Big protest at BP's bad pipe

Friends of the Earth campaigners together with other groups built a huge pipeline through the City of London today.

The pipeline, over 200 metres in length sets off

The pipeline, over 200 metres in length, carried by Friends of the Earth & Kurdish Human Rights Project campaigners

The protest is part of an ongoing campaign against the use of UK tax payers' money to help fund a highly controversial oil pipeline through Turkey, Georgia and Azerbaijan.

Map showing the route of the Baku-Ceyhan oil pipeline

If built, the pipeline would heighten the risk of conflict in the region, carry more oil causing more climate change and damage sensitive natural habitats.

The huge pipeline winds through London's financial district
The huge pipeline stretched the whole length of Bishopsgate in London's financial district

The route taken highlighted the key players involved in the pipeline:

EBRD
The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development plans to help fund it using UK tax payer's money.
BP
Leader of the consortium promoting the pipeline. Stated publicly that they need "free public money" for it.
ABN Amro
The Dutch bank are advising BP on financing the deal.

Friends of the Earth delivers a section of the pipeline to the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development

Friends of the Earth Georgia organised a parallel protest outside EBRD's office in Tbilisi, Georgia - one of the locations on the route of the oil pipeline.

Friends of the Earth Georgia protest in Tbilisi