Blog – Coal Action Network

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Banks in court trying to get permission to mine at Druridge Bay

19th October 2018 By coalaction

This week Banks Group went to the High Court to try and get a decision made by the Secretary of State for Communities, Housing and Local Government over-ruled on a new opencast extraction near to Druridge Bay in Northumberland. The National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) says, “149. Permission should not be given for the extraction […]

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Support court cases against Banks Group

18th October 2018 By coalaction

300 metres from houses at High Stables, Dipton, the habitats of protected species are being destroyed to extract coal; fuelling climate change and lining the pockets of the mining company, Banks Group. We believe we can prove that Banks Group has committed crimes against wildlife, and the government let them continue their destructive project, despite […]

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Colombian community leaders and union leaders visit coal affected communities in the North East

17th October 2018 By coalaction

The Campaign to Protect Pont Valley was visited by three special guests from Colombia this week. We hosted Misael, an indigenous leader, Rosa and activist lawyer and Aldo the president of the national coal workers union. We had events in Dipton, Durham Miners Association and Newcastle. Luis Misael Socorras is a Way’uu indgenous community leader […]

People

Commemorating a sibling’s life

10th October 2018 By coalaction

Waka is gone. It doesn’t feel real to say that, but someone who lived with us through snow and heat waves in the Pont Valley has been killed in Kurdistan, fighting against ISIS. Waka was an otherworldly being. Like no-one I have ever met. A considered, passionate, genuine soul. He dismantled gender, built structures and […]

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A long awaited victory against Welsh opencast

3rd October 2018 By coalaction

We did it, Nant Llesg has been saved from the ravages of opencast coal mining! This piece of land which above the villages of Rhymney, Fochriw, Bedlinog, Pontlottyn. Deri, Abertwsswg will not be blown into pieces to be tossed up into the wind and end up down to the valley, inhaled or to turn the […]

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Activist dies in the Hambacher Forest eviction, Germany

3rd October 2018 By coalaction

Coal Action Network has been wanting to write about the death in the Hambacher Forest of activist Steffen Horst Meyn. We haven’t been able to, so will republish the media release from Hambi Bleibt. In solidarity and love with all those who have lost their lives fighting for a better world. “On Wednesday afternoon (20/09/18) […]

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Judge says Banks could have broken the Wildlife and Countryside Act

8th August 2018 By coalaction

On Monday, all five defendants were acquitted of aggravated trespass for actions intended to delay and stop Banks Group accessing land to start an opencast coal mine in the Pont Valley, Durham. The five were in various positions including locking on to arm tubes submerged in concrete, up a tripod and lying in tunnels on […]

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Durham Miners Association support Pont Valley

13th July 2018 By coalaction

As we march in the Durham Miners Gala behind our new banner, we stand in solidarity with working class people fighting against state oppression in search of a better life for our communities. Durham Miners’ Association support our campaign against new opencast in the Pont Valley. “The Durham Miners’ Association has opposed opencast mining for […]

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Save Our Ponds – Protect Pont Valley

16th June 2018 By coalaction

Diversity in the ecological sense is treasured. On a global scale conservationists focus a lot of their time and resources on the protection of the most diverse ecosystems if we are talking land the most diverse area is a tropical rainforest and a fuss is made about deforestation. Conservationists are actually right to make a […]

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Urgent: Write to the Secretary of State asking him to stop Bradley opencast

9th June 2018 By coalaction

Can you help the Campaign to Protect Pont Valley? We are asking that you email James Brokenshire, the Secretary of State for Communities, Housing and Local Government and ask him to stop the Bradley opencast. A template letter is below. The email address is james.brokenshire@communities.gsi.gov.uk please copy in jake.berry@communities.gsi.gov.uk, or you can write to Ministry […]