Postcard protest over mining near The Wrekin
Monday 22nd November 2010, 8:00PM GMT.
Protesters fighting plans to mine coal at a Shropshire beauty spot will start handing out specially-made postcards to tourists in a bid to boost their campaign.
Campaigners living in a makeshift camp on Huntington Lane in Little Wenlock, near the Wrekin, have vowed to start distributing their own material to stop 900,000 tonnes of coal being mined at the site. Permission for the mining has been granted.
A spokesman for the camp, who did not want to be named, has said the postcards will be given to tourists visiting The Wrekin, Ironbridge and Wellington over the festive period in a bid to step up their campaign against UK Coal.
The postcard being handed out reads “Visit the Wrekin. An area of Outstanding Natural Beauty” and has pictures of the area already dug up with workers from UK Coal on site.
The spokesman said: “We want to ensure that there is an awareness of what we are doing and to show people how important it is that the site is kept as an area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
“We will be handing out the postcards to tourists and we hope they will come to visit us and see what could happen. The postcards will also be put on websites for the wider public to see.
“The range will also be expanded as UK Coal kindly provides more scenes of interest to tourists — and anyone interested in visiting Telford & Wrekin.”
He added: “We have no intention of giving up our fight because this application should never have been passed in the first place.”
The protesters came un-der fire from residents last week who called on them to pack up their tents and leave the area, claiming it had become a mess and the campaigners were a nuisance.
Spokesman for UK Coal, Stuart Oliver, said if protesters did not leave peacefully they would be forcibly evicted and a “national eviction team” would move in.
By Jason Lavan
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Very embarrasing for UK Coal.
The next batch of Postcards and their images will be very interesting.
Im sure ANY Tourists coming to Telford and Wrekin will have their eyes truly opened when they receive one of these.
No money in the pot left to pay 3-5 million ££s to evit the protesters at the camp, having to sell off land holdings to prop up their current falling shares, and now a bad winter coming, not good news for Uk Coal.
Past Tunnels on other sites have cost up to £3 million per tunnel to clear and evict, in one case, a single man held out for 40 days and nights, costing a Coal company £3 million alone.
Its my understanding thatthe Protesters have a Honeycomb of Tunnels,and people to man them, so looks like the Uk Coal Directors may have to have another reshuffle on the Board to get someone who can find some needed money from the Shareholders.
Magister.
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Whoa there citizen smith! Shouldn’t you try a more diplomatic course of action before bringing out the big guns like postcards? I mean this will really strike a blow to the capitalist regime. I hope a solution can be found before moving on to more extreme methods such as leaflets or god forbid, posters! Are we ready for big business to be brought down by stationery? Do we dare to dream of such a utopia?
Small piece of advice though, would it not be better to launch a strike of this magnitude during the tourist season rather than winter?
P.S. I hope the postcards are made from recycled paper, biodegradable inks and the carbon created in their production & transportation has been offset.
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Pathetic! Why don’t you get a job & stop being a nuisance? The locals don’t even want you there, you’ve lost, get the message. Your camp can hardly be described as “an area of outstanding natural beauty” can it?
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I think I can sum up my mood over this with…
zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
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I can’t believe I actually scrolled across to see how that ended.
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The only’ honeycomb of tunnels’ is from the bunnies hopping about, except on the dump you call a campsite! Listen to the locals….goodbye.
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Hello, Robo. I’ve just been listening to one of the locals. http://www.shropshirestar.com/news/2010/11/17/video-evas-fears-over-open-cast-mine-works/ What do you think?
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Very socially responsible – not,I’m just wondering what happens if we have Cumbria or Cornwall style downpour and the tunnels flood, I for one would not expect the fire service to go in and rescue these muppets.
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On Thursday 29th April James Cameron, the director of Avatar and Titanic, appeared on a TV programme called ‘The Special Debate for Earth’s Frontiers: The Future of Energy’ on CNN.
During the discussion he said:
‘What I see in the U.S is the oil and coal lobbies spending massive amounts of money on a disinformation campaign that is used to discredit science and steer public opinion away from any sense of social responsibility about climate change.’
I wonder if those above, who seem to want to steer public opinion away from any sense of social responsibility about climate change or -in this case- Shropshire’s landscape might say what they think of the power of big coal to influence international opinion.
Or is this sort of thing just not happening in the UK?
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You talk like the cause of climate change isn’t up for debate. I’m afraid it is because evidence for or against just isn’t strong enough.
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97–98% of the climate researchers most actively publishing in the field of climate change research support the tenets of Anthropogenic (ie man-made) Climate Change, outlined by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).
