On the 6th of June, 21 climate activists received their sentences for aggravated trespass of the EDF owned West Burton Gas power plant. The action took place last October, when the activists got into the power plant in the dead of night and scaled up the chimneys to ensure that the power plant could not operated during their 8 days of occupation. During sentencing district judge Leo Pyle said "What you planned, you executed to perfection." and that "It is right to say that I took into account the conscientious motives of all of you.", once again flagging up the real concern that exist about the consequences of burning more fossil fuels and thus exacerbating the ever worsening climate change. The No Dash for Gas activists received a variety of fines, suspended sentences and some were also ordered to do unpaid community service.
Though this is not a victory for these activists, victory would be our government announcing that it will halt their dash for gas, the building of the proposed power stations and the fracking and other gas mining operations that are earmarked to occur in most of our counties. We are being told that we will be self dependent for our gas supplies because of the mining of these unconventional gas deposits and the question that needs to be thrown back at them is at what cost?
Fracking operations in the US have caused ground water contamination and the release of toxins into the environment which has created uncertainty whether fracking in the UK will be any different, but what is not uncertain is that the dash for gas will ensure that we do not meet our targets to reduce the amount of greenhouse gasses we emit, and thus make catastrophic climate change more of a certainty.
Now that the legal proceedings against the activists from No Dash for Gas have drawn to a close, the next step in this struggle to safeguard a sustainable environment for future generations, has come to light. A protest and camp titled "Reclaim the Power" which will take place outside the West Burton power plant and last for 4 days in August, between the 17th and the 20th
For more information: Event Page (Facebook) & No Dash for Gas Website
Rakesh
The video below is about the motives and dedication of the activists from No Dash for Gas, who are people like you & me trying to make a positive change
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