Press release - May 18, 2010
One of the four activists who are locked to equipment in the coal depot at Fonterra’s Clandeboye factory near Timaru says it’s now up to Fonterra to take action to protect the climate and New Zealand’s clean green brand by switching to cleaner fuel options for the plant.
Renee Davenport, from Hamilton, has been in position since 12:30
this afternoon, and says the activists will stay where they are
until Fonterra - the country's third largest coal user and one of
our biggest emitters - makes a commitment to address its coal
use.
As well as the four activists attached to equipment, Greenpeace
has dumped three tonnes of wood pellets in the depot which supplies
coal to the boilers. Fonterra has said it's possible for the plant
to run on the pellets (timber biomass).
Fonterra has so far not commented on today's activity.
The four are also highlighting that the Government's schedule 4
mining plans include mining 3,000 ha of the Paparoa National Park
for coal, which is destined for, among other things, Fonterra
plants (2). Over 40,000 people marched against the plans earlier
this month (3).
"Fonterra's decision to run its factories on coal rather than
clean alternatives epitomizes not only the global climate crisis,
but also the very serious economic challenge facing New Zealand,"
said Greenpeace Climate Campaigner Simon Boxer. "Both the
Government and Fonterra continue to put short-term profit ahead of
the long-term wellbeing of the economy and the environment.
Local police visited the site during the afternoon.
VVPR info: For live updates of the activity go to http://www.greenpeace.org/new-zealand/
For a Q and A go to:
http://greenpeace.org.nz/FonterraCanterburyQ&A;
Free, high resolution images will be available at: http://greenpeace.gen.nz/media/main.php/v/press/fonterra-climate-crime/ (Multiple images can be added to the 'lightbox' and downloaded as a single zip file).
Notes: 1.http://bit.ly/ciNcP0
2.http://www.stuff.co.nz/business/3490688/Coal-from-park-for-local-use-Elder
3.http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid;=10642231