South Africa: Clean energy protest lands activists in jail
Erin Hanekom | 24.10.2012 14:44 | Climate Chaos | Ecology | Energy Crisis | World
BOBBY Peek, former Wentworth resident, was among the 14 environmental activist arrested yesterday, October 23 while protesting at the Eskom Megawatt Park in Johannesburg.
The arrested include activists from Earthlife, Greenpeace Africa and GroundWork’s Bobby Peek.
According to police, Eskom has laid charges of trespassing, intimidation, malicious damage to property and illegal gathering against the activists.
The activists handed over a banner to the electricity suppliers at dawn yesterday, reading 'Eskom: Under new management.' They then locked themselves to the front entrance of the building and chained themselves to a table outside the building.
The protest was in response to Eskom's announcement of further electricity price increases to pay for new coal-fired power stations.
They called for an end to South Africa's addiction to coal by investing in renewable energy instead, providing sustainable jobs, preventing a water crisis, providing affordable and accessible electricity for all and making sure people no longer suffer from the health impacts associated with coal-fired power stations and coal mines.
Chained to the table were Bobby Peek from GroundWork, acting as the new Eskom CEO, Makoma Lekalakala from Earthlife Africa JHB, as the new stakeholder engagement director, and Melita Steele from Greenpeace Africa as the new spokesman.
"We are here today because Eskom has clearly failed the people of South Africa, and we are united in calling for a fundamental shift away from coal by Eskom. While government pumps billions into developing new Eskom coal-fired power stations to power industry, health is increasingly affected by the toxic by-products of coal from industries. This happens during each step of the coal-to-energy lifecycle. Those exposed to this constant air pollution suffer from chronic respiratory conditions, such as bronchitis and pneumonia," said GroundWork director, Bobby Peek.
"Water plays a critical role in poverty alleviation and development. At the moment, Eskom is holding our water resources hostage by burning coal to produce electricity. This uses staggering amounts of the scarce resource, and pushes this country to the brink of a water crisis. The reality is Eskom needs to shift away from coal to safeguard SA's future. There are effective alternatives to coal, but there is no substitute for water," said Melita Steele, Greenpeace Africa's climate and energy campaigner.
Before their arrest, the ‘new management team’ said they were prepared to end their protest once they were invited into Megawatt Park to formally take over as Eskom's official new management.
The activists remain in custody at the Sandton police station, but no charges have been brought against them.
"Our paramount concern is for the welfare of the 14 activists that are under detention. For us, the charge of illegal gathering is a serious contradiction, as this refers to a gathering in a public area, according to South African law; and further contradicts the charge of trespass," said Greenpeace Africa's executive director, Michael Onyeka-O'brien.
http://ccs.ukzn.ac.za/default.asp?2,27,3,2784
According to police, Eskom has laid charges of trespassing, intimidation, malicious damage to property and illegal gathering against the activists.
The activists handed over a banner to the electricity suppliers at dawn yesterday, reading 'Eskom: Under new management.' They then locked themselves to the front entrance of the building and chained themselves to a table outside the building.
The protest was in response to Eskom's announcement of further electricity price increases to pay for new coal-fired power stations.
They called for an end to South Africa's addiction to coal by investing in renewable energy instead, providing sustainable jobs, preventing a water crisis, providing affordable and accessible electricity for all and making sure people no longer suffer from the health impacts associated with coal-fired power stations and coal mines.
Chained to the table were Bobby Peek from GroundWork, acting as the new Eskom CEO, Makoma Lekalakala from Earthlife Africa JHB, as the new stakeholder engagement director, and Melita Steele from Greenpeace Africa as the new spokesman.
"We are here today because Eskom has clearly failed the people of South Africa, and we are united in calling for a fundamental shift away from coal by Eskom. While government pumps billions into developing new Eskom coal-fired power stations to power industry, health is increasingly affected by the toxic by-products of coal from industries. This happens during each step of the coal-to-energy lifecycle. Those exposed to this constant air pollution suffer from chronic respiratory conditions, such as bronchitis and pneumonia," said GroundWork director, Bobby Peek.
"Water plays a critical role in poverty alleviation and development. At the moment, Eskom is holding our water resources hostage by burning coal to produce electricity. This uses staggering amounts of the scarce resource, and pushes this country to the brink of a water crisis. The reality is Eskom needs to shift away from coal to safeguard SA's future. There are effective alternatives to coal, but there is no substitute for water," said Melita Steele, Greenpeace Africa's climate and energy campaigner.
Before their arrest, the ‘new management team’ said they were prepared to end their protest once they were invited into Megawatt Park to formally take over as Eskom's official new management.
The activists remain in custody at the Sandton police station, but no charges have been brought against them.
"Our paramount concern is for the welfare of the 14 activists that are under detention. For us, the charge of illegal gathering is a serious contradiction, as this refers to a gathering in a public area, according to South African law; and further contradicts the charge of trespass," said Greenpeace Africa's executive director, Michael Onyeka-O'brien.
http://ccs.ukzn.ac.za/default.asp?2,27,3,2784
Erin Hanekom
Homepage:
http://ccs.ukzn.ac.za
