MASSEY ENVIRONMENT GROUP
Save Happy Valley Coalition Update Number #8
13th February 2006 Kia ora koutou!
The occupation of Happy Valley has begun. On 28th January over 75 people made the 3 hour tramp (which quickly became a 6 hour trek!) into the Valley to begin the indefinite occupation of the planned Happy Valley mine site. It's now 17 days into the occupation and we've maintained a constant 10-15 happy campers in the Valley. Check out the occupation blog at http://www.savehappyvalley.org.nz/blog
We need support for the continued occupation. If you want to come visit Happy Valley or support us in other ways thenhead to http://www.savehappyvalley.org.nz/occupation.htm for more information.
The media coverage of the occupation has been extremely good. We've had quite widespread coverage on national tv, a host of generally positive newspaper articles around the country, a feature opinion piece in The Press, and a feature article in The Herald on Sunday (for which we had a journalist staying at the camp with us for a few days). Now for the first time at street stalls we're approaching people who are quite aware of the issue. The occupation also was visited by Alan Mark, one of New Zealand's most renowned wetland ecologists, as part of a One News segment. He had a close-up look around Happy Valley, before doing his interview in which he proclaimed Solid Energy's proposed plans to transfer the wetlands and put them back after mining to be impossible, citing the failure of the world's only other attempted wetland transfer, which was smaller.
Related Press Releases
Occupation of Happy Valley http://www.savehappyvalley.org.nz/pressreleases/pr_25-01-06_shvc.htm
Indefinite Occupation of Happy Valley begins
http://www.savehappyvalley.org.nz/pressreleases/pr_29-01-06_shvc.htm
Happy Valley Occupation Day Seven
http://www.savehappyvalley.org.nz/pressreleases/pr_04-02-06_shvc.htm
Kiwi Spotted in Wellington
The newly formed Save Happy Valley Wellington group organised and performed its first action - a bit of street theatre. 150+ inflatable Kiwi were unloaded from a large van into Midland Park, which is in the heart of the Wellington CBD. A few people went around handing out flyers and a large banner was unfurled. Soon after Solid Energy miners arrived and were instructed byDon Elder on a megaphone to round up the Kiwi. Enjoyed by all, especially kids present.
Related Press Release
Kiwi Spotted In Midland Park http://www.savehappyvalley.org.nz/pressreleases/pr_10-02-06_welly.htm
Gregor Siebock - World Walker
The occupation was joined during its first week by Gregor Siebock from Austria who is 3 years into literally walking around the world in an effort to raise consciousness around climate change and sustainable living. He made a 150km detour from his 13,000km journey so far to come up the West Coast and walk into Happy Valley. "Walking into Happy Valley was very special for me... if you are familiar with classical music it was like a crescendo, it got better and better and when I was in there I felt so happy. That is what I want to share with the people of the West Coast, it is such a beautiful place and worth so much more than its weight in coal." (from the Westport News)
Activists in Court - Reparations of $150,000 Sought
Three Save Happy Valley members are appearing in court for their part in the train blockading action that took place in August. Save Happy Valley Christchurch blocked 4 coal trains for about 4 hours by having two people locked directly onto the train tracks and a third hanging 30m from a tree with his support rope attached to the tracks. The three have been charged with Trespass (Railways Act), Interfering with a Railway Line and Wilful Trespass. Solid Energy is also seeking reparations of $150,000. The two that were directly locked onto the train track appeared in court on the 10th of February. During a three hour hearing the court was adjourned when the judge suggested a new charge relating to Transport under the Crimes Act. The judge has withheld his decision until the 22nd of February. Good news, however, for the activist hanging from the tree who appeared in court on the 13th of February and had his case dismissed.
Related Press Releases
Save Happy Valley members in court
http://www.savehappyvalley.org.nz/pressreleases/pr_09-02-06_shvc.htm
Solid Energy to seek costs of US$150 000 from Happy Valley Activists http://www.savehappyvalley.org.nz/pressreleases/pr_09-02-06b_shvc.htm
Solid Energy Fails its Own Environmental Goals
Solid Energy recently announced that it had "come close" to achieving its own environmental goals for 2005, and that it was 2% away from having a net positive effect on the environment. Save Happy Valley Coalition countered this highlighting their continued poisoning of rivers and waterways and their evasion of considering their contribution to climate change. Furthermore, the net positive effect model, which essentially allows for an area to be trashed as long as this is made up for elsewhere, is a ridiculous measure of environmental impact.
