Building momentum from the 2006 Drax and 2008 Heathrow camp as well as recent actions on on the wingtail of a plane at Heathrow and the roof of Parliment, climate activist promise that 2008 will be "the year of direct action on Climate Change".
The protest will begin with a one-day event at Heathrow, where last year's camp brought together 2000 people, before marching across London to Kingsnorth. This is one of eight Climate Camps targeting coal across the world this summer.
Climate change activists will converge on Kingsnorth power station where owners EON plan to build the UK’s first coal fired power station in 30 years. Saturday 9th August has been named a 'day of mass protest and direct action' against Kingsnorth to highlight its impact on climate change.
Moving from Heathrow to Kingsnorth highlights government and corporate collusion to expand the fossil fuel economy when the scientific consensus demands the opposite. A day of action targeting the agrofuel industry will be an integral part of the week long camp.
Natasha Edleman said: “Building a new coal-fired power station in the middle of a climate crisis is madness. The science shows that we only have a few years to avert catastrophic climate change. If we let this happen then there are seven more power stations coming. This must be stopped.”
Kingsnorth will produce twice as many many climate-harming emissions as a third runway at Heathrow. According to the World Development Movement, flights from Heathrow will produce as much greenhouse gas as the whole of Kenya.
If Kingsnorth is built it is likely to open the way to new build coal. Up to seven other similar projects are planned. Growth in coal-power will undermine investment in renewable energy.
In addition to the camp, days of action on climate change are planned for the 1st April (Fossil Fools Day), 1st May (Mayday), 3rd June (highlighting issues to do with food and climate change)
www.climatecamp.org.uk