Occupation celebrates first birthday, Happy Valley still safe
Save Happy Valley Coalition : 23rd January 2007
The Save Happy Valley Coalition will celebrate the first birthday of its occupation of the proposed Cypress open-cast coal mine site on January 28th, 2007.
“Thanks to the Coalition’s efforts, the wetland, forest, resident great spotted kiwi (roa), western weka, Powelliphanta patrickensis and other rare and endangered native species are all still safe, untouched by the digger and the dynamite of state owned enterprise Solid Energy,” said Save Happy Valley Coalition (SHVC) spokesperson, Frances Mountier.
"Over 500 people have joined the occupation in the first year of its existence, and all have marvelled at the stunning natural beauty of Happy Valley and its surrounds" said Ms. Mountier. "Many have expressed disbelief that such an ecologically destructive proposal as strip-mining Happy Valley could even be made in a time where kiwi are predicted to be extinct on the mainland by 2020 (1), and the threat of climate change is becoming more and more pronounced."
“The Labour government, in their support of Solid Energy, have demonstrated time and time again that their dedication to promoting biodiversity and combating climate change is limited to the field of rhetoric, and will never progress into concrete action" said Ms. Mountier. "We continue to affirm that this mine must and will not go ahead, and we will do everything in our power to ensure that."
"The occupation has reached its first birthday, with success so far! Until the Valley is safe from Solid Energy, we will remain, and we invite all members of the public to come and join us, whether for two days or two months."
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Media Contact
Frances Mountier, Save Happy Valley Coalition Spokesperson, 021 175 7484.
Notes
(1). It is predicted that kiwi will go extinct on the mainland within 15 years. http://www.forestandbird.org.nz/dawnchorus/kiwi/extinction.asp
The Save Happy Valley Coalition is a collection of groups and individuals from around Aotearoa committed to stopping Solid Energy's proposed open cast coal mine in Happy Valley (Upper Waimangaroa Valley) on the West Coast. They work to raise awareness on climate change in New Zealand. They are also deeply concerned about the fate of all endangered species under threat from Solid Energy – such as the Powelliphanta snail at the nearby Mt Augustus. The Coalition is made up of West Coast locals, students, workers and the general public. The group has a track record of creative protests, occupations and lock-ons as well as producing a variety of informative media. More information about the coalition and its history can be found at http://www.savehappyvalley.org.nz/aboutus.htm
