Climate activists disrupt UK newspaper deliveries
London: Climate change protesters in Britain blockaded two printing presses Saturday, disrupting the distribution of numerous national newspapers as they step up 10 days of protests demanding action on climate change and other environmental issues.
Activist group Extinction Rebellion (XR) targeted both the plants, just north of London and near Liverpool in northwest England, causing delays to deliveries of papers including The Times, the Daily Telegraph and The Sun.
Dozens of activists blocked roads outside the sites using vehicles and by attaching themselves to other obstacles, "to expose the failure of these corporations to accurately report on the climate and ecological emergency".
XR said it was aiming to disrupt newspapers that are part of News Corp., controlled by Rupert Murdoch's family, as well as right-wing titles The Daily Mail and The London Evening Standard.
"The groups are using disruption and their consistent manipulation of the truth to suit their own personal and political agendas," it added in a statement.
Police said they had so far made 63 arrests at the two locations.
Newsprinters, which runs the plants, said printing had been transferred to other sites and apologised to customers "due to late deliveries".
The Times also apologised to readers unable to buy the newspaper and said on Twitter it was "working to get newspapers delivered to retailers as soon as possible". – AFP