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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">Climate Camp
Cymru 2009<span style=""> </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;">The Abuse of
Coal</span><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style=""> </span><span style=""> </span><i style=""></i></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">In mid-August Wales held its first
Camp for Climate Action on the outskirts of Merthyr Tydfil, a community abused
by coal. </span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">The Ffos-y-Fran
site is the biggest open cast coal mine in the UK and a colossal reminder of
the governments failure to face up to climate change. Burning coal is the most
climate-damaging activity we engage in and if we’re serious about safeguarding
our future, we must leave it in the ground. <b style=""></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">Instead, the
government has granted Miller Argent (the company which runs the mine) a 17
year contract to remove the coal which lays only 36 metres from the nearest
home, describing it as a ‘Land Reclamation Scheme’ because it was apparently <i style="">too dangerous</i> in its previous state...
nothing to do with the 10.8 million tonnes of coal beneath the surface then.<span style=""> </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">Like all
abusive partners, the issues here are complicated and the relationship between
the communities in the valleys of South Wales and coal is understandably tense.
Historically a large employer in Merthyr, coal is still remembered as such; but
it also left towns in ruin and people jobless, not to mention the catastrophic
consequences for the local environment and global climate. The two faces of
coal: the employer and the destroyer. Not an easy mix, but yet coal is seeing
resurgence. Just as the memory of the pit closures fade and the scree slopes and
slag heaps grass over, the coal industry fuelled by government directives is
rearing its ugly head once more. But this time, not without a fight. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">The first Camp
for Climate Action in Wales pitched its tents in-between the mine and the
community in an act of solidarity with local residents who face noise, dust and
visual pollution daily and continually have their voices suppressed by Miller
Argent. Local democracy has failed the people of Merthyr where one petition
received 10,000 signatures in opposition to the new mine. The camp formed a hub
for learning about the issues and how to take action on them. We shared ideas
and built support for the local campaign while evening discussions focused on
drawing comparisons between communities fighting for social and environmental
justice across the British Isles. Workshops ran throughout the camp on topics
such as direct action, economics and sustainable development. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">On the
Saturday of the Camp we were taken on a ‘tour’ of the mine in a defiant stroll
to get a good vantage over the deep hole and the town. It really is close, and
very big. Diggers the size of houses are dwarfed and only visible because of
their contrasting yellow, while the pit itself winds ever deeper into the earth
with trucks snaking up the opposite hill-side brimming with coal.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">There was a
large police presence surrounding the mine for the duration of the camp, and
although we didn’t collectively venture into the mine itself- it is an easy
target. There has been direct action taken here in the past, occupations bringing
operations to a standstill on two separate occasions, and no doubt there will
be more until we see the end of the new coal age. However, this camp did not organise
a mass action in advance. Instead, the focus was on movement building and equipping
people with the skills and confidence to begin to make effective changes in
society. <span style=""> </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">A ‘green fayre’
in the centre of the town organised by the local campaign group ‘Residents
Against Foss-y-Fran’ (RAFF) on Friday provided an opportunity for people to
look at alternative employment which could exist in the absence of coal. The
alternatives are real as well, the door just needs to be opened for employment
– a ‘just transition’ with plentiful opportunities. Merthyr is perfectly sited
for a very different kind of energy industry: Wind. In fact, a planning
application for a small wind farm near to the open cast site was turned down by
the local planning authority because of ‘visual impact’. You couldn’t make it
up. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">Taking a
walk up to the mine with local people opened many eyes to the contrary behaviour
of our society. We have to stop this mine- yes; but we have to reverse the
mentality which goes with it – the unfettered actions of corporations which
trample local people and places while driving irreversible climate change in
the pursuit of profit. They are the tell tale signs of an ineffective system
which regards destruction as progress. The camp challenged this perspective and
gave hope to many who have been oppressed by mining operations in the Valleys
for years. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">Climate Camp Cymru will head to
Cardiff on the 19<sup>th</sup> of September for the next Wales – wide gathering
to discuss the next steps. Meanwhile, there is a Wales day of action on the 24<sup>th</sup>
of October. Put it in your diaries and join the Wales Climate Action movement!</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span></p>
<br><br><div class="gmail_quote">2009/9/4 Calvin Jones <span dir="ltr"><<a href="mailto:calvin.jones@gmail.com">calvin.jones@gmail.com</a>></span><br><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="border-left: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); margin: 0pt 0pt 0pt 0.8ex; padding-left: 1ex;">
Hi Jon,<br><br>Is this the kind of thing that you where after?<br><br>I`m sure lewis would be happy for you to use it if suitable.<br><br>Regards,<br>Calvin<br><br><div class="gmail_quote">---------- Forwarded message ----------<br>
From: <b class="gmail_sendername">Lewis</b> <span dir="ltr"><></span><br>Date: Tue, Aug 25, 2009 at 5:27 PM<br>Subject: [Media-cymru] Article about the camp.<br>To:
