Climate Activists occupy site for proposed coal-fired power station

The Guardian (Thursday July 31 2008) reports that  climate change activists have occupied the proposed site for Britain’s first coal-fired power station in 30 years, claiming the development will cause huge damage to the environment if it goes ahead. More than 150 protesters descended on the site near the village of Kingsnorth in Kent ahead of next week’s Camp for Climate Action, which is expected to attract thousands of environmentalists. Activist Connor O’Brien is reported as saying ”The purpose of the climate change camp is to target those businesses and companies who are involved in bringing about destructive climate change. This is the first of six coal-fired power stations being planned in the UK and if they go ahead the impact on the environment will be catastrophic.” The protest started on Sunday when environmentalists gathered at Heathrow airport - the scene of last year’s camp - before travelling across London in a “green caravan”, stopping off each night to highlight their objections to the proposed power station. The caravan is expected to arrive at Kingsnorth on Sunday along with hundreds of other protesters. O’Brien said: “We want to make the issue of coal-fired power stations so big and so toxic that they will be widely opposed by the public and it will be impossible for them to go ahead. What we need is properly sustainable solutions.” Medway council in Kent has already given the green light to the £1bn plant, which has been proposed by the German-owned gas and electricity provider E.ON. The final decision rests with the business secretary, John Hutton, who is expected to make an announcement later this year.  E.ON has argued that the plant will produce power from coal more efficiently and cleanly than ever before in Britain, leading to a cut in carbon emissions of almost 2m tonnes a year. It has also claimed that the plant could help Britain develop carbon-capture and storage (CCS) technology. But environmental concerns have attracted wide support. Some 228 MPs signed an early-day motion calling on the government to hold a public inquiry before deciding whether to consent to the Kingsnorth plant. Actor Robert Redford wrote to the climate camp organisers backing the campaign

For the full story by Matthew Taylor see   http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2008/jul/31/activists.fossilfuels?gusrc=rss&feed=environment