South West England – Page 9

Reclaim Hinkley – 8 October 2012 – MASS TRESPASS, MASS CIVIL DISOBEDIENCE

No New Nuclear – International call out

Join us in an act of mass civil disobedience as we trespass on the proposed site of Hinkley C nuclear power station in Somerset.

No New Nuclear – International call out

Join us in an act of mass civil disobedience as we trespass on the proposed site of Hinkley C nuclear power station in Somerset.

EDF Energy is already trashing fragile Somerset countryside in preparation for the Hinkley C nuclear power station – even though it hasn’t got planning permission to start building.

SOWING THE SEEDS OF DISSENT

This mass action is for anyone who feels able to publicly trespass – or bear witness to the mass trespass by joining us around the perimeter fence. We need people who are prepared to be arrested.

We also need people to support those who are trespassing by gathering around the perimeter fence. We will be providing legal briefings and support for any trespassers who are arrested.

Our aim is to make the trespass as safe and dignified as possible. All our activities are bound by the principles of non-violent direct action. We are holding a camp immediately before the trespass so that everyone involved has a voice in planning the action itself.

On the day of the trespass, we will attempt to reintroduce some of the biodiversity that has been stripped through EDFs premature preliminary works.

Once inside we will scatter wildflowers and other species native to this site. By showing your support for an end to nuclear power, you are part a growing movement that is exposing this corrupt government policy that puts profits before safety.

EDF is Eagerly Destroying Fields even though it doesn’t yet have permission to build the reactors – nor does it have approval for the reactor design, or even a final investment decision.

The new EPR reactor design will produce radioactive waste that is so toxic that it will have to be stored on site for over 100 years. The dangers associated with flooding, terrorist attack and accidental leakage are totally unacceptable.

NO MORE NUCLEAR BAILOUTS

The movement against the government's so-called 'nuclear renaissance' is winning….but we must keep up the pressure. Out of the eight new nuclear power stations supported by the coalition government when it came into power, only two are still on the table: Hinkley in Somerset and Sizewell in Suffolk.

French-owned EDF Energy – the owner of Hinkley and Sizewell – is pressuring the government to increase the range of hidden subsidies on offer in a desperate bid to attract interest from sceptical investors. THIS MUST NOT HAPPEN.

If EDF gets its way, it will be a double whammy for us – and for future generations. It will mean we pay twice: once as taxpayers and once as consumers through our energy bills.

We say put the £60bn earmarked for 'new nuclear' into a cleaner, greener, fairer future. The way forward is through energy reduction and greater investment into research and development to make renewable energy and energy storage fit for the 21st century.

We need to create a long term sustainable energy plan that is based on meeting people's needs rather than making profits for investors. In May, energy secretary Charles Hendry told ministers at a select committee hearing that the government’s energy policy would be robust enough without including nuclear in the mix. It's time we moved energy policy forwards rather than backwards.

NUCLEAR IS NOT THE ANSWER

….Chernobyl
The crisis is far from over: the sarcophagus covering the doomed Russian reactor is falling apart. Only this year, governments finally approved the funding for a new one. The human population in the most heavily contaminated territories is in decline. In Belarus 80% of children were born healthy before Chernobyl. Now, just 26 years later, only 20% of children are born healthy.

…..Fukushima
Thanks to people power, all of Japan's reactors have now been turned off. For the first time in over half a century Japan is nuclear free. However, the crisis at Fukushima is far from over.

The Japanese people are footing the bill. The company behind the power station, Tepco, has had to be re-nationalised because of the spiralling cost of compensation and the ongoing attempts to stabilise the reactors.
Many people are still living in heavily contaminated areas that should have been evacuated.
Food across Japan is heavily contaminated and people are being encouraged to support the farmers of Fukushima by eating it.
The triple meltdown is still in full swing.
All of the fuel pools in reactors 1,2,3 & 4 are in bad condition.
The pool in reactor 4 is of particular concern. Thousands of highly radioactive spent fuel rods are at risk of further explosions. If such an event occurs, high levels of radioactive contamination could spread as far as Tokyo and wipe out Japan's commercial infrastructure.

WE WANT A FUTURE, NOT A DISASTER

More information coming soon.

Subscribe to our newsletter and get regular updates on the trespass plan and the latest developments in the campaign against 'new nuclear'. Please send any queries to: campaign@stopnewnuclear.org.uk or call our hotline on: 07527-219476

“Extreme gas” project proposal gets heated response in Wells

A packed public meeting at Wells Town Hall on Tuesday night, gave a heated response to the proposals by UK Methane to carry out test drilling for Coalbed Methane in Somerset.

