Paul Morozzo, arrested while attempting to enter Climate Camp in breach of his bail conditions (imposed for his participation in the Drax coal train occupation on 13 June 2008), was freed by Selby magistrates court today, Monday 11 August.
Activist Paul Morozzo, who was arrested by police on Monday 4 August for breaching bail conditions by attempting to enter Climate Camp, was freed by Selby magistrates court today, Monday 11 August, after spending a week in Wandsworth prison in London.
Paul is the first climate activist in Britain to be imprisoned for his campaigning work.
Paul was arrested and imprisoned because he was banned from the entire Hoo peninsula (containing both the Camp for Climate Action and Kingsnorth power station) under bail conditions imposed after his participation in the Drax coal train occupation. On 13 June 2008, together with 28 others, Paul occupied and partially emptied a coal train heading for the Drax power station, the single largest emitter of CO2 in the UK, responsible for over 20 million tons of CO2 in 2005.
Along with four others, Paul signed a letter to the Guardian published the Saturday before Climate Camp, stating his intention to openly and publicly break the bail conditions by entering Climate Camp to discuss how to prevent climate chaos. While the other signatories were able to enter Climate Camp (through police incompetence, it appears), Paul was arrested at the gate at 4.30pm on Monday, and transported the next day to Wandsworth prison.
Paul is now under strict bail conditions, having to report to police daily and reside at his home address every night, for example, and he will be returning to Selby magistrates court next Monday 18 August along with the other coal train activists.
A supporter who was in court described the hearing today as a "close run thing", with the magistrates leaving the room for a worryingly long time before announcing Paul's release.
Paul is the first climate activist in Britain to be imprisoned for his campaigning work.
Paul was arrested and imprisoned because he was banned from the entire Hoo peninsula (containing both the Camp for Climate Action and Kingsnorth power station) under bail conditions imposed after his participation in the Drax coal train occupation. On 13 June 2008, together with 28 others, Paul occupied and partially emptied a coal train heading for the Drax power station, the single largest emitter of CO2 in the UK, responsible for over 20 million tons of CO2 in 2005.
Along with four others, Paul signed a letter to the Guardian published the Saturday before Climate Camp, stating his intention to openly and publicly break the bail conditions by entering Climate Camp to discuss how to prevent climate chaos. While the other signatories were able to enter Climate Camp (through police incompetence, it appears), Paul was arrested at the gate at 4.30pm on Monday, and transported the next day to Wandsworth prison.
Paul is now under strict bail conditions, having to report to police daily and reside at his home address every night, for example, and he will be returning to Selby magistrates court next Monday 18 August along with the other coal train activists.
A supporter who was in court described the hearing today as a "close run thing", with the magistrates leaving the room for a worryingly long time before announcing Paul's release.
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