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IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Climate action group, Reclaim the Power, start mass action camp near Didcot power station to protest against fossil fuel industry.
Early this morning Reclaim the Power, the direct action network that bought thousands to mass action camps in Balcombe and Blackpool, set up a mass action camp near Didcot power station in Oxfordshire. Hundreds of people are expected to take part in workshops and debates on the future of UK energy over the next four days, as well as taking part in a global day of action on Monday 1 June against the corporate power of the fossil fuel industry. Last year’s day of action resulted in 13 different actions targeting the fracking industry, including protestors superglueing themselves to DEFRA’s headquarters, occupying Cuadrilla’s Blackpool office, blockading iGas’ London headquarters, and shutting down a fracking site near Hull.
Reclaim the Power mass action camp at Didcot is protesting the government’s dash for gas in the form of fracking, and their commitment to construct up to 30 new gas-fired power stations that will lock us into burning carbon for years to come while killing off renewable technology.
Hannah Martin of Reclaim the Power said:
“The government’s plans for new gas power stations across the UK are not compatible with stopping runaway climate change or bringing down the bills for people living in fuel poverty. Fossil fuels are destroying our future and already causing thousands of deaths from climate change and fuel poverty. This weekend’s camp is part of an international weekend of climate action which is fighting the fossil fuel industry’s hold on the UN climate talks in Paris. RWE Npower, who own Didcot power station, are one of Europe’s largest carbon emitters and yet they’ve got a seat at the climate talks in December, where they will put their profits first and foremost. We cannot afford for this to happen at this crucial time.”
Morten Thaysen of Reclaim The Power said:
“Burning fossil fuels destroys our future whilst hiking up our energy bills. Relying on gas to generate our electricity isn’t a cheap way to power homes. We’re slowly phasing out coal but we still need to get rid of gas; the time has come for a renewable energy transition here in Didcot and across the UK. More than 2/3 of people in the UK want energy to be put back on public hands. Companies like Npower are keeping us hooked on climate-wrecking fossil fuels and are pushing people into fuel poverty. We are taking action at Didcot power station to resist the corporate grip of our energy and promote sustainable and affordable community-controlled energy.“
Anthony Simpson, of Didcot said: “It was very emotional to witness the Didcot chimney’s coming down; the site has been very important for this region. As a Didcot resident deeply focussed on addressing climate change, it is now time to rapidly transition to clean energy, and I hope local people will come along to this family friendly event and help shape our future”
ENDS