As the climate crisis looms ever larger, the government-corporate response is, er, to build a whole load of new coal-fired power stations.

The first one is planned at Kingsnorth in Kent (where the existing on is due to close). The new power station would emit more CO2 than many whole countries.

If we do what science and justice demand, then we have to vastly reduce our carbon emissions and quickly. Coal, as the highest emitting source of power, has no future.

The industry talks of 'clean coal', with carbon capture technology that even they admit won't be available for decades. It's being used as an excuse to keep on burning fossils because that's what's profitable.

Other techno-fixes include biofuels that take farmland from the hungry and cause an increase in carbon emissions.

The solution to climate change is to abandon the vision that sees economic growth as the primary purpose of life, to use less resources and source what we do use sustainably.

By even considering new coal power stations governments and corporations are giving us the clearest possible message that they will not deliver the solutions we need. So we have to do it ourselves.

This year the Camp For Climate Action takes place near Kingsnorth from 3rd-11th August. there'll be a Day of Action against biofuels on the 6th, and one to shut down Kingsnorth on the 9th.

In the times between there'll be dozens of talks, workshops and discussions about the science, ideas and practicalities of climate change and what we should do.

If you trust Brown, Cameron and the energy companies to solve the problem of climate change, be somewhere else. If not, be there.

http://climatecamp.org.uk/">http://climatecamp.org.uk/

A new open cast coal mine site is about to get underway in beautiful Derbyshire unless we stop it now.

Lodge House site which is east of the village of Smalley and spans either side of Bell Lane, is one of seven that UK Coal is to open cast.

The area is about to be devastated, despite objections form local councils, residents and local environmental groups but the Secretary of State granted planning permission in 2007

The 122 hectare site will have one million tonnes of coal ripped out over the 5 years and returned back to its natural state according to UK Coal, however residents fear there may be more to the plot, as they were excluded from parts of the planning meeting under grounds of commercial confidentiality.

UK Coal are one of those companies that looks to maximise their profits by raping the land and profiting from it any way they can, after coal extraction, they return the area to business parks, housing and industrial estates. In some cases they return it to farmland and charge the farmers
rent or in low grade land grow energy crops according to there website. They are even into windpower, but as yet still not erected a turbine.

Coal is not clean energy and with the new onslaught of proposed power stations, UK Coal are looking to cash in on climate devastation and destruction unless we stop them.

The area is rich with wildlife and backs onto Shipley County Park some houses, (the sort of place you dream of living in) have been shuttered up and items like toys, dog kennels and other personal bits remain looking like something from a hurried evacuation from a war zone. UK Coal has stated that
the site will be returned to farm land, but they are able to expand beyond the 122 hectares without needing further permission.

To combat open cast mining a new action group “Leave it in the Ground” has formed, supported by Earth First! with an invite to a Picnic in the Park on 26th May for a mass trespass to see it before the destruction starts, meet the locals and have fun. So come and Discover Derbyshire!

Meet at the Visitors Centre, Shipley County Park of Slack Lane Heanor DE75 7GX at 12 noon on the 26th May

For more info phone 07852 460871 or email derby AT earthfirst.org.uk

Blog - http://leaveitintheground.wordpress.com/
Website - http://leaveitintheground.org.uk/

Rising Tide and the Network for Climate Action are calling for a day of action against the fossil fuel industry on April 1st, 2008.

Pull a prank that packs a punch!

Roll up, roll up! The climate circus is in town. Climate change threatens our very survival, but the fools at the head of the fossil fuel empire continue to plunder the earth, with governments the willing court jesters at their side.

They would have us believe that we can escape climate change with techno-fixes, market mechanisms and offset schemes – all technocratic acrobatics that distract us from the truth: the only real solution to climate change is to keep fossil fuels in the ground.

For over a century the fossil fuel industry has been fooling with our lives. From extraction to combustion they have poisoned our air, polluted our water and ruined our climate. On April 1st, 2008, we’re going to turn the tables and show them who the real fools are.

Find a local fossil fool – the coal-mining clown, the offset contortionist, the aviator tripping on the high wire, the supermarket food mile freak show, the oily strong man, or any other fool that deserves your attention – and take direct action to end the fossil fuel empire.

On Fossil Fools Day, bring the spirit of carnival and mischief to the fight for climate justice.

http://www.fossilfoolsday.org

http://www.networkforclimateaction.org.uk
http://www.risingtide.org.uk

3 Months, 3 Days of Action:

April 1st, Fossil Fuels
May 1st, False Capitalist Solutions
June, Food and Climate Change