Greenpeace Protestors, Including Emma Thompson, Confronted with Manure by Angry Farmer

A group of protestors associated with Greenpeace, which included Academy Award-winning actress Emma Thompson and her sister Sophie, found themselves at the receiving end of a manure spray from an enraged farmer. The confrontation occurred after the protestors violated a court injunction by staging a protest against fracking on the farmer’s land.

Protestors Sneak onto Farmer’s Land

Emma and Sophie Thompson were reportedly filming a Greenpeace parody of the popular show ‘The Great British Bake Off’ on the farmer’s property when the incensed farmer approached them in his tractor. The protestors had entered the land without permission, trespassing by climbing over a gate, with the intention of drawing attention to their opposition to fracking.

“Frack Free Bake Off” Parody Episode

The actresses were filming an episode titled “Frack Free Bake Off” as a way to highlight their stance against fracking and the potential harm it could cause to the environment.

Farmer Sprays Manure in Retaliation

Upon discovering the presence of the protestors on his land, the farmer took to his tractor in an attempt to drive them away. As he circled around the protestors, he resorted to spraying them with manure from the back of the tractor.

A video capturing the incident shows the protestors shouting at the farmer to cease his actions, but he continued his maneuvers, paying no heed to their pleas.

After circling the group several times, the farmer eventually departed from the scene.

Reactions and Implications

Kate Styles, a local cake shop owner who participated in the protest, expressed her thoughts on the matter, stating, “The stink was temporary – unlike the impact of fracking on this community if Cuadrilla gets its way.”

Francis Egan, the chief executive of Cuadrilla, responded to the incident by remarking, “Celebrities from London trespassing on a Lancashire farmer’s land, preventing him from working whilst lecturing us on where the UK should get our natural gas is beyond ridiculous.”

According to the Telegraph, Cuadrilla’s initial application to conduct fracking on the farmland was rejected by local councillors. However, the company appealed the decision, and the government will review whether to accept the application.

The local police issued a statement in response to the incident, stating, “We were made aware of a protest on land at Plumptons Hall Farm in Little Plumpton this morning. A local neighborhood patrol engaged with a representative of the protestors to understand their intentions. It was determined that maintaining a police presence on-site was unnecessary at that time, but resources remain available if needed.”

Emma Thompson’s Perspective

Emma Thompson discussed her involvement with Greenpeace and the reasons behind her decision to participate in the protest against fracking. She expressed her concern by saying, “I’ve been aware of this issue for a while through my work with Greenpeace. It became a critical matter for me when David Cameron attended the Paris Climate Conference, signed the protocol, and then quietly approved 200 fracking sites in Britain during the Christmas period when public attention was diverted. It clearly demonstrates that our government’s actions contradict their words.”

Note: we are republishing this story, which originally made the news in April 2016, to raise awareness about the negative consequences of fracking. Fracking releases a large amount of methane pollutant, uses billions of gallons of water annually, and can have negative long-term effects on surrounding soil and vegetation. More on this here: https://www.investopedia.com/ask/answers/011915/what-are-effects-fracking-environment.asp