Sean is in civil resistance (and it is rather expensive)

Hi,

My name is Sean O'Callaghan, I'm 29 and I work in environmental education.

I have set up this fundraiser for anyone who wishes to support myself in the cause that I am campaigning for. For some of you, you will already know the ins and outs of the situation, for some of you this will be less familiar. If you are in the know, please bear with whilst I try to outline who I am and why I am doing what I am doing.

I have been arrested taking part in non-violent civil disobedience with Just Stop Oil on a number of occasions. I chose to support this campaign due to a growing sense of psychological unrest in what is happening in the world of today.

Climate change has the potential to severely impact every single one of our everyday lives. The vast consensus among the scientific community, the United Nations, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change and the International Energy Agency (among others), is that climate change poses a grave risk to the lives of millions (if not billions) of people across the globe. What these expert and highly professional bodies also tell us is that continued extraction and consuming of fossil fuels is the core catalyst of climate change.

So we can't continue right...? We must prioritise phasing out fossil fuel use in order to preserve the liveable future for our planet. Because our planet has a finite number of natural resources for us to exploit. And we are reaching the end of that blissful period. We must transition to clean, sustainable forms of energy. Resources that can't run out, and will catalyse a cleaner, healthier planet for us all to enjoy.

The head honchos of the capitalist society that we all willingly participate in are heavily reliant on the exploitation of these natural resources. Fossil fuel executives, politicians and media bosses will therefore do everything they can to hide the terrifying truth from us. They are perfectly at ease with us writing letters, demonstrating peacefully on the pavement, voting every 5 years. These things give us a sense of personal satisfaction that we are making a difference. But in order to enact real, meaningful change, we have to do something outside their window of 'acceptable'.

Unfortunately, disruptive civil disobedience is the only way to enact that change. Disruption puts the issues at hand at the forefront of everyone's mind. It stimulates millions of conversations and debates around dinner tables and in workplace offices. So please, please - if you have negative feelings or connotations regarding Just Stop Oil's actions - please ask yourself: What is worse - short term disruption to people's lives or a lifetime of natural disasters, food insecurity, civil conflict over resources and mass death and suffering.

I feel that it is imperative that society is able to hear the truth, and able to make informed decisions and judgements based upon that truth. The UK government and the mainstream media are failing in this duty. The catastrophe's that we face, we can face together. We can say no to laws that threaten everything we love and hold dear. We can stand up together in the face of adversity. It is scary. It brings real anxiety and emotional conflict. It is hard on friends, partners and loved ones. But it is vital that people are willing to face these fears, otherwise everything we hold dear is at risk.

For the last 6 years I have worked in educating young people on science and the environment. It fills me with dread to imagine the world that these young people will grow up in. They didn't ask for this. In order to provide those young people the same opportunities and privileges that we have all experienced, rapid action is needed now. I am willing to sacrifice my liberty, my freedom and my future to fight for that action. To do my bit to change the world for the better.

Unfortunately, taking actions such as these come at not only great emotional cost, but also carry a huge financial burden. I am looking at combined civil and criminal costings running into the tens of thousands. I also am at a very real risk of losing both my job and my home as a result of these actions.

Many people in my life have expressed an interest in supporting me in this journey. This is your chance. Donating even a small amount today would provide funds towards legal representation for myself, would help to cover costs imposed by court fines and injunctions and would allow me to survive the next few months while looking for new accommodation and employment. It would really mean the world.

Thank you for reading,

Lots of love,

Sean O'Callaghan