Related Press Release
Solid Energy's green audit is a sham and a PR stunt http://www.savehappyvalley.org.nz/pressreleases/pr_07-02-06_shvc.htm
Mt. Augustus Ridgeline Update
In a related but separate story to Happy Valley, Solid Energy has continued pushing for the mining of the Mt. Augustus ridgeline at its Stockton mine and thus the extinction of the newly discovered Powelliphanta augustus snail. It has made a last minute appeal of a High Court decision that would force it to apply to the Ministers of Conservation and Energy for a special concession to mine the area that is habitat to the endemic snail. As mitigation, Solid Energy has proposed to move the snail, despite DOC claiming this will surely lead to its extinction.
Moreover, DOC has granted Solid Energy concession to drop boulders and shower debris on a tiny sliver of the original habitat of the snail on DOC land that will remain (hopefully) under the cliffs after almost all the rest of the habitat has been obliterated. Snails will be doubled-up on this sliver on the basis that pest control will improve the habitat. There is no evidence this will work. DOC has told The Press there are no snails on this sliver, but our Official Information Act request shows there are. In our opinion, DOC lied to The Press to assist Solid Energy. This all has huge implications for protected species, especially the Powelliphanta patrickensis snail in Happy Valley.
Postcards and Posters
There are postcards available to be filled in to voice your opposition to the Happy Valley mine and sent to the Prime Minister Helen Clark, Minister of Conservation Chris Carter and Minister of State Owned Enterprises Trevor Mallard. We strongly encourage that you get hold of a set of these yourself, or some for friends too, and send them away! For your postcards, please contact:
The Green Room
16 Bedford Row
Christchurch
(03) 372 1375
chchgreens@xtra.co.nz
There are posters also available, for a donation (recommended $2).
Donations
We're up against Solid Energy's well funded PR machine and trying to run on the smell of an oily rag. It's hard work, but donations make it a lot easier and we're hugely appreciative of the donations we've received so far! Please consider helping us out and making a donation, or better yet setting up an
Automatic Payment (just $5 a week keeps us alive). Automatic Payment forms (PDF) can be downloaded at: http://www.savehappyvalley.org.nz/ap.pdf
Cheques can be made out to "Save Happy Valley Campaign" and sent to
Save Happy Valley Campaign
PO Box 9263
Te Aro
Wellington
Direct transfers are also welcome. Our account details are: Account name: Save Happy Valley Campaign Account number: 38-9003-0334146-00
Thanks for all your support!
Torrance Hodgson
Save Happy Valley Coalition
P.O. Box 9263, Te Aro, Wellington
contact@savehappyvalley.org.nz
www.savehappyvalley.org.nz
Update #5
Since our last update the Save Happy Valley Coalition has been very active and we are still committed to opposing the cypress mine at Happy Valley every step of the way. The more people taking action, the better chance we have of winning. See below for what you can do after the news.
Solid Energy Coal Trains Blockaded.
On Saturday the 13th of August, as part of a protest against the proposed Happy Valley mine, three members of the Christchurch Save Happy Valley group blockaded four Solid Energy coal trains for over four hours preventing them from reaching the Lyttleton Port and costing Solid Energy $200, 000 in lost revenue. With a group of about fifteen supporters two people locked onto the railway tracks, while a third was suspended in a tree sit 30 metres above the ground. The three had to be forcibly removed from the tracks by the police and On Track staff and now face charges of trespass, willful trespass and trespass under the railways act. If you would like to contribute to their legal defense donations can be made at account number 38-9003-0568540-00.
Upcoming Public Meeting and Banquet in Otautahi/Christchurch.
During the last week of September in Otautahi/Christchurch there will be a public meeting and vegan banquet to help raise funds for the legal costs associated with the direct action side of the campaign. As well as delicious vegan food, there will also be short presentations on why this mine should be stopped and the campaign so far. More details will follow.
New Web Address and Website:
The Save Happy Valley Coalition website is now located at www.savehappyvalley.org.nz. The site has been extensively remodeled, and updated to include further information about the mine and its environmental impacts. Check out the content on topics such as climate change, Solid Energy's atrocious environmental record, the Environment Court decision and how you can take action and get involved.
Presentation at National ECO conference.
In late June, members of the Save Happy Valley Coalition gave a well received presentation at the annual ECO (Environment and Conservation Organisations) conference in Wellington. As well as outlining the reasons this mine shouldn't proceed we gave a run down on our campaign so far, and the activities of the different groups. We are always keen to network with other environmental groups in Aotearoa and strengthen our solidarity against Solid Energy.
Second National Hui and Coordinator Position.