Over a hundred people came to hear about the proposals from the developers and protest groups in a balanced debate. In the event, the developers represented by Mr. Gerwyn Williams of UK Methane pulled out just hours before the meeting started leaving the floor to the opposition. The meeting was organized by the alliance of groups under the umbrella of Frack Free Somerset.

Coalbed Methane is one of a number of interrelated ‘extreme gas’ extraction technologies (including fracking for shale gas, and underground coal gasification). Coalbed Methane is a process for extracting gas from coal seams fairly close to the surface.

Somerset residents heard from speakers representing various opposition groups including Transition Keynsham, Frack Off, and Bristol Rising Tide.

Laura Corfield from Transition Keynsham detailed how UK Methane are about to submit a planning application to carry out test drilling in the Hicks Gate area of Keynsham to Bath and North East Somerset Council.

She said: “All Somerset residents should be concerned about these proposals and it is vital that they now lodge their objections to UK Methane’s planning application. If we don’t stop them now, we can expect drilling rigs all over Somerset, endangering our water supplies and local environment.”

Edward Lloyd-Davies from the national group ‘Frack Off’ related the multiple problems experienced in the US and Australia where coalbed methane has been going on for some years. These include methane escapes, contamination of drinking water, huge quantities of produced water contaminated with toxic salts needing disposal and subsidence. He produced estimates of the potential extent of drilling in Somerset based on information from UK Methane’s Australian parent company. This indicated up to 2100 drilling sites with extensive gas pipelines across the Somerset countryside.

A spokesperson from Rising Tide said: “It is no good this industry claiming that they will do it differently in the UK because we have tighter regulation. The licensing regime for the ‘extreme gas’ in the UK is based on off-shore oil extraction. Regulation falls between the Department of Energy and Climate Change, the Environment Agency, the Health and Safety Executive and local planning authorities and is totally uncoordinated. Experience in Lancashire has shown one company operating outside its planning permission and in contravention of its planning conditions.”

Wells Town Councillor, Chris Briton chaired the meeting and heard local residents express strong concerns about pollution of drinking water and local rivers and environmental impacts on the Somerset countryside.

The audience was overwhelmingly opposed the UK Methane’s proposals.

Fracking on trial verdict

An environmental activist who climbed a drilling rig in a protest against fracking in December last year was today found guilty under the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act at Preston Magistrates Court. She was ordered to pay a £250 fine and £750 costs.

Yesterday two other defendants were cleared of charges of aggravated trespass as part of the same court case. (1)

On 1 December 2011, protestors from Bristol Rising Tide occupied the test drilling rig, at Cuadrilla Resource’s Hesketh Bank site, Lancashire, shutting it down for 13 hours. (2) (3)

During the trial, it emerged that Cuadrilla had continued drilling for two months after their planning permission had expired.

In her final submission, the defence barrister, Farraht Arshad said of her client:
“As a concerned citizen no other avenues were open to her.”

She justified this statement by the evidence given in the trial by DECC (4) and Lancashire County Council. DECC, the licencing authority, uses the off-shore oil regulations to licence on-shore fracking operations and
stated that they are not interested in policing breaches of environmental law which is the job of the local planning authority and the Environment Agency.

The local council planning officer made it clear in his evidence that he only had limited resources and few powers to police developers. The general expectation from these regulators is that companies will regulate
themselves.

It was clearly established during trial that Cuadrilla Resources had flouted the period of their planning permission by two months, and had failed to comply with their own method statement related to the protection
of birdlife from the nearby Site of Special Scientific Interest. As a result they were potentially in breach of the Wildlife and Countryside Act. Neither DECC nor the local council appeared to be concerned about taking action to prevent this crime.

Despite these facts, Judge Ward rejected the defence’s argument that the activists were preventing a crime.

The convicted activist said:
“This verdict confirms my view that the regulatory authorities are hopelessly inadequate at their job and don’t have the protection of the environment as a priority. Companies like Cuadrilla are allowed to flout their obligations with impunity, while concerned citizens are criminalised.”

Hydraulic fracturing is a method of extracting gas in shale rock. Huge amounts of water mixed with toxic chemicals are forced into the ground at high pressure, a large proportion of which are never recovered. In the
United States numerous spills of these fluids have contaminated irrigation water, affecting food supplies, and the health of surrounding communities. (5) (6) (7)

There are twelve licenses to frack for shale gas in the UK, five of which are held by Cuadrilla resources in Lancashire. (8)

*Notes*

1. To have committed the offence of aggravated trespass (section 68 Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994) it needed to be shown that the defendants had:
* Taken disruptive action beyond just trespassing on private property. The prosecution failed on this first point.
* Disrupted a lawful activity, in this case the drilling operations of Cuadrilla.

