Greenpeace volunteers gain access to the vehicle park at Sheerness port in Kent where several thousand VW cars are awaiting distribution to suppliers. The volunteers, including many mothers, fathers and people from all walks of life, attempt to immobilise all of the VW diesel cars by removing the keys. They also lift the bonnets and label the engines with messages from 8,000 people, including many car owners, calling on VW to ditch diesel.
Simultaneously, Greenpeace activists in kayaks and boats are protesting against a 23,498-tonne ship on a major import route bringing Volkswagen diesel cars into the UK. The ship's intended destination is the vehicle park in Sheerness. Greenpeace's clean air campaigners come alongside and board the huge car carrier in the Thames Estuary.
Diesel cars are toxic. Independent testing commissioned by Greenpeace UK showed one of the company’s most iconic diesel cars, the VW Golf, emits almost three times more toxic pollutants than manufacturers’ tests when driven on a busy urban road.