13th August,

Protesters Stop Solid Energy Coal Trains

At least three Solid Energy coal trains have been stopped from reaching Lyttelton Port by protesters who have locked themselves onto railway tracks (1). They are protesting over Solid Energy’s plans for an open-cast coal mine in Happy Valley on the West Coast.

More than 25 people have gathered to support the three locked on. Two of those locked on are attached to the track itself and a third is hanging 30m above the ground from a nearby tree and whose support rope is tied to the tracks.

Large numbers of police are gathering to remove the protesters, and are bringing in cutting gear, but the protesters refuse to go.

“We refuse to move and will continue to block Solid Energy’s coal trains so long as they continue with their plans to destroy Happy Valley” commented Daniel Rae, one of those locked on.

“The coal from this mine will produce massive amounts of carbon dioxide emissions adding to climate change. Climate change is real and it is happening now and will be devastating if nothing is done about it. Yet despite their rhetoric, it seems neither state-owned Solid Energy nor the government are willing to do anything when their profits are threatened.”

ENDS

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