If you are ‘up for debate’, Monkey, please google the paper by Stanford University’s William R. L. Anderegg, James W. Prall, Jacob Harold and Stephen H. Schneider (April 9, 2010 ), which came to this conclusion, and I would be very willing to discuss this with you.
What proportion of climate scientists actively publishing in the field would it take for you to feel that the evidence is strong enough that burning coal is heating the atmosphere and endangering our future, Monkey?
100%?
And what if it is too late to do anything about reducing emissions when this figure is reached?
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I think Monkey, and Brimondo miss the point, a corrupt Government passed this mine, as a knee jerk reaction to ensure their policies of denial of alternative energy sources and lack of investment, for at least 10 years, kept the lights on in the Uk, or was at least perceived to be doing something to make this sem so..
By approving this mine, the last Government allowed yet another Strategic reserve of perhaps, in future, needed coal, to be removed from the nation.
The protesters, if achieving something, have indeed delayed Uk Coal,which costs them money.
The greater the delays,the more capital lost, and shallower profits.
Perhaps Monkeys patronising comments about waiting until the summer Tourist season arrives to circulate the Postcards, disguise his obvious lack of understanding at just how much damage this mine will do to the wrekin and surrounding area of Natural Beauty.
Unlike the “Liason Committee ” of Quislings, at least the real truth of what is going on is being shown by the Protesters, not the “come to Telford and Ironbridge” that the Telford and WREKIN Council ( Not Telford and Ironbridge Council mind ) like to portray as the real face of the area to Tourists.
The Wrekin is the natural balance to a once god forsaken hole that was created during the Industrial Revolution – Tourist interest in Post Industrial Revolution recovery should also ensure that the natural regeneration of a once Industrialised area remains as a balance, there is little enough forestation left around the Wrekin anyway, without ensuring that what there is may be removed in the pursuit of dirty energy minerals ( Nick Clegg, pre election speech ).
I also surmise that those who say “everyone wants the Camp to go”, have taken a cross representation of all people living inthe locality,and are not parrot fashon repeating the words of Mr Whittle of the Liason Commitee, who have their own agenda, and half a million reasons to see UK Coal remain in full production.
Magister.
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So what is harming the local tourist industry going to do for the cause?
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What is harming the local tourism industry more, tc?
An open-cast coal mine?
Or a few postcards?
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Err, the postcards. When tourists arrive they aren’t going to notice the mining. But if you send out postcards making it look like the whole county is being dug up and is no longer picturesque, then less people will come. So definitely postcards.
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Surely fewer tourists will come to Shropshire if people who live here fail to stand up for the natural beauty, which draws tourists here.
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Surely you could have included pictures of the giant landfill or the power station in your pictorial description of this area of outstanding natural beauty. They are a damn sight nearer to the mine than the Wrekin or the Ironbridge.
I dare say that this protest is now becoming an embarrasment to other protesters..
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spencer, in a democracy there is nothing embarrassing about people of conscience speaking up for clean air policies, sensible emissions-reduction policies or demanding a joined-up and sustainable energy policy from central government.
By the way, what do you think of what James Cameron said (#6)?
Are you relaxed about big coal spending massive amounts of money, steering public opinion away from any sense of social responsibility about climate change or their local countryside?
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Huw, I would hope that James Cameron would have the decency to admit that he is deeply embarassed about giving patronising lectures about climate change to people who on average have a carbon footprint of about 1% of his own. Just what is the energy consumption of an Oscar ceremony?
As someone who has never flown anywhere, rarely travels more than a couple of miles from home (then usually on foot), composts and recycles to the Nth degree – I’m expected to feel guilty about burning a few stovefuls a week of the products of “big coal” in cold weather.
Having read the hypocritical spoutings of many in the green movement (the Copenhagen environmental summit was reckoned to be the largest ever gathering of executive jets the world has ever seen – they had to find parking space for them in neighbouring countries) I’m minded to say “people who live in glass houses…..”
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Rob, do you think a country’s future energy strategy should be driven by individuals or by its government?
If you think decisions about the UK’s future energy strategy should be driven by individuals, what do you think of coal companies spending millions to persuade individuals that greenhouse gas emissions are not a problem?
Or is this not happening in the UK?
Is it just a problem in James Cameron’s USA?
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I agree with about 95% of what you say Huw – but I’m sure that I’m not alone in being sick to death of hearing hypocritical drivel from the likes of James Cameron and other “celebrity greens”.
