Leaders of the Green Party of England and Wales and Wales Green Party will be participating in the Reclaim the Power action camp being held near the Ffos-y-Fran opencast mine, Merthy Tydfil from the 30th of April till the 4rd of May.
Activists from across the UK will be coming to the camp to highlight the damaging impact of coal on health, the local environment and to the climate globally. The location of the camp will be announced at 12pm Saturday 30th of April.
The Green Party of England and Wales and Wales Green Party activists are supporting the camp being organised in partnership with local community groups, environmental action group Reclaim the Power and Climate Camp Cymru. Hundreds of people are expected to participate in events taking place over the back holiday weekend.
Alice Hooker-Stroud said:
" Fossil fuels must stay in the ground if we're to act responsibly on climate change. We don't need or want more open cast in Wales. There is huge potential for renewables in Wales, creating a clean energy economy fit for the future. Not only is the industry potentially worth billions to the Welsh economy - which could be invested by communities and local authorities in public services - but it would provide decent, sustainable jobs across Wales.”
Despite an unopposed Welsh Assembly vote for a moratorium on open-cast mining in Wales last year, mining company Miller Argent is seeking planning permission for a yet another mine nearby at Nant Llesg.
Natalie Bennett, leader of the Green Party of England and Wales said:
“If we are to meet commitments made in Paris to keep temperature rise below 1.5 degrees we need to end fossil fuel extraction now. The UK government is failing to act to cut our carbon emissions, instead it is decimating the renewables industry, and pursuing fracking and continuing the operation of open-cast mines; the UK’s climate change and energy policies are in crisis.”
Ellen Gibson, a spokesperson from Reclaim the Power, commented:
“The local community have battled the giant Ffos-y-fran mine polluting their homes and our planet for nearly a decade. Now we are joining them to resist coal company Miller Argent’s attempts to override local democracy and force through a new mine next door.”
A spokesperson for the local community group opposed to the mine said:
“This camp will boost the local community who are campaigning against dangerous levels of air pollution, noise and degradation of our beautiful landscape. It will also draw greater attention to the bullying tactics coal companies are using to try and overturn community rejection and enclose common land at Nant Llesg.”
Alice Hooker-Stroud (leader of the Wales Green Party) and Amelia Womack (Deputy Leader of the Green Party of England and Wales) will be speaking at the camp at 2pm on the 1st of May as part of the Solidarity Sunday event.
Alice Hooker-Stroud and Natalie Bennett will be holding a press conference at the entrance Reclaim the Power camp (the location with be confirmed on Saturday 12pm) at 8.30 am on the 3rd of May, to coincide with actions taking place that day to shut down the mine.
For images, interviews and further information please contact: Kimbryan@walesgreenparty.com/ 07874260407
Please RSVP to Kimbryan@walesgreenparty.com/ 07874260407 if you intend to attend the press conference. Due to actions to shut down the mine that day and anticipated police presence it may be necessary to relocate the press conference.