2. http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/the-northerner/2011/dec/01/fracking-lancashire-hesketh-bank-cuadrilla

3. Photos of the action are available at: https://secure.flickr.com/photos/71113300@N08/

4. DECC – Department of Energy and Climate Change is the licencing authority for fracking operations and all fossil fuel exploitation in the UK.

5. ‘Cracks in the Façade: EPA Traced Pollution of Underground Water Supply to Hydraulic Fracturing’ (Aug 2011 – EWG)
http://static.ewg.org/reports/2011/fracking/cracks_in_the_facade.pdf

6. ‘Methane contamination of drinking water accompanying gas-well drilling and hydraulic fracturing’ (May 2011 – Duke)
http://www.nicholas.duke.edu/cgc/pnas2011.pdf

7. ‘Shale gas: a provisional assessment of climate change and environmental impacts’ (Jan 2011 – Tyndall Centre)
http://www.tyndall.ac.uk/sites/default/files/coop_shale_gas_report_final_200111.pdf

8. http://frack-off.org.uk/new-homepage/bad-guys/locations/

*For more information see:*

www.risingtide.org.uk
www.frack-off.org.uk
www.frackingontrial.org

Fracking on trial: lawfulness of Cuadrilla’s fracking operation remains in doubt

Yesterday, three people from Bristol Rising Tide were on trial for a second day at Preston Magistrates Court following their action (1) which shut down Cuadrilla Resources' hydraulic fracturing (2) site beside the Ribble Estuary in Lancashire in December 2011.

Two of the defendants went free when it became clear that the charges against them had been poorly framed. They had been charged with aggravated trespass.

A defendant from Bristol Rising Tide commented:
“It’s great to go free but the threat that fracking poses to communities and the environment has not gone away. It is very likely that Cuadrilla will be fracking at sites in Lancashire in the near future. Do we trust a company that is prepared to flout its planning permission to handle a very dangerous technology like fracking?”

To have committed the offence of aggravated trespass it needed to be shown that the defendants had:

· Taken disruptive action beyond just trespassing on private property. The prosecution failed on this first point.

· Disrupted a lawful activity, in this case the drilling operations of Cuadrilla.

On Tuesday in court, the Head of Planning from Lancashire County Council, Alyn Perigo, confirmed that Cuadrilla were operating outside the period of their planning permission. Cuadrilla had in fact continued to drill two months beyond their agreed time limit. Mr Perigo also confirmed that by drilling in winter they had failed to meet a key condition to safeguard bird life from the adjacent Ribble Estuary Site of Special Scientific Interest. The defence argued that this may have resulted in a breach of the Wildlife and Countryside Act.

Yesterday the prosecution had hoped to call Pat Waring, (3) an Ecologist employed by Cuadrilla Resources, to attempt to demonstrate that Cuadrilla had not been operating unlawfully at the time of the protest. In the event Mr Waring was not prepared to appear for the prosecution. This left the prosecution with the challenge of trying to demonstrate ‘lawfulness’ without an expert witness. In the event this was left undetermined as the prosecution had already failed on the first point.

The case against a third defendant will conclude this morning. She faces a different charge under section 69 Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994, which is failing to leave land as soon as practicable when directed to do so by the senior officer at the scene.

Notes

1. On December 1st 2011, activists from Bristol Rising Tide occupied a drilling rig operated by Cuadrilla Resources at Hesketh Bank beside the Ribble Estuary. The action stopped drilling for 13 hours before the occupiers came down of their own accord. Photos of the action are available at https://secure.flickr.com/photos/71113300@N08/

2. Hydraulic fracturing is a method of extracting gas in shale rock. Huge amounts of water mixed with toxic chemicals are forced into the ground at high pressure, a large proportion of which are never recovered. In the United States numerous spills of these fluids have contaminated irrigation water, affecting food supplies, and the health of surrounding communities. There are twelve licenses to frack for shale gas in the UK, five of which are held by Cuadrilla resources in Lancashire.

3. Early in 2011, Pat Waring of Ecology Services UK Ltd, was employed by Cuadrilla to produce the document: Method Statement – Birds, setting out how Cuadrilla could minimise disturbance to the overwintering and nesting birds that frequent Hesketh Bank beside the Ribble Estuary SSSI. The production of this document, and compliance with its contents, is a requirement of Condition 22 of Cuadrilla’s Planning Permission for the exploratory drilling operation.

