Bail Breaker Arrested at climate camp according to sky news
sn | 04.08.2008 22:02 | Climate Camp 2008 | Climate Chaos
Ellen Potts, Oli Rodker, Johnathan Stevenson and Mel Evans all made it into the camp, thereby breaching their bail conditions.
But Paul Morozzo was arrested as he tried to get in.
But Paul Morozzo was arrested as he tried to get in.
Catherine Jacob, Environment correspondent sky news
5 pm 4th August
A group of environmental campaigners have risked jail today by breaking their bail conditions to attend this year's Camp for Climate Action.
The Government is currently considering an application from energy company E.On to build a new coal-fired power station at Kingsnorth.
Hundreds of protesters gathered in a field near to the site of the proposed power station to run workshops and deliver speeches on climate change.
The five - who were part of a 20-strong gathering arrested in June when they stopped a coal train on the way to Britain's biggest power station, Drax - said they feel it is their duty to risk jail with the protest.
Ellen Potts, Oli Rodker, Johnathan Stevenson and Mel Evans all made it into the camp, thereby breaching their bail conditions.
But Paul Morozzo was arrested as he tried to get in.
In an open letter to a national newspaper, they said: "We do not take this decision lightly; the legal implications are very serious. We may be arrested and jailed for our determination to be at the camp.
"Scientists tell us that from this week we have just 100 months to solve climate change. That's not long; from this moment every week counts."
And Terry Graves, a climate change policy researcher who is on site, said: "It has been going really well and since around 6am we've been sitting in front of police explaining the dangers of climate change.
"We have had several things confiscated from us but are determined to make our point and get on with the activities we have planned."
The towers of the facility are clearly visible from the field which is home to hundreds of environmental campaigners for the next week.
They have installed marquees, compost toilets, solar powered electricity and running water to ensure the camp runs smoothly and will run climate workshops and speeches every day to educate those gathered. Their main aim though, is to shut Kingsnorth down, before the week is out.
They intend to launch a direct action next Saturday to try to deter the Government from opening a new coal fired plant.
Campaigner Timothy Lever told Sky News: "We intend to get into the power station to do whatever we can to stop it operating that day. We want to send a very strong message to say new coal is absolute madness and we simply won't allow it."
E.On says the new facility is necessary to replace the existing plants which will soon have to close.
If it gets the go ahead, it'll be the first coal fired power station to be built in Britain for 30 years. Green campaigners fear it will open the floodgates for a whole new generation of coal fired power stations in the UK.
The problem is, while the company says the new facility will be carbon capture ready, it could be decades before clean coal technology is commercially viable.
That means some of the most eminent scientists and politicians in the land have warned the Government to ban new coal fired power stations until clean coal technology becomes a reality.
Lord Rees of the Royal Society said: "Our main concerns are that coal fired powered stations are worse in terms of CO2 production even than oil or gas fired power stations.
"It would symbolically be very unfortunate if the UK were to approve a coal fired power station without imposing very strict requirements that some technology should be adopted that would allow it to capture the carbon dioxide it emits."
Despite strong opposition, though, the Government is adamant that coal will play a vital role in the UK's energy mix.
Security at the Kingsnorth camp is very tight. Officers from 26 forces have been drafted in to police it. Up to 1,400 could be on duty on any one day. They have already made several arrests and many protesters arriving at the camp have had their vehicles and bags searched after police confiscated items they claim could be used for criminal behaviour.
Over the course of the week up to 2,000 protesters are expected to arrive in Kingsnorth. While they say they are determined to fulfil their goal of shutting down the power station, the police say they are just as determined to stop them.
5 pm 4th August
A group of environmental campaigners have risked jail today by breaking their bail conditions to attend this year's Camp for Climate Action.
The Government is currently considering an application from energy company E.On to build a new coal-fired power station at Kingsnorth.
Hundreds of protesters gathered in a field near to the site of the proposed power station to run workshops and deliver speeches on climate change.
The five - who were part of a 20-strong gathering arrested in June when they stopped a coal train on the way to Britain's biggest power station, Drax - said they feel it is their duty to risk jail with the protest.
Ellen Potts, Oli Rodker, Johnathan Stevenson and Mel Evans all made it into the camp, thereby breaching their bail conditions.
But Paul Morozzo was arrested as he tried to get in.
In an open letter to a national newspaper, they said: "We do not take this decision lightly; the legal implications are very serious. We may be arrested and jailed for our determination to be at the camp.
"Scientists tell us that from this week we have just 100 months to solve climate change. That's not long; from this moment every week counts."
And Terry Graves, a climate change policy researcher who is on site, said: "It has been going really well and since around 6am we've been sitting in front of police explaining the dangers of climate change.
"We have had several things confiscated from us but are determined to make our point and get on with the activities we have planned."
The towers of the facility are clearly visible from the field which is home to hundreds of environmental campaigners for the next week.
They have installed marquees, compost toilets, solar powered electricity and running water to ensure the camp runs smoothly and will run climate workshops and speeches every day to educate those gathered. Their main aim though, is to shut Kingsnorth down, before the week is out.
They intend to launch a direct action next Saturday to try to deter the Government from opening a new coal fired plant.
Campaigner Timothy Lever told Sky News: "We intend to get into the power station to do whatever we can to stop it operating that day. We want to send a very strong message to say new coal is absolute madness and we simply won't allow it."
E.On says the new facility is necessary to replace the existing plants which will soon have to close.
If it gets the go ahead, it'll be the first coal fired power station to be built in Britain for 30 years. Green campaigners fear it will open the floodgates for a whole new generation of coal fired power stations in the UK.
The problem is, while the company says the new facility will be carbon capture ready, it could be decades before clean coal technology is commercially viable.
That means some of the most eminent scientists and politicians in the land have warned the Government to ban new coal fired power stations until clean coal technology becomes a reality.
Lord Rees of the Royal Society said: "Our main concerns are that coal fired powered stations are worse in terms of CO2 production even than oil or gas fired power stations.
"It would symbolically be very unfortunate if the UK were to approve a coal fired power station without imposing very strict requirements that some technology should be adopted that would allow it to capture the carbon dioxide it emits."
Despite strong opposition, though, the Government is adamant that coal will play a vital role in the UK's energy mix.
Security at the Kingsnorth camp is very tight. Officers from 26 forces have been drafted in to police it. Up to 1,400 could be on duty on any one day. They have already made several arrests and many protesters arriving at the camp have had their vehicles and bags searched after police confiscated items they claim could be used for criminal behaviour.
Over the course of the week up to 2,000 protesters are expected to arrive in Kingsnorth. While they say they are determined to fulfil their goal of shutting down the power station, the police say they are just as determined to stop them.
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