While in Wellington for the ECO conference, representatives from each of the groups involved the Save Happy Valley Coalition met to discuss our future plans and to reiterate our commitment to saving Happy Valley. During the hui we decided to establish a part-time paid coordinator position so that we can more effectively work together to oppose the mine. Their role will be basically administrative and we are calling for people to provide regular automatic payments to support a person in this position for two days a week. So if you can share even a few dollars a week it would be greatly appreciated. Automatic Payment forms can be downloaded from the website or APs can be paid directly into the Save Happy Valley campaign account at 38-9003-0334146-00.
Protest outside DOC office.
As part of a protest to highlight the failure of the Department of Conservation to protect endangered species in Happy Valley, card-board cut-outs of “kiwi” were burnt on a “foreign steel mill” outside DOC offices in Wellington in June. After initially opposing the mine DOC has now consented by arranging a side-agreement with Solid Energy. When questioned recently why they did not make a stand against Solid Energy, DOC stated that they would not take on battles they could not win and that Happy Valley is not conservation land. We hope that DOC will reverse this decision and uphold their statutory role to protect native species as well as retracting the support they have shown for Solid Energy.
High Court Appeal.
Forest & Bird have challenged the Environment Court’s May decision in favour of Solid Energy. They have appealed to the High Court on four points of law. Two are concerned with whether the right legal test was used, another relates to whether there was sufficient evidence to support Solid Energy’s proposal to transfer twelve hectares of red tussock wetland communities and the final point was whether the court took into account an irrelevant matter in considering the economic benefits of the mine to taxpayers because Solid Energy is a SOE. The appeal does not prevent Solid Energy from proceeding with preparations for the mine in the meantime and even if the appeal is upheld, the case goes back to the Environment Court to make another decision on its initial findings.
Solid Energy Bullying
From cost-cutting dismissals and neglecting to give adequate pay rises, to failing to resume contracts for union officials, Solid Energy’s employment track record contains many examples of intimidation.
This year, their bullying has also targeted those who oppose their poor environmental practices. In the Environment Court, Solid Energy pressure led to a witness from Landcare research being instructed to mislead court and ultimately caused him to withdraw, see http://www.savehappyvalley.org.nz/misc/misc19.htm
Then Solid Energy applied for $379,342 in costs in the Environment Court from Forest and Bird and the Buller Conservation Group, for what was only a two week hearing. Consequently, it is no surprise that their immediate response to the recent successful blockade action was to try and intimidate the protesters with threats of claiming damages of two hundred thousand dollars.
Applications and threats of this nature, for such extraordinary amounts, seem to be an attempt by Solid Energy to discourage anyone from taking cases to the Environment Court and intimidate the groups campaigning against the Happy Valley mine.
Solid Energy Plan to Destroy Last Habitat of Powelliphanta “Augustus”
In a move that illustrates Solid Energy's total disregard for the environment, they have recently applied for a permit to move the threatened land snail Powelliphanta “augustus” so that they can mine their last known habitat at their existing Stockton mine in October of this year. Solid Energy have stated that they will move the snails even if they can't get a permit. The mining is likely to lead to the snails' extinction and shows that Solid Energy is not serious in attempting to improve the environmental side of their mining operations.
Take Action and Get Involved:
We must keep the pressure on the Government about the Happy Valley mine. They need to know that we think its unacceptable for a SOE to be mining kiwi habitat and contributing to climate change and that the Government should step in to stop the mine from proceeding. Letters to Members of Parliament are freepost. Please write to the people below (letters are more effective than e-mails). Also urgently needed are letters urging the government to direct Solid Energy to not mine the last of Powelliphanta “Augustus” habitat.
Helen Clark (pm@ministers.govt.nz)
Prime Minister
Parliament Buildings
Wellington
David Parker (dparker@ministers.govt.nz)
Acting Minister for the Environment
Parliament Buildings
Wellington
Chris Carter (ccarter@ministers.govt.nz)
Minister of Conservation
Parliament Buildings
Wellington
Trevor Mallard (tmallard@ministers.govt.nz)
Minister of State Owned Enterprises
Parliament Buildings
Wellington
Donations:
As always we need finances to keep campaigning and to keep the pressure on Solid Energy. Donations towards the campaign can be made into the Save Happy Valley Campaign account at 38-9003-0334146-00, or if you would like to set an automatic payment, forms can be downloaded from the website. For more details visit www.savehappyvalley.org.nz/getinvolved.htm
Further Involvement
If you would like to became more actively involved then check the website for the contact details for the group nearest you. We are always keen for new people.
Dan Rae and Frances Mountier
For the Save Happy Valley Coalition.
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