Media/Networking CCCymru <<a href="mailto:media-cymru@lists.aktivix.org" target="_blank">media-cymru@lists.aktivix.org</a>>,
Networking CCCymru <<a href="mailto:networking-cymru@lists.aktivix.org" target="_blank">networking-cymru@lists.aktivix.org</a>><br><br><br>Is
any of this text useful to anyone? - It could be editied/cut up for use
on some of the posters, or press releases. Sorry, I'm not very good at
writing short snappy captions, it just turned into an article! <br>
<p><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;"><br></span></p><p><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">Climate Camp
Cymru 2009<span> </span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;">The Abuse of
Coal</span><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;"><span> </span><span> </span><i>Lewis Winks</i></span></p>
<p><b><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">In mid-August Wales held its first
Camp for Climate Action on the outskirts of Merthyr Tydfil, a community abused
by coal. </span></b></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">The Foss-y-Fran
site is the biggest open cast coal mine in the UK and a colossal reminder of the
governments failure to face up to climate change. Burning coal is the most
climate-damaging activity we engage in and if we’re serious about safeguarding
our future, we must leave it in the ground. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">Instead, the
government has granted Miller Argent (the company which runs the mine) a 17
year contract to remove the coal which lays only 36 metres from the nearest
home, describing it as a ‘Land Reclamation Scheme’ because it was apparently <i>too dangerous</i> in its previous state... nothing
to do with the 10.8 million tonnes of coal beneath the surface, of course.<span> </span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">Like all
abusive partners, the issues here are complicated and the relationship between
the communities in the valleys of South Wales and coal is understandably tense.
Historically a large employer in Merthyr, coal is still remembered as such; but
it also left towns in ruin and people jobless, not to mention the catastrophic
consequences for the local environment and global climate. The two faces of
coal: the employer and the destroyer. Not an easy mix, but yet coal is seeing
resurgence. Just as the memory of the pit closures fade and the scree slopes and
slag heaps grass over, the coal industry fuelled by government directives is
rearing its ugly head once more. But this time, not without a fight. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">The first Camp
for Climate Action in Wales pitched its tents in-between the mine and the
community in an act of solidarity with local residents who face noise, dust and
visual pollution daily and continually have their voices suppressed by Miller
Argent. Local democracy has failed the people of Merthyr where one petition received
10,000 signatures in opposition to the new mine. The camp formed a hub for
learning about the issues and how to take action on them. We shared ideas and
built support for the local campaign while evening discussions focused on
drawing comparisons between communities fighting for social and environmental
justice across the British Isles. Workshops ran throughout the week on topics
such as direct action, economics and sustainable development, as well as a range of activities for younger climate campers. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">On the
Saturday of the Camp we were taken on a ‘tour’ of the mine in a defiant stroll
to get a good vantage over the deep hole and the town. It really is close, and
very big. Diggers the size of houses are dwarfed and only visible because of
their contrasting yellow, while the pit itself winds ever deeper into the earth
with trucks snaking up the opposite hill-side brimming with coal.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">There was a
large police presence surrounding the mine for the duration of the camp, and
although we didn’t collectively venture into the mine itself- it is an easy
target. There has been direct action taken here in the past, occupations bringing
operations to a standstill on two separate occasions, and no doubt there will
be more until we see the end of the new coal age. However, this camp did not organise
a mass action in advance. Instead, the focus was on movement building and equipping
people with the skills and confidence to begin to make effective changes in
society. <span> </span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">A ‘green fare’
in the centre of the town organised by the local campaign group ‘Residents
Against Foss-y-Fran’ (RAFF) on Friday provided an opportunity for people to
look at alternative employment which could exist in the absence of coal. The
alternatives are real as well, the door just needs to be opened for employment
– a ‘just transition’ with plentiful opportunities. Merthyr is perfectly sited
for a very different kind of energy industry: Wind. In fact, a planning
application for a small wind farm near to the open cast site was turned down by
the local planning authority because of ‘visual impact’. You couldn’t make it
up. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">Taking a
walk up to the mine with local people opened many eyes to the contrary behaviour
of our society. We have to stop this mine- yes; but we have to reverse the
mentality which goes with it – the unfettered actions of corporations which
trample over local people and places and drive irreversible climate change in
the pursuit of profit. They are the tell tale signs of an ineffective system
which regards destruction as progress. The camp challenged this perspective and
gave hope to many who have been oppressed by mining operations in the Valleys
for years. </span></p>
<p><b><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">Climate Camp Cymru will return to
Merthyr on the 19<sup>th</sup> of September for the next Wales – wide gathering
to discuss the next steps. Meanwhile, there is a Wales day of action on the 24<sup>th</sup>
of October. Put it in your diaries and join the Wales Climate Action movement!</span></b></p><br>
</div><br>
</blockquote></div><br>