More than thirty climate activists, including members of the Rising Tide network, joined with local residents from Merthyr Tydfil in stopping excavation work for a full day on Britain’s biggest ever open-cast coal mine at Ffos-y-fran in South Wales.
On the morning of 5th December, activists evaded police and security before taking over the 1,000 acre site on a hilltop near Cardiff. Dressed as clowns and polar bears, they chained themselves to bulldozers and other heavy machinery to prevent work on the mine and unfurled large banners. (CLICK ON 'read more' TO SEE VIDEO).
Tim Helweg-Larsen, from Machnynlleth, said:
“Coal is the filthiest fuel known to man and projects like this mine could destroy all our chances of tackling global warming. The battle over this hilltop in Wales is a fight for the stability of the global climate and it epitomises this government’s hypocrisy on climate change.”
Merthyr resident, Leon Stanfield, explained:
“We’ve protested this mine in all the conventional ways. Now we’re turning to direct action as a last resort. This project is wrecking both the local and the global environment and is putting the health of our community and its children at risk.”
The activists remained at the site until sunset, and later returned to the homes of locals who had agreed to put them up for the night.
There were no arrests.
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