For more information see:

www.risingtide.org.uk
www.frack-off.org.uk
www.frackingontrial.org

Twyford Down anti-road protests gathering, September

There is going to be a Twyford Down anti-roads protest reunion to mark that it is 20 years since the protests started. It's on 29-30 Sept, when it'll be the Harvest Moon.

There will be a camp run along the same lines as 20 years ago (bring what you expect to find… water butts, tents, food, etc). That said, there will be some domes and the @ teapot are going to be doing catering (Sat dinner and Sun breakfast) – hurrah! Camp location to be on top of St Catherine's Hill, near Winchester.

There will also be a protest / photo opportunity about this current Government's mania of roadbuilding.

Please spread this amongst your contacts who you think may be interestd. There is a Facebook page if you do such things called Twenty Years Since Twyford: http://www.facebook.com/events/344190508996315/

More details and flyer downloadable at http://bettertransport.org.uk/blogs/roads/100912-twyford-20

Multiple Arsons: Olympic torch returns to Bristol

On Monday 31st we lit up the opening week of the Olympics with an attack on two vehicles (and all the equipment they contained) belonging to British Telecom (BT), an "official Olympic partner". It's a small reply to the heightened repression in London.

In Longwell Green this week we then sabotaged a mast owned by BT's parent company, O2, the mobile phone network. We burnt out the mast by setting fire to the cables at the bottom.

While the thousands who can afford to swell the economy are welcomed by the state for the Olympics, O2 profits from the exploitation of a literal captive audience of "illegal" migrants who are forced to use O2 phones with extortionate pricing in a pilot scheme at Yarl's Wood "Immigration Removal Centre" (prison) which is run by Serco. The authorities can monitor calls with ease, and the network is easier to shut down in the event of a disturbance or as punishment for rule breaking. There are currently mass hunger strikes in Germany and the UK (in ?Morton Hall, a former open prison now specifically designated for "foreign nationals"), these hunger strikes are an expression against detention, control and isolation.

While O2 profit from their dealings in detention they are also furthering the encroachment of the market into the fabric of our social lives. "Giff Gaff" is a mobile phone network owned by O2 and a brainchild of their head of brand strategy. Their model of operating encourages consumers (or "members) to participate in aspects of running the service such as customer support, marketing and sales in return for meagre incentives and forms their "horizontally run" business image. Under this model your friends become marketing targets and your relations are degraded in their value as commodities, bringing us even closer to a world where every human interaction consists of buying and selling.

O2 also supply radio and phone systems for the UK police through a network of TETRA masts. G4S also use O2 sim cards to run their electronic tagging systems.

BT supply the UK prisons (as well as investing millions in the arms trade). Inmates are charged upto 7 times the average call rate, paying for the privilege to be spied on. In BT's words, "paying for the level of ongoing investment in security". BT now run computerise information points on prison wings, "aiding the prisoner during settlement". There's even employment opportunities uploading information and performance statistics.

Behind the scenes of Olympic grandeur, our daily experience is that modern life becomes more and more like a cage. Britain jails more adults than any other European country, and comes 3rd for jailed young people, but it's gold medal is in extending the authoritarian management of the "inside" to the "outside" with its induced culture of cowardice, conformity and snitching. The developing social control structure has many tentacles and is always deepening them through technology, psychology, surveillance, policing and architecture. In short, the mechanism of jail diffused throughout the urban environment. This society is already one giant prison for all but a privileged few and the modern citizen is already being trained to be the model prisoner.

But some cells are still more concrete than others. In April this year Carla Verdugo and Iván Silva were arrested in Santigao transporting an explosive the night before their comrade Juan Alistes trial preparation hearing. We want to continue what they started. Yesterday the "security case" trial against Juan, Freddy and Marcello began in Chile.

Strength to all unpacified captives from last summers riots. Solidarity with all those resisting the deportation machine. None of these hostages are forgotten. Solidarity is our weapon and we can use it.

We also take this opportunity to welcome ELF Switzerland prisoner Sylvio Guerin back to the streets.

Attacks on communication structures are a necessary part of the multi-formed struggle towards the collapse of capitalism. Where society means misery we chose rebellion. Fire to the prisons, borders and detention estate.

Reclaim Hinkley – 8-9 October 2012

When injustice becomes law, resistance becomes duty."

MASS TRESPASS – MASS CIVIL DISOBEDIENCE

No New Nuclear – International call out

Join us in an act of mass civil disobedience as we trespass on the proposed site of Hinkley C nuclear power station in Somerset.

