Rising tides and rising emissions: time to end coal mining!
Rising tides and rising emissions: time to end coal mining!
Press Release: Save Happy Valley Coalition
Friday 7th December
FOR IMMEDIATE USE
The Save Happy Valley Coalition is taking the opportunity of this Saturday's International Day of Action on Climate Change to call for an end of coal mining in Aotearoa New Zealand.
"New Zealand still has a coal fired power station pumping pollution into the atmosphere daily, releasing carbon dioxide," said Save Happy Valley Coalition spokesperson Alan Liefting. "State owned coal miner Solid Energy ripped 4.65m tonnes of coal out of the earth in the last financial year."
"In the recent past, the Government and Solid Energy have promoted the idea of building a new coal fired power station on the West Coast of New Zealand despite knowing full well the consequences of emissions coal fired energy generation creates," said Mr Liefting.
"In their annual report, Solid Energy stated that they are continuing developing plans to extract massive quantities of eastern Southland lignite – poor quality, wet, dirty coal. New Zealand has rising emissions and is promoting unsustainable growth at the price of future generations. NOW is the time to move away from new coal mines – and where better to start than by saving Happy Valley? " said Mr Liefting.
"Either we move towards actually reducing our emissions, or our Kyoto bill will rise along with the tides. This means moving away from exporting coal".
The Day of Action coincides with the United Nations Climate talks to be held in Bali, Indonesia this year from December 3rd to 14th.
"Helen Clark has stated that she wants New Zealand 'to be in the vanguard for achieving carbon neutrality.' If she wants to be on this vanguard, following Australia's failed energy and coal mining practices will not work."
Save Happy Valley members and supporters are involved in events across the country on Saturday. These include a Climate Awareness info stall and pancake BBQ, plus Critical Mass, in Christchurch; a Climate Action Festival in Wellington, and a Climate Rescue Carnival in Auckland.
Events listings: http://www.bethechange.org.nz/gda/events
//ENDS
Media Contact
Alan Liefting, Save Happy Valley Coalition spokesperson
027 646 1425
Notes
The Save Happy Valley Coalition is a collection of groups and individuals from around Aotearoa committed to stopping Solid Energy's proposed open cast coal mine in Happy Valley (Upper Waimangaroa Valley ) on the West Coast. They work to raise awareness on climate change in New Zealand. They are also deeply concerned about the fate of all endangered species under threat from Solid Energy, including Powelliphanta "Augustus" at the nearby Stockton mine. The Coalition is made up of West Coast locals, students, workers and the general public. The group has a track record of creative protests and lock-ons as well as producing a variety of informative media. They have been occupying Happy Valley since 28th January 2006. More information about the coalition and its history can be found at http://www.savehappyvalley.org.nz/aboutus.htm
