Solidarity for the Coal Conspiracy 114
115 and counting | 16.04.2009 11:21 | Climate Chaos | Energy Crisis | Repression
Arrested for conspiracy, 114 people alleged to have been planning to shut down E-On's massive Ratcliffe coal fired power station have found themselves voiceless, unable to issue any statements to the media or friends. Unrelated groups however have been stepping into the void to express support for the alleged action and remind people that taking direct action to cut greenhouse emissions is something we should all be doing. Groups such as Plane Stupid, Climate Rush, Climate Camp and others have already issued such statements and no doubt it would be great is many more did likewise.
Perhaps there are other ways to support the Ratcliffe 114. The media have found themselves with little to cover on this story with nothing much beyond the police statements to flesh out their story. Much of the media coverage has been angled around civil liberties rather than climate change although having environmental NGOs and ecological direct action groups come forward to express support for the 114 has helped turn that around a little. This is not a civil liberties issue. If the allegations are true then the police simply carried out an extremely successful surveillance operation leading to an efficient and timely arrests which prevented the action and tired up over a hundred people in a lengthy conspiracy case. It would be a shame to leave it there.
Making statements of support or doing effective direct action against climate criminals would be a good way to offer solidarity and continue media coverage and public interest. One possible idea would be for people to get together as groups of 114 and hand themselves into the cops in front of assembled media, announcing that these people share an intention to cut CO2 emissions and have talked about and planned to take direct action to pursuit of such cuts. Such a stunt, especially if repeat around the country, would enable the media to continue to talk about the alleged plan to shut down one of the countries biggest coal stations and the crazy plans to build even more such power stations at a time when we should be switching away from fossil fuels.
In summary, it would be useful to encourage groups to make press statements in support of the 114 people arrested which contain information about why it is vital that we urgently take action to switch from coal. It would also be useful to do solidarity actions such as the stunt described above as a vehicle to extend media interest and political pressure.
Making statements of support or doing effective direct action against climate criminals would be a good way to offer solidarity and continue media coverage and public interest. One possible idea would be for people to get together as groups of 114 and hand themselves into the cops in front of assembled media, announcing that these people share an intention to cut CO2 emissions and have talked about and planned to take direct action to pursuit of such cuts. Such a stunt, especially if repeat around the country, would enable the media to continue to talk about the alleged plan to shut down one of the countries biggest coal stations and the crazy plans to build even more such power stations at a time when we should be switching away from fossil fuels.
In summary, it would be useful to encourage groups to make press statements in support of the 114 people arrested which contain information about why it is vital that we urgently take action to switch from coal. It would also be useful to do solidarity actions such as the stunt described above as a vehicle to extend media interest and political pressure.
115 and counting