[IMC-UK-Features] climate camp kingsnorth announcement feature

[angelclare at riseup.net]

hi all
would be great if there could be an imc uk feature on the decision that
this year's camp will be at kingsnorth site of first new coal power
station for over 30 years. There will also be a day of action on agrofuels
as part of the camp.
It's been posted to the open newswire.
Clare

below is the press release sent today:

Camp for Climate Action to target Kingsnorth power station
3 March 2008

Today it was announced that E.ON's Kingsnorth power station in Kent will
be the site of this summer’s Camp for Climate Action, running from 4 th to
11th of August 2008.

Coming on the back of last week's actions against the proposed third
runway at Heathrow, with activists occupying the tailfin of a jet and the
roof of the houses of parliament, climate activists promise that 2008 will
be “the year of direct action on climate change”.

The protest will begin with a one-day event at Heathrow, the site of the
previous year's camp, before marching across London to Kingsnorth. This is
one of eight climate camps targeting coal across the world this summer.

Climate change activists will converge on Kingsnorth power station where
owners E.ON plan to build the UK’s first coal fired power station in 30
years. Saturday 9th August has been named a 'day of mass protest and
direct action' against Kingsnorth to highlight its impact on climate
change.

Moving from Heathrow to Kingsnorth highlights government and corporate
collusion to expand the fossil fuel economy when the scientific consensus
demands the opposite. The camp will bring together thousands of activists
for several days of workshops and direct action. The camp will also
challenge businesses set to profit from false solutions to climate change
such as agrofuels. A day of action targeting the agrofuel industry will be
an integral part of the week long camp.

Natasha Edleman said: “Building a new coal-fired power station in the
middle of a climate crisis is madness. The science shows that we only have
a few years to avert catastrophic climate change. If we let this happen
then there are seven more power stations coming. This must be stopped.”

Charlie Owens said: “Biofuels have been proposed as a solution to climate
change. But new studies confirm that they are just as dangerous as fossil
fuels. And they create the illusion we can carry on as usual. In the end
we can only stop climate change if we challenge the growth economy and
start putting people and planet first.”

For more information see:


www.climatecamp.org.uk

www.StopKingsnorth.org


ENDS

For more information and interviews contact: 07772861099


Notes to editors

    * Like Heathrow, Kingsnorth is awaiting the approval of the
government. The decision on whether to hold a public inquiry into the
power station will be taken by John Hutton, at BERR, in the next six
weeks. As with Heathrow, there are accusations of collusion between
EON and the government. For more information see:
www.greenpeace.org.uk

    * Kingsnorth will produce twice as many climate-harming emissions as a
third runway at Heathrow. According to the World Development Movement,
flights from a third runway at Heathrow will produce as much
greenhouse gas as the whole of Kenya.

    * If Kingsnorth is built it is likely to open the way to new build
coal. Up to seven other similar projects are planned. Growth in
coal-power will undermine investment in renewable energy.

    * Last year's camp was on land which is intended for the building of a
third runway at Heathrow. The eight-day camp brought together 2000
people on land next to the village of Sipson and shut down BAA’s
headquarters for 24 hours. The camp also organised up to 20 smaller
actions on other aviation and climate change related targets. There
were 70 arrests over the week.

    * E.ON has tried to greenwash their plans to build a new plant at
Kingsnorth by claiming that it might one day be upgraded to use carbon
capture technology. Even by the most optimistic standards, such
technology will not be ready until 2020.

    * In the weeks before last year's camp, BAA applied for an injunction
to stop the camp taking place. The injunction covered two million
members of environmental groups from the RSPB to Greenpeace. The
injunction was successfully defeated in the courts.

    * In addition to the camp, days of action on climate change are
planned for the 1st April (Fossil Fools Day), 1st May (Mayday), 3rd
June (highlighting issues to do with food and climate change)

    * “Agrofuels” are liquid fuels produced from agricultural crops. These
are also referred to as “Biofuels”.