Dump Santos: XRSA protests TDU sponsorship
Extinction Rebellion Australia, 14 Jan 2024
Extinction Rebellion SA are targeting fossil fuel company Santos during the Tour Down Under (TDU) and calling on the South Australian government to #DumpSantos as TDU sponsor.
Activists had a loud and colourful presence at the Team Presentation opening event at the Tour Village, sending the clear message: "Love cycling. Hate Santos greenwashing". Rebels were at locations along the Women’s Stage Three route on Sunday (see photo above).
Spokesperson Gemma Weedall said:
"It is appalling that Santos' TDU sponsorship continues; a fossil fuel company whose primary business activity is directly fuelling the climate crisis which threatens community safety – indeed cyclist safety, and the future viability of the event.
"We will not stand by as our government enables a polluting oil and gas company to buy social consent for their destructive industry by putting their brand all over this well-loved SA event, in other words: greenwashing.
"Fossil fuels are the new 'Big Tobacco' – hijacking our sporting events to promote a product that we know is destroying our health and our planet.
"This industry’s tactic of spruiking Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) technology is just like trying to sell us ‘healthy’ cigarettes, and the SA government’s ongoing support for these expensive and ineffective projects is an international disgrace."
Opposition to fossil fuel sponsorship has grown in recent years, with the Australian Open dropping Santos in 2022, and WA's two biggest arts festivals (Fringe World and Perth Festival) cutting ties with Woodside and Chevron respectively.
"The SA Government has an opportunity to be part of a global movement breaking the toxic partnership between fossil fuels and our community and sporting events – the world is watching." Ms Weedall said.
