PRESS RELEASE: Reverend, 71, arrested and charged after News Corp UK climate crisis protest

Wednesday 27^th October 2021

For immediate release

Photos available here / Interviews available

Contact: 07954 377569 /christianclimateaction@gmail.com

A retired member of the clergy has appeared in court today charged with damage to property after he glued himself to the entrance to News Corp UK in London in protest at Rupert Murdoch and News Core blocking effective action on the climate crisis.

On Tuesday 26^th October, just days before world leaders meet in Glasgow, Revd Tim Hewes, 71, glued his hand to the door of News Corps UK offices at the Shard in London whilst wearing a face mask that looked as if he had sewn his lips together. Back in August he actually did sew his lips at the same location in protest at the way in which the media outlet is silencing the science on climate change.

In a statement given before the action, Tim, a Church of England priest in the Diocese of Oxford and a former dentist, said:

‘My hope is that by drawing attention to this, the Prime Minister will renounce Rupert Murdoch, and act drastically and dramatically to put solar panels on new build houses, to insulate social housing, to cancel the gas field and the coal mine, to free himself from the suffocating grip that Murdoch has on him. I hope that News UK employees will pressure the company to attempt reparation and champion the transition from a carbon economy, unequivocally.

‘I hope for an= rigorous discussion about the catastrophic impact Rupert Murdoch and News Corp has had on tackling climate chaos. Everyone who enters the News UK building must take responsibility on what has been happening.’

Reverend Tim Hewes, 71, held placards with the following words written on them: ‘Murdoch did this: muted climate science’ and ‘Murdoch: climate science dissembler. Pulls the strings of Boris and Priti’.

ENDS

Contact: 07954 377569 / christianclimateaction@gmail.com

Notes for Editors:

1. Christian Climate Action is a community of Christians supporting each other to take meaningful action in the face of imminent and catastrophic anthropogenic climate breakdown. We are inspired by Jesus Christ and guided by the Holy Spirit. Following the example of social justice movements of the past, we carry out acts of public witness, non-violent direct action and civil disobedience to urge those in power to make the changes needed. Since November 2018 we have worked closely with Extinction Rebellion and have become known as the Christians in XR. www.christianclimateaction.org.