From: bobo@enzyme.org.nz
Date: Fri, 31 Dec 2004 13:56:56 +1300 (NZDT)
Hi there everyone,
I'm just forwarding a brief update of the Save Happy Valley campaign down
here in Aotearoa/New Zealand. The campaign aims to stop the mining of a
beautiful and ecologically important valley which is the habit of many
indemic species. The south island valley will be mined by State owned
enterprise Solid Energy (Soiled Energy) for 'clean' coal to be imported
overseas. The issues relating to weather chaos/climate change play a
significant role in the campaign.
Whilst Aotearoa/New Zealand has a small history of radical
environmentalism (including succesful actions on the same coast relating
to a state-owned enterprise involved in the logging of native timber)
there has been no long term radical-grassroots action orientated
environmental movement. The obvious issues involved in this campaign
bridge social justice and environmental issues together and hopefully this
will provide a platform for a strong movement environmental justice type
movement.
Having just won a GE campaign to get Inghams and KFC to go Ge Free I will
now focus my time on trying to help create a Rising Tide network in
Aotearoa/New Zealand. I'm building a temporary website largely based on
the UK site at
<http://risingtide.earthfirst.org.nz>http://risingtide.earthfirst.org.nz
and would love
comments/help/ideas updated information on the campaign overseas.
Hope you enjoy reading about stuff downunder!
Yours,
Bobo
Save Happy Valley Campaign
Update #3
December 28, 2004
------------------------------------
Kia ora koutou,
Here’s a quick round-up of what we’ve been up to with a few links for more
information on each of our actions.
Happy Valley Campout No. 2
Our second campout at Happy Valley (28th August – 4th September) ended up
attracting about 45 people over the whole week. It was good to hike back
out to Happy Valley and remind ourselves of what’s going to be destroyed
if the mine goes ahead.
The Tree-sit
During the second Happy Valley campout, Fiona Gibson and Rob Cadmus,
members of Dunedin’s SEA (Students for Environmental Action) and the Save
Happy Valley Campaign, undertook a week-long tree-sit and fast on a small
platform suspended from a tree on the road to Stockton. This action
focused on the climate change impacts of coal mining.
For more information, see:
<http://indymedia.org.nz/newswire/display/20605/index.php>http://indymedia.org.nz/newswire/display/20605/index.php
Christchurch infostall and protest
In early June, Bruce Stuart-Menteath of Forest & Bird organized an
info-stall in Cathedral Square and a protest at the Solid Energy offices
in Christchurch. About 400 leaflets were handed out, concentrating on
river pollution. Later, at the Solid Energy offices, Bruce handed over a
“Worst River of the Decade” award to Solid Energy CEO Don Elder and
Environmental Manager Mark Pizey for Solid Energy’s pollution of the
Ngakawau river.
Other infostalls have taken place around the country, as well as a lot of
postering in major cities.
Protesters Storm the Stage of the "Champion Canterbury Awards"
On Thursday 23rd September, about 20 protesters made quite a ruckus at the
"Champion Canterbury Awards" in Christchurch. The protest targeted Solid
Energy as well as Crop&Food and the Cancer Society. Solid Energy was given
an eco-terrorist award.
For more information and photos, see:
<http://indymedia.org.nz/feature/display/21302/index.php>http://indymedia.org.nz/feature/display/21302/index.php
Happy Valley and Climate Protesters Visit Solid Energy sponsored event
On Sunday 10th of October protesters visited the Steam and Boat Fair in
Ngaruawahia
which was sponsored by Solid Energy, brandishing ‘Solid Energy out of
Happy Valley’ & ‘Solid Energy Climate Chaos’ banners.
For more information and photos, see:
<http://indymedia.org.nz/newswire/display_any/22061>http://indymedia.org.nz/newswire/display_any/22061
Protestors dig up Solid Energy’s lawn
On Friday 10th December demonstrators dug up Solid Energy's front lawn at
their offices in Christchurch while others, dressed as kiwi, served Solid
Energy staff relocation notices. There was an item on the protest on TV3
News that evening.
For more information and photos, see:
<http://indymedia.org.nz/newswire/display/23539/index.php>http://indymedia.org.nz/newswire/display/23539/index.php
T-shirt selling
The SEA group in Dunedin has been making Happy Valley T-shirts and selling
them to raise money for Ngakawau Riverwatch. If you want one, get in touch
and we’ll send one your way for a small price. We also have patches and
stickers.
Information booklets, Happy Valley website and the like
We’ve been working on a Save Happy Valley Campaign information booklet
which is almost finished. The plan is to get these around the country to
Environment Centres and the like. If you want a copy, please get in touch,
gold coin donation plus postage each… buy a handful and give them to
friends!
And while we’re talking about Happy Valley information, don’t forget the
website, tell your friends to visit it!
<http://www.happyvalley.enzyme.org.nz>http://www.happyvalley.enzyme.org.nz
Rising Tide International
If you’re interested in grassroots climate campaigning around the world,
check out these websites:
<http://www.risingtide.nl>http://www.risingtide.nl
<http://www.risingtide.org.uk>http://www.risingtide.org.uk
And that wraps things up for the moment. More will be happening over the
summer period - apart from our planned leaflet drop on the coast, we’re
also sure to be active at the time of the Environment Court hearing in
March. Get in touch if you’ve got any good ideas or you want to play a
more active role in the campaign.
Happy New Year’s,
Jonathan Oosterman
(Save Happy Valley Campaign)
--
Bobo
Enzyme Co-Ordinator
<http://www.enzyme.org.nz>http://www.enzyme.org.nz
Enymze provides koha web services for activists engaged in
non-authoritarian struggles for human liberation, workers self-management,
indigenous rights, the ethical treatment of animals, and ecological
sustainability.