Greenpeace welcomes Happy Valley Occupation

*Auckland: Friday 27 January 2006: *Greenpeace today applauded the initiative of the Save Happy Valley campaign to begin an occupation of the proposed Happy Valley coal mine site on Saturday, as part of their campaign to stop the project.

“Coal is a health and environmental villain from mine to sky. It destroys biodiversity and waterways at the mine, when burnt releases toxins such as mercury and dioxin which pose a serious threat to human health and it contributes to climate change – the most serious threat facing the planet today.” said Greenpeace Campaign Manager Cindy Baxter.

“With the recent news from NASA that 2005 was the hottest year on
record and scientists are warning us that we have only 10 years to avoid climate catastrophe, it is clear that dirty old coal has no future, either taken from the Happy Valley mine or burnt at the proposed Marsden B power station.”

“There is widespread concern about climate change and it is inspiring to see community members at the forefront of the battle to protect the climate, by taking direct action.”

Consumers can also help protect the climate by making the switch to a clean, renewable electricity provider using Greenpeace’s /Clean Energy Guide/.

“New Zealand needs to address climate change and protect our environment by developing a long term strategy encouraging renewable technology such as wind farms, stopping climate-polluting power sources such as Marsden B and increasing energy efficiency,” concluded Baxter.

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