When injustice becomes law, resistance becomes duty."

MASS TRESPASS – MASS CIVIL DISOBEDIENCE

No New Nuclear – International call out

Join us in an act of mass civil disobedience as we trespass on the proposed site of Hinkley C nuclear power station in Somerset.

EDF Energy is already trashing fragile Somerset countryside in preparation for the Hinkley C nuclear power station – even though it hasn’t got planning permission to start building.

SOWING THE SEEDS OF DISSENT

This mass action is for anyone who feels able to publicly trespass – or bear witness to the mass trespass by joining us around the perimeter fence. We need people who are prepared to be arrested. We also need people to support those who are trespassing by gathering around the perimeter fence. We will be providing legal briefings and support for any trespassers who are arrested.

On the day of the trespass, we will attempt to reintroduce some of the biodiversity that has been stripped through EDFs premature preliminary works. Once inside we will scatter wildflowers and other species native to this site. By showing your support for an end to nuclear power, you are part a growing movement that is exposing this corrupt government policy that puts profits before safety.

EDF is Eagerly Destroying Fields even though it doesn’t yet have permission to build the reactors – nor does it have approval for the reactor design, or even a final investment decision.

NO MORE NUCLEAR BAILOUTS

If EDF gets its way, it will be a double whammy for us – and for future generations. It will mean we pay twice: once as taxpayers and once as consumers through our energy bills.

NUCLEAR IS NOT THE ANSWER

The Japanese people are footing the bill. The company behind the power station, Tepco, has had to be re-nationalised because of the spiralling cost of compensation and the ongoing attempts to stabilise the reactors.
Many people are still living in heavily contaminated areas that should have been evacuated.
Food across Japan is heavily contaminated and people are being encouraged to support the farmers of Fukushima by eating it.
The triple meltdown is still in full swing.
All of the fuel pools in reactors 1,2,3 & 4 are in bad condition.
The pool in reactor 4 is of particular concern. Thousands of highly radioactive spent fuel rods are at risk of further explosions. If such an event occurs, high levels of radioactive contamination could spread as far as Tokyo and wipe out Japan's commercial infrastructure.

WE WANT A FUTURE, NOT A DISASTER

More information coming soon.

Earth First! Summer Gathering Update – programme, directions, website and more

It’s only weeks until the Earth First! Summer Gathering begins.
Five days of workshops, info sharing and learning new skills, 1-5 August.

The Earth First Summer Gathering takes place each year to provide a space in which the radical ecology movement can share skills and plan for future campaigns and actions.

Discussions around the importance of community building in inner cities, the state of the anarchist movement and patriarchy in activism.

Skill shares including women's self-defence, researching corporations and navigation.

Campaign round ups from Frack Off! Smash Edo and Luddites 2000 amongst others.

If you have workshops you like to run or discussions you'd like to facilitate then email us at earthfirstsummergathering@riseup.net

Full programme.

Camping is on a sliding scale of £30 to £15, pay what is genuinely appropriate.

Food will be from Anarchist Teapot and meal tickets will be £5 a day.

Kids can have separate meals if they want for £3 a day.

There will be a couple of kids spaces, and special workshops being ran for kids. If you’d like to run any kids workshops get in touch at earthfirstsummergathering@riseup.net.

If you want you dog to come along then you’re going to have to email us at earthfirstsummergathering@riseup.net

And of course there will be entertainment and a bar open in the evenings.

The camp is ½ mile from the Berrington village, and 1 mile from the larger village of Cross Houses.

We encourage non-cycling campers to use public transport if possible as Cross Houses is on a bus route.

BY TRAIN
The nearest train station is Shrewsbury. You can then get the bus to Cross Houses (see below). If coming from a long distance it can sometimes be cheaper to get a ticket to a large station such as Birmingham, Wolverhampton, Manchester or Crewe and then a separate ticket on to Shrewsbury. Check national rail for train times and prices. If coming from the London direction, it’s generally cheaper to buy a Super Offpeak Return, specifying “London Midland & Arriva only”.

BY BIKE
See here for directions and a map to the camp from Shrewsbury for cyclists and drivers.

