Highlights
– Environmental activists halt coal train traveling to Drax power station
– Action comes only several weeks prior to the upcoming annual Camp for Climate Change in the UK
– Protests and direct actions likely to continue in the lead up to and during the Climate Camp
On June 13, 2008, environmental activists stopped a train carrying coal bound for the Drax power station, located near Selby in North Yorkshire. Drax is the largest coal-fired power station in the United Kingdom (UK) and has previously been targeted by climate change activists.
The protest came only several weeks before the upcoming annual Camp for Climate Action scheduled during August 2008 in the UK. We believe that direct actions will continue in the lead up to and during the Climate Camp.
Details of the Action
According to the British Transport Police, approximately 40 Camp for Climate Action protesters took part in the direct action, which was designed to force the power station to leave the “dirty fuel (coal) in the ground and invest in clean, renewable energy sources instead.”
The protesters succeeded in halting the coal train near a bridge, and then climbed on top of several cars and hung a banner stating “Leave it in the ground.” The activists also used ropes and climbing equipment to tie themselves to the train and to the bridge, making it impossible for officials to move the train. Participating activists shoveled coal off of the cars and indicated that they had supplies such as food and water that would last for days.
British police later arrested 29 of the protesters, following a “complex operation,” as the majority of the activists had to be cut out of the ropes that were attached to the train and the bridge. Officials have not released any further details however have indicated that those detained could face charges of conspiracy to obstruct trains and railway trespass.
According to a spokeswoman from Drax power station, the direct action had no impact on their business operations.
Tactics
Statements from local police as well as the involved activists have indicated that the direct action was well-planned and “carefully rehearsed.” Of note, the activists posed as railway workers during the event, and used official emergency procedures, i.e. waving red flags in a particular sequence, to stop the train.
The activists monitored trains along the line leading to the Drax power station for several weeks and used mobile phones on the day of the protest to identify the location of the train in order to execute their direct action.
Response
Activists from various environmental groups have expressed their support for the recent direct action. For example, Greenpeace issued a statement following the event, declaring: “it looks as though there are now some new kids in town with different ideas, who think that the climate change impacts of coal and aviation are worth making a fuss about, and who are not afraid to engage in a little strategic direct action to get their point across. Long may it continue.”
Protests Likely to Continue
The recent action targeting the coal train traveling to Drax power station comes only several weeks ahead of the annual Camp for Climate Action that is set to take place from August 3 to August 11, 2008 in the UK, which will include a “day of mass action” against the Kingsnorth coal-fired power station. The camp is expected to draw a large number of activists as well as a heavy police presence (Previous Report).
We believe that environmental activists will continue to stage protests and other direct actions in the lead up to and during the Climate Camp. We maintain that the majority of direct actions will be acts of civil disobedience designed to attract public attention to their ongoing campaign against climate change.
As seen with the recent targeting of the coal train, environmental activists have demonstrated their ability to carry out fairly sophisticated and carefully planned direct actions. While Drax has stated that the protest did not impact operations at the facility, a slight potential exists for future actions to disrupt business operations at a targeted site.
