Hippies get their asses kicked by oil traders

[Guest Cerebus]

Linkage

 

Kyoto protest beaten back by inflamed petrol traders

By Laura Peek and Liz Chong

 

WHEN 35 Greenpeace protesters stormed the International Petroleum Exchange (IPE) yesterday they had planned the operation in great detail.

 

What they were not prepared for was the post-prandial aggression of oil traders who kicked and punched them back on to the pavement.

 

“We bit off more than we could chew. They were just Cockney barrow boy spivs. Total thugs,” one protester said, rubbing his bruised skull. “I’ve never seen anyone less amenable to listening to our point of view.”

 

Another said: “I took on a Texan Swat team at Esso last year and they were angels compared with this lot.” Behind him, on the balcony of the pub opposite the IPE, a bleary-eyed trader, pint in hand, yelled: “Sod off, Swampy.”

 

Greenpeace had hoped to paralyse oil trading at the exchange in the City near Tower Bridge on the day that the Kyoto Protocol came into force. “The Kyoto Protocol has modest aims to improve the climate and we need huge aims,” a spokesman said.

 

Protesters conceded that mounting the operation after lunch may not have been the best plan. “The violence was instant,” Jon Beresford, 39, an electrical engineer from Nottingham, said.

 

“They grabbed us and started kicking and punching. Then when we were on the floor they tried to push huge filing cabinets on top of us to crush us.” When a trader left the building shortly before 2pm, using a security swipe card, a protester dropped some coins on the floor and, as he bent down to pick them up, put his boot in the door to keep it open.

 

Two minutes later, three Greenpeace vans pulled up and another 30 protesters leapt out and were let in by the others.

 

They made their way to the trading floor, blowing whistles and sounding fog horns, encountering little resistance from security guards. Rape alarms were tied to helium balloons to float to the ceiling and create noise out of reach. The IPE conducts “open outcry” trading where deals are shouted across the pit. By making so much noise, the protesters hoped to paralyse trading.

 

But they were set upon by traders, most of whom were under the age of 25. “They were kicking and punching men and women indiscriminately,” a photographer said. “It was really ugly, but Greenpeace did not fight back.”

 

Mr Beresford said: “They followed the guys into the lobby and kept kicking and punching them there. They literally kicked them on to the pavement.”

 

Last night Greenpeace said two protesters were in hospital, one with a suspected broken jaw, the other with concussion.

 

A spokeswoman from IPE said the trading floor reopened at 3.10pm. “The floor was invaded by a small group of protesters,” she said. “Open outcry trading was suspended but electronic trading carried on.”

 

Eighteen police vans and six police cars surrounded the exchange and at least 27 protesters were arrested. A small band blocked the entrance to the building for the rest of the evening.

 

Richard Ward, IPE’s chief executive, said that the exchange would review security but denied that protesters had reached the trading floor. However, traders, protesters and press photographers confirmed to The Times that the trading floor had been breached.

 

Mr Ward would not discuss whether he would press charges, and said he would not know until this morning if there had been any financial loss.

 

Greenpeace later started a second protest at the annual dinner of the Institute of Petroleum at the Grosvenor House Hotel on Park Lane, in Central London. Greenpeace claimed that five campaigners had got into the Great Hall. About 30 protesters were outside the hotel, some blocking the front entrance by sitting down and locking themselves together, while others sounded klaxons and alarms. Climbers scaled scaffolding to unfurl a banner reading, “Climate change kills, oil industry parties”.

 

Good. I may, on occasion, have some sympathy for the views of hippies but I have had too many bad experiences with their "protesting" to have any sympathy for them when they get the beatings they, often time, so richly deserve.

[kkktookmybabyaway 0]

 

I am a bit saddened though -- no pictures?...

[Guest Cerebus]

I wish there had been some too, I would have framed them on my wall.

[2GOLD 0]

So wait, they stormed into a place of business, got their asses kicked and they claim they are the good guys?

 

Screw em, they came into a place looking to cause problems for the workers. They should have had their backsides handed to them. If this had happened outside, I'd be defending them.

 

Nope, they charged in like the Calavry and got beat down. Very deserving.

[Guest MikeSC]

I'd actually like to see video of it.

 

Done to the music from "Benny Hill".

-=Mike

[Guest Salacious Crumb]

Wait.........

 

they went in there to wreck the place and are whining because the guys fought back or am I reading it wrong?

[Guest MikeSC]

Wait.........

 

they went in there to wreck the place and are whining because the guys fought back or am I reading it wrong?

Nah, you're probably spot-on.

-=Mike

[Vyce 0]

If there was a video of this, you can be damn sure I'd be beating off to it right now.

[Guest BDC]

I must say, having a group of hippies break into my place of business would be an all out invitation for a beating and I have to say, I'd enjoy it.

[NoCalMike 0]

*excuses himself from the conservative circle-jerk*

[SuperJerk 0]

I'd actually like to see video of it.

 

Done to the music from "Benny Hill".

-=Mike

And shown at an accelerated number of frames per second.

[Vern Gagne 0]

I'd actually like to see video of it.

 

Done to the music from "Benny Hill".

          -=Mike

And shown at an accelerated number of frames per second.

With the buxom secretaries having their tops "accidentally" ripped off. I said secretaries because we've seen those hippy chicks.

[Justice 0]

*excuses himself from the conservative circle-jerk*

You're just angry because your circle jerk with CronoT in the Bush Documentary got broken up.

[Big Ol' Smitty 0]

 

This picture was taken shortly after the conservative circle jerk.

 

The TSM posters were viciously beaten by this ruthless gang of hippies just 4 days later.

 

[Vern Gagne 0]

OMG, A red X.

[Guest Cerebus]

It's time for the Conservative Brigade to swing into action!

 

[Big Ol' Smitty 0]

 

Conservative Brigade...away!

[Dr. Tom 0]

I must say, I look smashing as the Joker...

 

But Colonel... a PINK Riddler mask? For shame.

[The Czech Republic 0]

I'd actually like to see video of it.

 

Done to the music from "Benny Hill".

-=Mike

You can put rape footage to that music and it would be funny.

[cbacon 0]

edit: dammit

 

i could go for some pancakes.

[Vern Gagne 0]

It's time for the Conservative Brigade to swing into action!

 

We're not a bunch of commies, commie!

[Justice 0]

Fuck it, dude. Let's go bowling.

[Vern Gagne 0]

Only if it's bowling for commies and hippies!

[cbacon 0]

Bowling for Commies. I like that.

 

Go to bed people.

[Justice 0]

It's time for the Conservative Brigade to swing into action!

 

We're not a bunch of commies, commie!

Indeed.

 

 

We shall not be denied! Domo-Kunservatives shall destroy you all!

[kkktookmybabyaway 0]

But Colonel... a PINK Riddler mask?  For shame.

Damn, and I was going to make a joke of me as being the Penguin. I got off light.

 

But seriously, doesn't the Penguin look like Dick Cheney? Must be during his pre-Halliburton days...

[Justice 0]

But Colonel... a PINK Riddler mask?  For shame.

Damn, and I was going to make a joke of me as being the Penguin. I got off light.

 

But seriously, doesn't the Penguin look like Dick Cheney? Must be during his pre-Halliburton days...

There's a reason for that...

[SuperJerk 0]

 

Conservative Brigade...away!

Shit, that got me good.

[The Czech Republic 0]

I must be the Joker!

[kkktookmybabyaway 0]

Who said you were a member?...