Barclays Ditch Frackers Third Energy

At the Barclays Annual General Meeting (AGM), the Chairman John McFarlane told shareholders that the bank would be withdrawing their financing of fracking company Third Energy - licensed to frack in Ryedale, North Yorkshire. Barclays owned a 97% controlling stakes in Third Energy. This was a huge victory for the anti-fracking and climate justice movement in the UK, showing the power of organising and building coalitions in our local communities. This decision is due to years of tireless campaigning led by residents in Ryedale, and supported by hundreds of creative direct actions taken by students across the country.

The first wave of actions took place as part of Go Green Week in February 2016 where Sheffield students organised a sit-in and demonstration at our city’s flagship branch. Demonstrations grew in scale with Friends of the Earth, 350.org and Sum of Us joining the campaign.