and the backlash from the neoliberal state. It highlights the ethical practices of activists and the solidarity they displayed, despite the state's attempts to silence them. The book showcases examples of hope for radical progressive change and advocates for climate justice worldwide.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 160 pages
Publication date: 20 January 2023
Publisher: Pluto Press

Stopping Oil: The Political Mobilization Against Deep-Sea Oil Exploration in Aotearoa New Zealand

In Aotearoa New Zealand, deep-sea oil exploration became a highly politicized issue, with community groups, activists, and iwi (Māori tribal groups) mobilizing against it. The film explores how this campaign was met with backlash from the neoliberal state, which employed various tactics to silence and marginalize these groups.

The film begins by tracing the historical roots of deep-sea oil exploration in Aotearoa New Zealand, highlighting the country's dependence on fossil fuels and the potential environmental and economic risks associated with it. It then delves into the emergence of the Oil Free movement, which emerged in response to the government's plans to explore for deep-sea oil.

The Oil Free movement was characterized by a strong ethic of care and responsibility, with activists working tirelessly to raise awareness about the environmental and social impacts of deep-sea oil exploration. They organized protests, rallies, and other forms of direct action to pressure the government to abandon its plans.

However, as the Oil Free movement gained momentum, the state responded with a range of tactics designed to silence and marginalize these groups. The media was used to delegitimize the movement, portraying it as fringe and radical. The government also employed securitization and surveillance measures to monitor and control the activities of Oil Free groups.

In addition, state-sanctioned violence and dehumanization were used against Oil Free activists. Police officers were deployed to disrupt protests and arrest activists, and there were reports of physical assault and harassment.

Despite these challenges, the Oil Free movement continued to thrive, with activists exercising an ethic of care and responsibility and building solidarity among their communities. They worked closely with iwi and hapū (Māori tribal groups) to raise awareness about the cultural and environmental significance of the ocean and to advocate for a more sustainable and just energy future.

The film also highlights the geographies of hope for radical progressive change, showcasing the many examples of the campaign where solidarity and political responsibility shone through the repression. These examples include the successful blockade of the drilling platform in Taranaki, the successful campaign to stop the exploration of oil and gas in the Great Australian Bight, and the ongoing efforts to transition to renewable energy in Aotearoa New Zealand.

In conclusion, Stopping Oil provides a powerful insight into the story of how deep-sea oil exploration became politicized in Aotearoa New Zealand, how community groups mobilized against it, and the backlash that followed. It is a story of activists exercising an ethic of care and responsibility, and how that solidarity was masked and silenced by the neoliberal state. By highlighting geographies of hope for radical progressive change, the authors focus on the many examples of the campaign where solidarity and political responsibility shone through the repression, leading us towards a brighter future for climate justice across the globe.

Weight: 180g
Dimension: 216 x 139 x 18 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780745341316