BY BUS
When you arrive at Shrewsbury train station, ask someone to point you to the bus station. It’s only a few minutes walk from the train station. The bus service that runs from town to within a mile of Crabapple is the 436 towards Bridgnorth. It runs every hour from 7.40am to 5.40pm with a “late” one at 7.40pm. The journey to Cross Houses is approx 15 mins. You will need to press the stop button when you see the sign for Cross Houses. Some of the services on this route are low-floor accessible buses. Please note that the last bus leaves Shrewsbury at 7.40pm, Monday to Saturday and there are no Sunday bus services. For the bus timetable see here http://shropshire.gov.uk/bustimes/timetable.jsc?timetable=436mfi0412.
The camp itself is about 1 mile from the bus stop. From the bus stop at Cross Houses, walk back towards Shrewsbury past the petrol station (on your right) and take the first left turn signed “Berrington”. After about ½ mile, the road forks at the edge of the village. Take the right turn signposted “Betton Abbots” and we’re about ¼ mile up the road on the right.
If you intend to come by bus but need help getting to and from the bus stop, you can arrange a pick up with us: details will be available nearer the time.

BY TAXI
There is also a taxi rank just outside Shrewsbury train station. Accessible taxis can be got from here.- but it is MUCH cheaper to book a cab from a local company – Comet Cabs 01743 344444, or Vincent Cabs 01743 367777. Vincents also have a booking office just across the road from the station, which is handy if you don’t have a phone to book a cab in advance.

USEFUL LINKS
See here directions and a map to the camp from Shrewsbury for cyclists and drivers.
See a map of where the site is here
See the bus timetable
Directions from places other than Shrewsbury

Earth First! Summer Gathering Collective
earthfirstsummergathering@riseup.net

http://earthfirstgathering.weebly.com

Hinkley Investor Centrica: Action Alert

Centrica are having their AGM this week on Fri 11th May we want to tell Centrica loud & clear No to new nuclear. To this end we have a bit of armchair activism that everyone can join in with no matter what your time/energy/money commitments are.

Here’s how to stop the Centrica swindle:

Step one: Boycott Centrica/British Gas…

If you get any products from centrica or buy your energy from British Gas then switch suppliers now – make sure and either phone them on 0800 107 0184 or drop them a line at customercomplaints@britishgas.co.uk or Management Team, British Gas, PO Box 4804, Worthing, BN11 9QU to let them know why you’re dropping them.

If you need guidance or advise on how to switch or who to switch to then visit our already exisiting boycott edf website for details on how/what to do. http://boycottedf.org.uk/maketheswitch

Step Two: Spam Centrica…

Drop them an e-mail to pressure them to withdraw from nuclear new build we have compiled an extensive database of e-mail addresses which we have published below The e-mails are published in 10 blocks of 25, this means that in just 10 e-mails you can tell the whole of Centrica from the 1% down what you think of them without your mails bouncing back or your account being suspended!

Their office numbers are included too why not give them a call and tell them what you think of their dabbling in dirty nukes?

brian.gamlin@centrica.com, darren.miles@centrica.com, mark.turner@centrica.com, olga.wilson@centrica.com, simon.henderson@centrica.com, alejandro.urizar@centrica.com, jonathan.press@centrica.com, peter.pratt@centrica.com, david.bickerton@centrica.com, rod.carr@centrica.com, kirk.downey@centrica.com, bill.laughlin@centrica.com, simon.gray@centrica.com, usmanigbal@centrica.com,, alan.mclaughlin@centrica.com, sophie.cole@centrica.com, jessica.parker@centrica.com, alistair.montgomery@centrica.com, jan.sangedal@centrica.com, careers@centrica.com, cancelinstallation@centrica.com, thornton@centrica.com, jon.york@Centrica.com, cardiffc& mfinance@centrica.com, ir@centrica.com,

don.lane@centrica.com, amie.harding1@centrica.com, natalie.potts@centrica.com, fred.hardinges@centrica.com, nina.ringoen@centrica.com, coordinator@centrica.com, renewables@centrica.com, kit.hawkins@centrica.com, centrica@equiniti.com, stavanger@centrica.com, media@centrica.com, matthew.berry@centrica.com, views@centrica.com, responsibility@centrica.com, centrica.graduates@aonhewitt.com, diversity.team@centrica.com, audrey.luksicek@centrica.com, p2p@centrica.com, dario.ghazi@Centrica.com, rodgers@centrica.com, paul.smart@centrica.com, kevin.ferrol@centrica.com, steven.petrie@centrica.com, martin.bruce@centrica.com, jim.jamieson@centrica.com,

