The second Welsh Camp for Climate Action is now underway, keeping up the pressure on opencast mines in the area. Last year’s camp was at Merthyr Tydfil, next to the huge Ffos-y-Fran opencast coal mine; this year Climate Camp Cymru has taken a site near Dyffryn Cellwen, north of Glyn-Neath, close to two more opencast mines. You are invited to join the camp for five days of sustainable living, workshops and direct action against the coal mining industry.
OPENCAST COAL MINES TARGETED AGAIN
This year’s camp is situated close to Nant Helen and Selar opencast coal mines, both of which are run by Celtic Energy, a company which extracts over 1 million tonnes of coal a year from its sites in South Wales. Celtic Energy also operates the nearby Onllwyn coal processing and distribution plant.
400,000 tonnes of coal a year are extracted from the Nant Helen site alone, while the mine at Selar trashed a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), at Selar Farm, the first SSSI which has ever been allowed to be destroyed in this way.
Climate activists have vowed to take direct action against these sites and others to highlight the need to move away from fossil fuels.
A spokesperson from Climate Camp Cymru said: “Our current economic system is based on an addiction to fossil fuels and on maximising profit at the expense of people and the environment. We need green jobs for Wales, not dirty destruction.
“Burning coal is destroying our climate, while open cast mining damages the earth and the health of local people. We must leave coal in the ground. Fossil fuel corporations like Celtic Energy must not be allowed to progress unchecked. Join a growing number of ordinary people taking direct action, and exploring alternatives, to stop the madness that is destroying the earth. This August 13th -17th come to Climate Camp Cymru.”
HOW TO GET THERE
The camp is situated on Camnant Road, North of Dyffryn Cellwen. The nearest train stations are Neath and Aberdare. For detailed information about getting to the site, read this and visit the Climate Camp Cymru website. The camp site phone number is 07040 909 147.
CAMP COINCIDES WITH SENTENCING OF COAL ACTIVISTS IN MERTHYR
While the camp was being established in the hills, climate activists who halted work at Ffos-y-Fran open cast coal mine in April by locking on to the mine’s railway track to stop the movement of coal from the mine to Aberthaw power station were being sentenced in Merthyr Tydfil Crown Court. 13 activists from Bristol and Bath Rising Tide were given conditional discharges and restraining orders. The activists pleaded guilty to the lesser charge of Obstruction of the Railway after the initial charges of Obstruction of the Railway with Intent, which carry a maximum sentence of life imprisonment, were dropped.
BREAK THE BANK!
As Climate Camp Cymru finishes, activists will be preparing for the next Camp for Climate Action, which will take place in Edinburgh from 21-24 August. The target for this camp will be the headquarters of the Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS), one of the world’s largest investors in oil, gas and coal. Take back the power and break the bank!
REPORTS
Climate Camp Cymru 2010: | 1 | 2 | 3 | Website
Climate Camp Cymru 2009: | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Photos: | 1 | 2 |
Coal Train Action: | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | Photos: | 1 |
Other current coal resistance
Huntington Lane (Shropshire): | 1 | 2 | Website
Minorca (Leicestershire): | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Website
More Climate Camps
| Climate Camp Round-up 2009 | Call-out for Climate Camp 2010 | Camp for Climate Action |