End of the line for coal – three activists in court
2nd May 2007
Press release: Save Happy Valley Christchurch
FOR IMMEDIATE USE

Three members of Save Happy Valley Christchurch will appear in the Christchurch District Court at 10am on Thursday May 3rd over charges stemming from the blockade of a coal train in Templeton on Sunday April 29th in protest against state-owned miner Solid Energy's planned open-cast coal mine in Happy Valley on the West Coast. A vigil outside court will be held from 9.15am.

Simon Riddell and Gregory Curline will appear charged with "Interferes with rail line" while Anna-Claire Hunter has been charged with "communicating with a prisoner" after allegedly passing a bottle of water to Riddell and Curline, who had been locked on the train tracks for two hours and were thirsty .

"This must be the end of the line for coal mining in this country,"said Simon Riddell. "Solid Energy are a rogue state owned enterprise who are responsible annually for mining coal which will create carbon emissions roughly equivalent to the annual emissions from all domestic land transport."

"At a time when climate change requires immediate action to prevent catastrophic results for the entire planet, the Labour Government is encouraging Solid Energy to mine more coal, the worst fossil fuel for the environment, in a cynical move putting profit ahead of the planet once again," stated Anna-Claire Hunter. "Which is the real crime? Delaying a coal train for a few hours or destroying Happy Valley and expanding the fossil fuel industry?"

"The fact that over one dozen police officers and fire service personnel came to our protest is ridiculous. The real emergency is stopping Solid Energy's destructive practices, not protecting them from concerned people like us," said Gregory Curline.

The activists are all pleading not guilty, and plan to continue to challenge Solid Energy's destructive practices in the future.

ENDS

© Scoop Media