Occupation Celebrates First Birthday, Happy Valley Still Safe

The Save Happy Valley Coalition will celebrate the first birthday of its occupation of the proposed Cypress open-cast coal mine site on January 28th, 2007.

“Thanks to the Coalition’s efforts, the wetland, forest, resident great spotted kiwi (roa), western weka, Powelliphanta patrickensis and other rare and endangered native species are all still safe, untouched by the digger and the dynamite of state owned enterprise Solid Energy,” said Save Happy Valley Coalition (SHVC) spokesperson, Frances Mountier.

"Over 500 people have joined the occupation in the first year of its existence, and all have marvelled at the stunning natural beauty of Happy Valley and its surrounds" said Ms. Mountier. "Many have expressed disbelief that such an ecologically destructive proposal as strip-mining Happy Valley could even be made in a time where kiwi are predicted to be extinct on the mainland by 2020 (1), and the threat of climate change is becoming more and more pronounced."

“The Labour government, in their support of Solid Energy, have demonstrated time and time again that their dedication to promoting biodiversity and combating climate change is limited to the field of rhetoric, and will never progress into concrete action" said Ms. Mountier. "We continue to affirm that this mine must and will not go ahead, and we will do everything in our power to ensure that."

"The occupation has reached its first birthday, with success so far! Until the Valley is safe from Solid Energy, we will remain, and we invite all members of the public to come and join us, whether for two days or two months."

ENDS

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