Campaign Update 13
Dear Friends
Earlier this year New Zealand finally reached the end of the line for coal fired power stations. It must also be the end of the line for coal mining ~ Graham Jury, SHV Chch Spokesperson.
This year, the Save Happy Valley Coalition has been busy exposing Don Elder hiring spies, blockading trains, occupying proposed mine sites, debating climate change, fighting court battles, fundraising, and preparing our defense against defamation. Read on!
Spies exposed in local activist groups
Christchurch Save Happy Valley (SHV), the Wellington Animal Rights Network (WARN) and Peace Action Wellington (PAW) have exposed corporate spies operating within their groups. In Christchurch, Ryan Paterson-Rouse had been involved in the group for 7 months, while in Wellington Somali Young had been spying for around 2 years.
The pair were employed by Thompson & Clark Private Investigations Limited, an Auckland firm that specialises in "covert physical and electronic surveillance" and "political activism". In Ryan's case, the money came from Solid Energy, while in Somali's, it was likely to be the NZ Biotech Industry for WARN and the NZ Defence Industry Association for PAW.
Frances Mountier, spokesperson for SHV Christchurch, said "It is shocking that a state owned enterprise would use such insidious and underhand tactics to undermine the public debate on climate change".
"Thompson & Clark are a leech-like company, feeding off political groups while making sure not to kill their main source of income" stated WARN spokesperson Mark Eden. "Companies that abuse animals like to keep their practices their dirty little secret, and it seems they will sink to any low to keep it that way."
Peace Action Wellington has expressed solidarity with the other groups. "This corporate infiltration and spying combined with the spying and violence of the police is part and parcel of speaking out in this so called "democratic" State. We wish to extend our solidarity towards those other groups infiltrated seeking to do the same".
The Save Happy Valley Coalition has previously exposed Thompson & Clark on two occasions - in February 2006, people at the Happy Valley occupation came across two T&C spies on a ridgeline overlooking the campsite, while in September 2006 a camera with a powerful zoom lens was discovered at the start of the track into the Valley.
Check out the press releases:
End of the line for coal
On Sunday April 29th, two activists from Save Happy Valley Christchurch locked-on to the Main South railway line, blocking a coal train. The action delayed the delivery of climate-polluting coal from state-owned Solid Energy's Stockton mine to the Port of Lyttelton, and highlighted the Government's continued promotion of this climate changing fossil fuel. In paticular, we highlighted the gap between the Government's rhetoric about tackling climate change, and the reality of their current practices. See below for some examples:
The Government's rhetoric | climate change
New Zealand needs to go the extra mile to lower greenhouse gas emissions and increase sustainability; New Zealand has the potential to lead the world in its commitment to renewable energy
Helen Clark, 13 February 2007.
In a move to be duplicated across the public service, the government is taking immediate action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by requiring ministerial cars to meet tough new emissions standards, Climate Change Minister David Parker said today.
Labour Party Press Release, 13 February 2007.
The reality
Solid Energy New Zealand Ltd is a state-owned enterprise, which operates as a commercial company but with only one shareholder, the New Zealand Government.
Solid Energy website.
Annually, Solid Energy is responsible for the emission of 11,000,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. To 'offset' these emissions would require planting native trees over an area the size of 4, 376.6 Wellington Cities every year.
The New Zealand Government vehicle fleet emits 57,200 tonnes of carbon dioxide per year - that is, the equivalent of 0.52% of Solid Energy's annual carbon dioxide emissions. If the Government was really serious about climate change then the best place to start would be its own State Owned Enterprise, Solid Energy.
In the above example, the Labour Government is only talking about the ministerial fleet, not the entire Government vehicle fleet. Add to this the fact that the Government doesn't plan to entirely eradicate - or even offset - the emissions from the vehicle fleet, just reduce them (by buying new vehicles, contributing to emissions), and you begin to see clearly through the rhetoric.
