Extinction Rebellion protesters glue themselves to SLB Cambridge centre

The SLB Cambridge Centre (formerly Schlumberger) building on Madingley Road was targeted by climate change activists who glued themselves to the front door on Friday morning (June 9).

The action was an escalation of an 18-month joint campaign by Extinction Rebellion Cambridge (XRC) and Extinction Rebellion Youth Cambridge (XRYC) to demand that the University of Cambridge cuts ties with the company, which develops technology for fossil fuel companies including BP and Shell.

Around 20 people attended the protest, which began at the main entrance before staff arrived. Accompanying banners read ‘SLB = TOXIC’. A number of activists dressed as climate scientists, wearing white lab coats and handing leaflets to Schlumberger staff-members as they entered the building.

One of the ‘glued-on’ activists said: “The oil and gas expansion that SLB do is toxic and even the International Energy Agency has said that oil and gas must stop. That said, it’s shocking to me that people with power want to put the burden of making change on to us.”

Two protesters glued themselves to the building. They were freed by 2pm and the 10 protesters still on site left.

A Cambridgeshire police spokesperson said: “We were called at 8.38am today with reports of a protest at the Schlumberger Cambridge Research building on Madingley Road, Cambridge, involving at least 15 people.”

There were no arrests. The University of Cambridge was invited to comment.