Peaceful protesters from the our Climate Rescue Station were attacked by mine workers today as they entered the vast Jóźwin IIB open pit mine near Konin in Poland. As they prepared to paint a huge "Stop" sign next to a giant excavator, the activists were assaulted and prevented from carrying out their peaceful protest. A journalist accompanying them was also beaten.
Climate and Energy Campaigner Magdalena Zowsik explained why they were there: "Our action is not against the miners but it is addressed to the Polish government. We demand that the forthcoming Polish energy policy contain a concrete plan for quitting coal and implementing renewable energy and energy efficiency. We also object to opening any new coal power plants."
The Greenpeace Climate Rescue Station was set up two weeks ago at the edge of the mine to bear witness to the destruction and environmental devastation caused by coal ahead of the international climate talks due to start in Poznan next month. Just last week 400 members of local communities whose homes and livelihoods are threatened by the mine joined us in a peaceful protest.
