It’s 2018: the devastating impacts of climate change and environmental destruction are here yet we’re still digging up coal as the fossil fuel industry continues to exploit communities on the front line of extraction.
The northeast of England is facing a renewed threat from devastating opencast coal mining. Whilst the government turns a blind eye to climate chaos and impacts on communities, it’s up to people from all walks of life to come together and resist in the name of a better world. Since March 2018, Campaign to Protect Pont Valley has built upon a stoic 30 year local campaign, using direct action and community solidarity to stand up against Banks Mining to disrupt the destruction of the beautiful Pont Valley, County Durham by extracting half a million tonnes of coal. Despite great financial cost, having no social license, evidence of wildlife crimes and breeches of planning conditions, Banks Group have started extracting coal from the valley. This coal is set to fuel the power stations pushing us toward climate breakdown.
Banks Group are appealing the rejection of their application to opencast at the iconic Druridge Bay, Northumberland in October and have another application at Derwley Hill, whilst Hargreaves have started mining near Pittington, Co Durham. These last ditch attempts at money grabbing at the expense of local communities, our climate and transition to renewables, need to be thwarted.
The “Coal Nee More” action and skill-share camp will be running between 5th-9th September will unite frontline communities fighting opencast coal in the northeast and concerned comrades from afar to build a better future. As time runs out to safeguard against climate breakdown, we will take mass direct action to keep coal in the ground. Like radical changes in history, civil disobedience and direct action are key to making the huge change we need. The camp will include workshops so we can learn and share a wide range of skills to further the movement.
Creating this space to take action and coming together isn’t free. We are asking for solidarity to help us cover costs for the camp and wider campaign, including: camp infrastrure hire, printing flyers, venue hire for info events, transport, food/catering, legal costs, accessbility needs.
https://chuffed.org/project/coalneemore
Thank you for your support, every donation means and is crucial to taking this movement forward. Please join us at the camp if you can. With inclusivity and diversity as our weapons, all are welcome!
More info:
www.protectpontvalley.noblogs.org
www.facebook.com/protectpontvalley
www.twitter.com/pontvalleycamp
Email: coalneemore@riseup.net