It's another interesting week of resistance to coal power. While
Greenpeace occupy a boat bringing coal into Kingsnorth, a group of
anti-coal activists have setup an ocupation at a site where Scottish
Coal are planning to start a new mine.

Here is a update from the site.

After a whole night of digging in and strengthening defences, the
rumoured eviction this morning hasn't happened. However, the solidarity
shown by the number of people who joined us over the weekend has been
fantastic and allowed huge amounts of building work to happen, making
the site well defendable.

Instead of police or court bailiffs, a van-load of Apex workers tried
to gain access to the site to continue bore-hole work on the site,
vital to the coal mining operation. Bore-holing and clear-felling had
been happening before the site was occupied, and since the occupation
no work has been carried out. It is thought that this work is illegal
as Scottish Coal have to carry out an extensive wildlife survey before
felling any trees or starting work as a condition imposed by the
council.

Access to the site and Apex machinery was blocked with a vehicle, and
Apex workers responded by threatening to smash the windscreen if it was
not removed from in front of the gate. Very quickly, the people inside
the vehicle were joined by campers and car loads of locals who came out
in support and to avert an eviction. The Apex workers backed down after
this show of strength!

In a plea of solidarity to contract workers carrying out the bore-hole
drilling and clear-felling, they have been asked to side with the
community and camp against their bosses and refuse to carry out work on
the site.

The Chief Inspector for the area has stated that the police have no
intention of removing the camp at present, but will let us know if that
changes. It is thought that a court order is being sought to evict the
camp.

Lord Home, the land owner, Scottish Coal, the mining company, and
Scottish Ministers can stop this project – if they were to come down
and see the level of support and involvement in the camp from the local
community they would see how strong the opposition is to this mine. If
they don't decide to overturn the decision, they will have a very
expensive eviction on their hands.

Your solidarity is still needed! We can stop this coal mine from going
ahead, both by defending the site and working with the local
communities to take back decision-making power and get permission
overturned. Please join us as soon as you can – see the website for
details.

Mainshill Solidarity Camp (WEB)

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Posted By Calvin Jones to Climate Change Action at 6/22/2009 09:07:00 PM