Court Update
Three people were arrested at the action (Two for locking on and one for giving them water!) Anna-Claire Hunter, Simon Riddell and Gregory Curline are all defending the charges against them. Support towards their court costs will be gratefully received. Donations can be made into the Kiwibank account: 38-9003-0568540-00.
Environment Report
Solid Energy is continuing with a defamation lawsuit against members of our Coalition, despite opposition being expressed across the political spectrum. For example, National Party's Gerry Brownlee reprimanded Solid Energy for wasting taxpayers' money.
Snail Habitat High Court Update
The High Court has found that Solid Energy, a state owned enterprise, does not require resource consent for destroying 94% of a critically endangered species' habitat. However, we still argue that the country's biggest coal mine should not be exempt from the Resource Management Act.
Augustus update
Meanwhile, Solid Energy have destroyed all but 1/3ha of the core Powelliphanta Augustus habitat. We occupied Mt Augustus from February 5th in order to prevent blasting, and despite drilling above our camp, explosions nearby, DOC closing off the land in order to assist Solid Energy, and harassment from security guards we remained there well into April.
However, Solid Energy who claim they've spent $10m (in driving this species to extinction) - would not even leave a single hectare of habitat for snails. Along with the Director General of DOC, they have even claimed that the fact there are 6000 snails means that they are not critically endangered. However, the species has no greater chance of survival elsewhere, since it is not suitable habitat.
Polar bears face a similar situation; they will likely remain in zoos, but if the Arctic melts, they will be functionally extinct. Direct enquiries to DOC revealed that Powelliphanta Augustus' status has not, in fact, been changed!
Occupation update
Thank you for the generous response to our callout for funds for the occupation! Recently, we have been concerned to note Solid Energy have both expanded the road to St Pats dam and done some exploratory drilling on the Mt Williams range (at the north end of Happy Valley, outside of the Cypress/Happy Valley proposed mine footprint). We are keeping a close eye on them!
Would you like to join the occupation? http://www.savehappyvalley.org.nz/occupation. We will send you an email with the specific information you will need about the tramp and the campsite. Contact the occupation coordinator, Dan Rae, on 021 161 0929 or occupation[at]savehappyvalley.org.nz
In Brief
Remember to check out the Happy Valley blog: http://www.savehappyvalley.org.nz/blog
60 people made the trip in to Happy Valley for the one year celebrations
Save Happy Valley Auckland shut down Don Elder (Solid Energy CEO) during his talk on the 'sustainability of coal' at the National Power Conference.
There have also been banner drops, stalls, film screenings, talks, opinion editorials.
Ideas for action against climate change (Inspired by Rising Tide).
Get together with a crew and organize a direct action
Paint and drop a banner calling for free public transport, no new mines, Happy Valley's protection.
Run a stall with leaflets on Happy Valley, local campaigns, tackling the root causes of climate change
Reduce your energy use
Write letters to the editor
Find out the sea-level rise or flood level predictions for your area and paint/chalk this level in blue around town, on council buildings, petrol stations, etc. Accompany with posters explaining the line and forecasted impacts of extreme weather
Agit-crop! Planting or seed sowing to spell out a message, in council flowerbeds, railway embankments, open spaces. Or mow a message into a public lawn
Paint bike lanes on the road
Check out more at http://www.risingtide.org.au/dynamicactions
Get active in Save Happy Valley
Join a local group (or start one!) http://www.savehappyvalley.org.nz/contact
Leaflets, Stickers, Postcards
... To order, please send your name and address, plus quantities needed, to:
The Green Room
16 Bedford Row
Christchurch
(03) 372 1375
chchgreens[at]xtra.co.nz
Donations
Cheques can be made out to 'Save Happy Valley Coalition' and sent to us at:
Save Happy Valley Coalition
PO Box 9263
Te Aro
Wellington
Direct transfers can be made to the following account:
Name: Save Happy Valley Coalition
Account number: 38-9003-0334146-00
Resistance Energy is Solid!
Save Happy Valley Coalition.
http://www.savehappyvalley.org.nz
contact[at]savehappyvalley.org.nz
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