carina.travis@centrica.com, michael.breyaen@centrica.com, trevor.boyce@centrica.com, fiona.navesey@centrica.com, ricky.hill@centrica.com, iain.bartholomew@centrica.com, david.byrne@centrica.com, danny.willder@centrica.com, ali.hussain@centrica.com, linda.somerville1@centrica.com, andy.kingscott@centrica.com, aberdeen@centrica.com, customerrelations@centrica.com, david.holland@centrica.com, eri@centrica.com, brianawhitlock@centrica.com, philip.davies@centrica.com, alan.mclaughlin@centrica.com, energy360@centrica.com, gavin.ward@centrica.com, gill.rodgers@centrica.com, proudfoot@centrica.com, colin.addy2@centrica.com, hywel.james@centrica.com, alan.neild-crabb@centrica.com

chris.ronketti@centrica.com, john.kimber@centrica.com, sue.cropper@centrica.com, richard.hemus2@centrica.com, anna.wantling@centrica.com, steve.gapik@centrica.com, discount.scheme@centrica.com, angela.needle@centrica.com, alaister.mortlock@centrica.com, ivan.olszak@centrica.com, jill.shedden@centrica.com, nick.luff@centrica.com, christopher.bird@centrica.com, ray.sheldon@centrica.com, sns0056york@centrica.com, finbarr.coghlan@centrica.com, peter.fairhurst@centrica.com, jon.cooper@centrica.com, matt.thornton@centrica.com, rebecca.mcclymont@centrica.com, richard.cargen@centrica.com, david.jardine@centrica.com, cathy.aldwinckle@centrica.com, ian.mondrow@na.centrica.com, pjeff@na.centrica.com,

robert.frank@na.centrica.com, smith.day@na.centrica.com, jessica.mahaffey@na.centrica.com, chuck.moore@na.centrica.com, rita.morales@na.centrica.com, ben.lenton@na.centrica.com, joseph.byars@na.centrica.com, ray.debock@na.centrica.com, michael.heselton@na.centrica.com, anahita.minooee@na.centrica.com, gary.newcombe@na.centrica.com, alyce.hibben@na.centrica.com, priscilla.tinsley@na.centrica.com, jodi.marshall@na.centrica.com, kristine.innes@na.centrica.com, niall.armstrong@na.centrica.com, michel.do@na.centrica.com, jeff.parsons@na.centrica.com, pjeff@na.centrica.com, glenn.macintyre@na.centrica.com, cynthia.cordova@na.centrica.com, adrian.pye@na.centrica.com, jay.hellums@na.centrica.com, james.steffes@na.centrica.com, patty.walton@na.centrica.com,

juan.pardon@na.centrica.com, dennis.benevides@na.centrica.com, brenda.christie@na.centrica.com, april.woodward@na.centrica.com, david.zager@na.centrica.com, felita.gammage@na.centrica.com, Victor.Ward@na.centrica.com, lyie.oiiver@na.centrica.com, dave.purnell@na.centrica.com, runsi.sen@na.centrica.com, caroline.kerr@na.centrica.com, aaron.dobson@na.centrica.com, steve.entwistle@na.centrica.com, jillian.conroy@na.centrica.com, heather.brown@na.centrica.com, dave.vandenbosch@na.centrica.com, recruitingnorth@na.centrica.com, eric.stephens@,na.centrica.com, brenda.pinke@na.centrica.com, brandon.vanunen@na.centrica.com, canada.business@na.centrica.com, mike.visser@na.centrica.com, vincent.law@na.centrica.com, yannis.tzamouranis@na.centrica.com, centricadataprotection@centrica.com,

david.booty@na.centrica.com, erin.cuddihey@na.centrica.com, ben.lenton@na.centrica.com, liam.johnston@na.centrica.com, helen.taylor@centrica.co.uk, contract.renewals@centrica.co.uk, eservice@centrica.co.uk, simon.clark@centrica.co.uk, htam.correspondence@centrica.co.uk, sam.laidlaw@centrica.co.uk, media@centrica.co.uk, barry.neville@centrica.co.uk, david.johnson@centrica.co.uk, jane.poxon@centrica.co.uk, david.rizzo@centrica.co.uk, russell.coates@centrica.co.uk, davidm.harman@centrica.co.uk, veronica.hinchliffe@centrica.co.uk, emily.harman@centrica.co.uk, rob.cullender@centrica.co.uk, gavin.ferguson@centrica.co.uk, catherine.mcnally@centrica.co.uk, david.flower@centrica.co.uk, tony.thornton@centrica.co.uk, la.ha@centrica.co.uk,

