[IMC-UK-Features] Proposal - Coal Action Scotland

[ben gringo]

Might be nice (if there appear some newswire pieces to justify it) to  
do a feature on this action as a nice follow on to the plane stupid  
piece, or maybe simply supplement it.

Could do a nice comparison of the claimed emission savings by the  
actions.

ben


> *Coal Action Scotland media release*
>
> For immediate use: 15/12/08
>
> *Coal rail terminal shut down by local residents and Climate  
> campaigners*
>
> At 06:00am this morning thirty campaigners from Coal Action Scotland  
> (1) together with local residents peacefully blockaded the entrance  
> to the Scottish Coal-operated Ravenstruther coal rail terminal in  
> South Lanarkshire (2). Having stopped its reopening after the  
> weekend, this action is currently preventing the delivery of  
> thousands of tonnes of coal to power stations across Scotland.  
> Protestors intend to stay in place as long as possible.
>
> Scotland's CO2 emissions are increasing significantly. Because of  
> the burning of coal it will be impossible for Scotland to meet its  
> 80% target reduction in CO2 emissions by 2050 (3). Angus Mcloud said  
> "The fact is that the government will not meet its own targets. This  
> confirms what climate protestors have believed all along – that the  
> Scottish government is paying lip service to the dangers of climate  
> change."
>
> This action is being taken to impact the operations of Scottish Coal  
> and Scottish Power in the region, stopping coal being delivered from  
> five local open cast mines (4). The protestors are acting to oppose  
> the five open cast coal mines that deliver coal to the rail terminal  
> and in resistance to the thirteen new open cast coal mines due to  
> open in Scotland.
>
> Protestors erected and scaled a 15ft scaffolding tripod, blocking  
> trucks from entering the terminal. Others are locked by their necks  
> to a conveyor belt and a bulldozer, preventing coal stockpiles from  
> being loaded onto trains.
>
> Tilly Gifford who is at the site said: "In the face of dangerous  
> runaway climate change, increasing our dependence on coal – the most  
> polluting of the fossil fuels – is simply unacceptable.  We urgently  
> need to make the transition to renewable energy and close existing  
> mines.  We shouldn't even be thinking about new ones."
>
> Today's direct action builds on recent demonstrations that have  
> taken place all over the UK in opposition to new coal (5).
>
> The demonstration today is in support of communities opposing new  
> open cast mines. Rebecca Mackenzie, a local resident said: "We're  
> here today to send a clear message that we don't want parts of  
> Scotland such as South Lanarkshire to become the most heavily mined  
> areas in Europe, as they will be if permission is granted for all  
> the new open cast coal mines currently being proposed. If sites such  
> as Mainshill near Douglas can't be stopped through legal avenues,  
> then action will have to be taken to make sure these last remaining  
> areas of un-mined countryside aren't destroyed".
>
> Beth Whelan, the campaigner perched on the scaffolding tripod, said:  
> "Local authorities, the Scottish government and companies such as  
> Scottish Coal and Scottish Power are ignoring the scientific  
> evidence on climate change. We have to take responsibility for our  
> climate and our future, and stop the coal industry and its  
> expansion. This is what we doing today: acting responsibly".
>
> It is estimated that 6,380 tonnes of coal were stopped from being  
> transported from the coal mines to power stations, equivalent to  
> 11,675,400 kg CO2 (11,675.4 tonnes) released into the atmosphere.
>
> Coal Action Scotland apologizes to any workers affected by today's  
> demonstration, but in recognizing the desperate need to stop burning  
> coal sees no other choice but to target the companies responsible  
> for mining it (6).
>
>
> Media contact: Tilly Gifford 07536 026 911 or 01555 820 073
>  (available for information or updates)
>
> ENDS
>
>
>
> NOTES TO EDITOR
> [1] Coal Action Scotland is part of the UK-wide Coal Action Network  
> of individuals opposing the developments of a new generation of coal  
> powered energy generation. www.leaveitintheground.org.uk
> [2] The rail terminal is located off the A70 road. Trains leaving  
> the terminal deliver coal to West  Burton(EDF Energy), Drax (Drax  
> Group plc.), Rugeley (International Power), Ironbridge (E.on),  
> Cottam (EDF), Lynemouth (Alcan), the Scottish Power – operated  
> Longannet power station.
>  [3]www.leaveitintheground.org.uk
> [4] Poniel, Broken Cross, Glentaggart and Glenbuck
> [5] Today's action builds on recent events such as the occupation of  
> Lodge House at Shipley open cast in Derbyshire, the stopping of a  
> coal train to Drax, the Camp for Climate Action at Kingsnorth in  
> Kent and numerous other site occupations that have stopped work at  
> open cast sites.
> [6] Coal Action Scotland acknowledges that mining communities have a  
> long history of neglect and deprivation. The dismantling of high- 
> emission industries must occur through a process of just transition  
> to ensure that these communities do not suffer additionally through  
> redundancies. Lasting and significant change to these polluting  
> industries can only come through campaigners and workers uniting to  
> stop climate change and environmental degradation together.
>
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