Coal Action Network Aoteaora Hands Across The Sand Action

Around 130 people joined hands yesterday on the beach at Motueka Quey in support of phasing out fossil fuels. Over 100 gathered on Pohara Beach in Golden Bay and 140 people on Tahunahui beach in Nelson.

The symbolic action of joining hands, and literally drawing a line in the sand, occurred simultaneously in Nelson, Motueka and Golden Bay at 12 noon. This series of regionally organised actions were part of seven across New Zealand and hundreds of events globally. 'Hands Across The Sand' is an international movement of people calling for Governments and industry to abandon their fossil fuel agendas.

On his recent tour of New Zealand, Dr James Hansen, top NASA climate scientist stated "coal emissions must be phased out as rapidly as possible or global climate disasters will be a dead certainty. 'Clean coal' technology does not exist and carbon capture is not economically feasible. Developed countries will need to complete their coal phase-out by about 2020, if global phase-out of coal is to be achieved by 2030. If coal emissions are phased out this rapidly— a tall order, but a feasible one— the climate problem is solvable."Dr Hansen has warned, “Coal is the single greatest threat to civilization and all life on our planet."

Coal Action Network Aotearoa spokesperson for Top of the South, Helen Tulett, who spoke at the Motueka 'Hands Across The Sand' event, said ''to see people joining hands today and literally making a line in the sand is very inspiring, 70 people came to hear Jeanette Fitzsimons speak on Southland Lignite developments at a meeting on Monday, and to have double that participating today in the international call for a renewable energy future, sends a strong message to the Government and industry, that New Zealand must leave the coal in the hole''.

Hands Across the Sand

http://www.handsacrossthesand.com/

Coal Action Network Aotearoa Supports Day of Action Against Fossil Fuel Extraction

Coal Action Network Aotearoa has today come out in support of the, Top of the South 'hands across the sand' regional actions, occurring simultaneously on June 25th at 12noon on Tahunanui, Motueka and Pohara beaches. These events will kick off an international day of action against fossil fuel extraction.

“People in Nelson, Motueka and Golden Bay are taking this opportunity to join hands and draw a line in the sand to say no to expanded fossil fuel extraction in NZ and urge the Government to abandon their fossil fuel agenda” said Frances Mountier, spokesperson for Coal Action Network Aotearoa.

“We call for New Zealand to leave the coal in the hole. Coal Action Network Aotearoa stands in solidarity with the people in Nelson, Motueka, Golden Bay and people from countries around the world who are using their voices to call for a clean energy future – such as Australia, UK, Ireland, Canada, Mexico, Colombia, Peru, Greece, Italy, Portugal, Norway and South Africa. There are 180 events confirmed in the US alone”.

For more on hands across the sand see www.handsacrossthesand.org.

“On a local, national and global level, joining hands sends a powerful visual message to Governments and corporations that New Zealand must leave the coal in the hole. We are unified in our concerns against fossil fuel extraction, and are calling for an economy based on clean renewable energy”.

"Coal Action Network Aotearoa supports the call from the top of the south to phase out fossil fuels. We don't want to contribute to catastrophic climate change by supporting further fossil fuel extraction. Instead there needs to be more discussion around the economic opportunities Aotearoa New Zealand will miss out on. We need to priortise the development of home-grown clean technologies."

Coal Action Network is aware of the applications made by the overseas shadow company Greywolf in the Tasman Bay region and understands this company is a front for the massive Chinese company Qinghua.

"There have been multiple public meetings held in the Nelson, Tasman Bay region in the past few weeks which have seen people expressing their outrage at the current government's interest in continuing fossil fuel extraction over an economy based on clean, renewable energy". said Ms Mountier.

Note: Greywolf's applications for exploration in the Tasman Bay region were withdrawn as a result of local opposition by local groups including Manawhenua Ki Mohua, who called a meeting at Onetahua marae. Greywolf are now facing investigations of deception through the Serious Fraud Office.

Coal Action Network Aotearoa (CAN Aotearoa) is a group of climate justice campaigners committed to fighting the continuation of coal mining in Aotearoa New Zealand.

CAN Aotearoa's objectives are to:
1. Phase out coal mining and coal usage within 20 years, initially by opposing new and expanded coal mines.
2. Promote a cultural change so that mining and using coal are unacceptable.
3. Work towards a society where people and the environment are not exploited for profit.
4. Be part of a just transition to a coal-free Aotearoa New Zealand.

Find out more at: http://coalactionnetworkaotearoa.wordpress.com/

© Scoop Media