Save Happy Valley Campaign Update 4
Hi everyone,
The Environment Court has come out with their decision regarding Solid Energy’s proposed Happy Valley coal mine, allowing it to go ahead. While it is unfortunate that this has happened, it is not as if it was unexpected, and the Save Happy Valley Campaign is committed to continuing our opposition against the mine, raising public awareness and using civil disobedience techniques to oppose Solid Energy and the destruction of the environment.
Press Releases
For more information on the reaction of various groups to the Environment Court decision, visit the Indymedia website where you will find a feature article on the decision, including press releases from the national Save Happy Valley Campaign, our Christchurch group, Forest & Bird and Rising Tide Aotearoa.
http://indymedia.org.nz/feature/display/35349/index.php
Decision details
If anyone feels like reading the full decision you can download it at the following web address. Be warned that it’s very long!
http://s37.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=0XROFI6Q5TGTR1XMHUC1IUT3Z1
Lock-on action at Solid Energy headquarters
The Save Happy Valley Campaign has continued to be active since our last campaign update. On the 6th March, members of the group staged a protest at Solid Energy headquarters in Christchurch with four members of the group locking on to the entrance way of the building with bicycle D-locks. The protest lasted 26 hours before police arrived, removing the protesters and arresting two for illegally being on a building. This action gained a lot of media coverage, helping to continually bring back the Happy Valley mine to the public’s attention.
For more information, visit the following two web addresses:
http://indymedia.org.nz/newswire/display_any/29878
http://indymedia.org.nz/newswire/display_any/29952
Leaflet drop on West Coast
4000 leaflets were distributed in Westport and the surrounding area as part of our attempts to raise public awareness about the mine and to open up dialogue with the locals. We expect to be working through responses to our leaflet in the near future.
Miners’ Strike
Solid Energy workers and other miners strike for better pay. Solid Energy mistreats the environment and workers both!
http://indymedia.org.nz/newswire/display_any/31738
Donations
As always, we can do with monetary support to continue helping to develop public awareness about the mine and to oppose Solid Energy.
You can donate money to the campaign by contacting us, or by simply making a deposit to our bank account – Save Happy Valley Campaign: Kiwibank account 38-9003-0334146-00 Whatever you can afford is much appreciated.
International Day of Action against Climate Change
July 8th is the International Day of Action against Climate Change (part of the global anti-G8 demonstrations). Events are being planned in Auckland and Wellington, and it’d be great to have more people around Aotearoa New Zealand involved in this important day of protest. Check out the following website for background information and email me if you’re interested in trying to connect up with other interested people.
http://cca.movingpages.org/callout.htm
Let’s step up the campaign against the Happy Valley coal mine! We are part of a worldwide struggle against the suffering and destruction that climate change is causing, and against the continual devastation of our environment by governments and corporations who put profit above people and the environment. Please get in touch if you’d like to become more involved with the campaign.
Jonathan Oosterman
Save Happy Valley Campaign