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I find it hard to believe that you agree with 95% of what I said, Rob, when a quick google search shows that most of your contributions to discussions about the mine are;
a) steering public opinion away from support for the protesters?
eg: http://www.shropshirestar.com/news/2010/11/15/wrekin-mining-protestors-told-to-go-home/ #14
b) dealing with transparently obvious straw-man anti-mine arguments
eg: http://www.shropshirestar.com/news/2010/10/18/uk-coal-workers-remove-wrekin-protesters-treehouses/ #10
c) making unequivocally pro-mine comments and making unfounded claims about ‘lies on both sides’ which you are unwilling to substantiate
eg: http://www.shropshirestar.com/latest/2010/04/07/mistake-for-little-wenlock-mine-protester/ #10
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“Surely you could have included pictures of the giant landfill or the power station in your pictorial description of this area of outstanding natural beauty. They are a damn sight nearer to the mine than the Wrekin or the Ironbridge.”
Spencer, you really must get a map of the area if you are so unsure of your whereabouts.
New works to the Wrekin (across country) about 2 kilometres. New works to Buildwas (cross country0 about 4 kilometers.
You were saying?
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You have to go past the power station to get to the Ironbridge, do you not..
And the landfill is about 100 yards away.
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Maybe UK Coal can build a bridge over the new dig site.
It might become a world heritage site in a couple of hundred years
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To be fair when you are at the summit of the Wrekin your eyes would be drawn to the mass of urban sprawl that is Telford before the mine. Its not exactly beautiful.
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I had a look this morning and everything was white, it really was an area of outstanding natural beauty, come on Uk Coal, let’s keep the home fires burning in true Churchillian style!
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I had a look this morning at what scientists were saying at the UN Climate Summit in Cancun, Simon.
Climate change researchers warned of the impacts of temperature rises on sea levels and the survival of some of the poorest people on the planet.
Do you think Churchill would have ignored the implications of this for East Anglia and the Southeast, not to mention the chaos in the wider world?
Do you think Churchill would have stuck with dirty, carbon-pumping coal and ignored the massive job-creating and strategic potential of a government-funded and -planned green energy revolution?
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“Do you think Churchill would have stuck with dirty, carbon-pumping coal?”
Probably not, seeing as he had a pathological hatred of organised labour, and the miners in particular.
On the other hand, he was a very good friend of the oil industry – mainly because it offered Britain a source of energy that, at the time, didn’t depend to any great extent on the co-operation of the British working class.
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Talking about the ‘cooperation of the British working class’, Rob, what do you think of global trades union demands to governments that creating green jobs should be at the heart of G20 recovery strategies?
(See TUC chief, Brendan Barber’s 28 October 2010 letter to David Cameron just before the G20 summit in Seoul.)
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I would like to reply directly to Huw’s comment at 11 above, but unfortunately there is no “reply” button.
In the meantime could he please tell me exactly where I was “making unequivocally pro-mine comments”?
I wasn’t aware that taking part in a public debate meant that you have to totally support the argument of one side or another, or that the occasional injection of a little amateur humour is forbidden.
Sorry Huw, I comment on here as a concerned individual, with no party rules. I have apparently been “unwilling to substantiate” claims I have made on here – you have been unequally unwilling to answer questions about your comments.
Perhaps you’d like to take part in a debate on the ethics of private education? (as you said “a quick google search” is useful tool – errr, Mr Peach, Sir)?
I’m beginning to think that debate on this site is becoming just a little bit one-sided….
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I see ‘unequivocally pro-mine comments’ as comments attacking the protesters, diverting attention from the very real climate change concerns they raise and disputing the location of the mine. Cumulatively your comments add up to a position which is just as partisan as my own, in my view.
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Thanks for getting back, Rob.
Yes, Google searches are useful things, especially when searching for identifiable people who give their real names.
I have always given mine when blogging on this site, because if / when I make mistakes, or I get my facts wrong, people can tell me online or to my face.
When I see brave people like the Wrekin mine protesters being attacked online by anonymous bloggers, my instinct is to stick up for them and support them. Their aspirations for environmental protection and a responsible climate/energy policy are exactly the same as mine, after all, and -as far as I can see- there is no-one in central government pushing for this with their passion or commitment. I think giving my name adds weight, because it makes me accountable.
Hiding behind a pseudonym and saying that climate change is ‘up for debate’, then mysteriously disappearing without substantiating his argument, as Monkey did, follows a remarkably familiar pattern of behavious on this site.
Just like your ‘lies on both sides’ comment…
http://www.shropshirestar.com/latest/2010/04/07/mistake-for-little-wenlock-mine-protester/ #10
If you feel my job renders my aspirations (and theirs) for greener energy and a responsible climate policy invalid, then so be it.
In this thread,
you said,
‘I won’t get into the environmental argument about coal being the filthiest and most polluting fuel – enough lies have been told on both sides.’
What did you mean by ‘lies on both sides’, Rob?
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