For me, the most joyous political moment of the year came when Caerphilly councillors rejected Miller-Argent's plan to open a new open-cast coal mine, Nant LLesg, adjacent to the exiting travesty Ffos Y Fran. It was such a great moment for members of the United Valleys Action Group who worked against the open-cast proposal for years. Many members of UVAG were also involved in Residents Against Ffos Y Fran, the mine that the less enlightened Merthyr Tydfil Council approved - and continue to support (dinosaurs!). I've written elsewhere (Red Pepper, Planet...) about how many tonnes of carbon dioxide these anachronistic monster mines produce and at what local costs, but here I want only to celebrate a remarkable victory. Ever since 2007, I've been doing whatever little I could to help RAFF and then UVAG fight against these mines. In 2009, I was part of Climate Camp Cymru which brought some 500 protesters to camp near Merthyr. Even before that we'd taken direct actions to close the mine for a day here and there... At Caerphilly council HQ it was just wonderful to see UVAG, particularly old mates and comrades Alyson, Chris and Terry, celebrate victory. Great effort by Friends of the Earth Cymru - Gareth, Bleddyn, Haf, Mike etc - and FoE more widely in supporting these groups in long-term struggles in a part of the world that historically gets dumped on. Sharing this day with the people I've mentioned, plus Guy, Rich, Lotte and Tim, who'd all been involved with Climate Camp Cymru. And, with FoE, Guy stayed on the case: good man (I taught him nothing that he knows!). Mention here for Trevor and Emma too. Though they weren't there for the decision, they'd contributed so much to the struggle - some on my favourite adventures have been with these two, including the Merthyr to Mayo bike ride and occupying the office of frackers Cuadrilla... It's a great feeling to win for local communities and the planet, and we need to work hard to feel it more often -- every day, in fact! Guy, Haf, Alyson and Lotte - among others!
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AuthorI am he as you are he as you are me, and we are all together Archives
December 2022
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