Thom Yorke and Brian Eno against oil exploitation

Thom Yorke and Brian Eno have joined a group of 211 musicians who have signed an open letter to British Prime Minister Andy Burnham, urging him to abandon plans for oil exploration in the North Sea.

In July, Burnham announced, in one of his first moves after taking office, that existing oil and gas licenses would remain in place, but that no new ones would be issued. However, the British government is currently considering the future of the Rosebank oilfield, about 130 kilometers from the Shetland Islands, and the Jackdaw near Aberdeen.

In the letter, the musicians warn of the consequences of the climate crisis and ask the prime minister to reconsider the plans.

"The climate crisis is no longer something we fear for future generations, it is shaping our lives today," the musicians said, adding that heat waves are already disrupting schools, hospitals, traffic, festivals and other events.

Brian Eno, who is the founder of the EarthPercent organization, said that Burnam now has a choice.

“He can side with the fossil fuel industry and approve Rosebank or he can side with the people who will live with the consequences of that decision,” Ino said.

He added that the UK and Europe are already feeling the effects of a warming climate through record temperatures and devastating fires.

"At this point, continuing to expand fossil fuel production is not pragmatism, but a refusal to face reality," Ino said.

Among the signatories, in addition to Yorke and Ino, are Robert Smith, Bobby Gillespie, members of Radiohead, Massive Attack, Paris Paloma, Oli Alexander, Romi, Anushka Shankar, Anna Calvi, Jacob Collier, David Gray, electro duo Bicep and Alexis Taylor.

The government has not yet published the conclusions of the consultation, while the Department for Energy Security says that oil and gas still play an important role in the UK's energy system. MV