The Occupation Begins

Cory A

Even though the evidence for global warming has become so overwhelming that governments can no longer ignore it, stateowned olid Energy New Zealand Ltd is creating an opencast coal mine at Happy Valley on the West Coast, about 25km northeast of Westport.

Coal is a dirty source of energy. Burning it creates carbon dioxide, which causes global warming, climate change, and weather chaos. Coal mining is also environmentally damaging, causing acid
mine drainage, polluting waterways, destroying animal habitats and biodiversity. In response, over 75 people tramped into the Valley in late January to begin an indefinite occupation of the planned mine site. The occupation was also visited by Alan Mark, one of NZ's most renowned wetland ecologists, as art of a One News segment. He had a close-up look around Happy Valley, before doing his interview in which he said Solid Energy's plans to move the wetlands then put them back after mining were impossible. Save Happy Valley campaigners are asking for support for the occupation - either by visiting Happy Valley or in other ways.