energy.efficiency2@centrica.co.uk, ir@centrica.co.uk, theenergyefficiencyteam@centrica.co.uk, craig.lawson@centrica.co.uk, simon.goldring@centrica.co.uk, jeremy.lockett@centrica.co.uk, victoria.andenaes@centrica.co.uk, iain.taylor@centrica.co.uk, barrie.x.caird@centrica.co.uk, community@centrica.co.uk, tim.boycott-brown@centrica.co.uk, anthony.chmarny@centrica.co.uk, ghazala.zia@centrica.co.uk, wayne.brotherwood@centrica.co.uk, alan.mclaughlin@centrica.co.uk, kevin.wollard@centrica.co.uk, tony.johnson@centrica.co.uk, harry.metcalfe@centrica.co.uk, mark.agnew@centrica.co.uk, andy.chern@centrica.co.uk, fiona.navesey@centrica.co.uk, mark.clare@centrica.co.uk, britishgas.prepaymentcustomerrelations@centrica.co.uk, andrew.latham@centrica.co.uk, simon.harrison@centrica.co.uk,

david.viney@centrica.co.uk, laura.jeffs@centrica.co.uk, j.johnson@centrica.co.uk, hqcustomerrelations@centrica.co.uk, david.crowther@centrica.co.uk, aan@centrica.co.uk, linda.sullivan@centrica.co.uk, meterreadentry@centrica.co.uk, francis.rottenburg@centrica.co.uk, matt.graveston@centrica.co.uk, stephen.dickson@centrica.co.uk, andy.malicki@centrica.co.uk, deborah.lamb@centrica.co.uk, ann.dale@centrica.co.uk, pressoffice.britishgas@centrica.co.uk, chris.foster@centrica.co.uk, steven.briggs@centrica.co.uk, david.thomas@centrica.co.uk, rhvs.iones@centrica.co.uk, eldon.pethybridge@centrica.co.uk, clive.woodland@centrica.co.uk, win.wearmouth@centrica.co.uk, shann.plascott@centrica.co.uk, jon.kimber@centrica.co.uk, jean.doran@centrica.co.uk,

OFFICES

Centrica plc
Millstream
Maidenhead Road
Windsor
Berkshire
SL4 5GD

Main switchboard
Tel: +44 (0)1753 494000
Fax: +44 (0)1753 494001

Centrica Storage Limited
Venture House
42-54 London Road
Staines
Middlesex TW18 4HF

Centrica Storage Limited – registered office and corporate headquarters
Tel: +44 (0) 1784 415 300
Fax: +44 (0) 1784 415 318

Centrica Storage Sales and Marketing
Telephone: +44 (0) 1784 415 304

Centrica Storage Commercial Operations Desk (24 hours)
Telephone: +44 (0) 1784 415 304

Centrica Media Relations (on behalf of Centrica Storage Limited)
Telephone: +44 (0) 845 072 4649

Alan McLaughlin, Centrica Media Relations
Telephone: +44 (0) 1753 494 086 or 07789 570598

Centrica Investor Relations (on behalf of Centrica Storage Limited)
Telephone: +44 (0) 1753 494 900

Step Three: Protest!!!

Attend Centrica’s AGM this coming Friday May 11th. Their AGM starts at 2pm but environmental and social justice campaigners will be there from 12:30 onwards. The address is Queen Elizabeth II Conference Centre, London SW1.

Why say no to Centrica?

After being advised last year to pull out of nuclear Centrica are now demanding more money from the cash-strapped British public via corporate owned UK plc. The advice came from citigroup and utilities analyst Lakis Athanasiou who said that Centrica ‘shouldn’t touch nuclear with a barge pole’.

Nearly one year on and against the backdrop of the nuclear catastrophe in Japan spiraling further out of control, Centrica is now threatening to ‘pull out’ if their demands aren’t met. They claim to have doubts over the governments energy policy, Centrica said “the company’s position on nuclear new build has not changed and it was still working towards taking a final investment decision on Hinkley Point by the end of the year. It added “There are a number of areas where we still need absolute clarity, such as cost, market framework and planning approval and permits”

Subsidies already promised by government to the nuclear industry already include –

electricity reform act, fixed price on carbon per tonne and fixed price on electricity produced from nuclear taxpayer funded liability in the event of an accident (yes folks these guys can nuke you fukushima style then make you pay for the clean up) fixed price of contribution of the utlilty for the cost of future attempts to manage/clear up the waste (yeah right like that’s gonna happen!)

Part of the electricity reform acts package of proposals are the contracts for difference that will be announced in the Queens speech this month.

Contracts for difference or CFD’s as they are known are nothing more than a way of ensuring that centrica makes private profit whilst socialising the losses, or should we say enriches the 1% at a cost to the 99%

In this context these proposals are like the banks asking for a bailout in advance of them doing the dodgy deals that made them fail. CFDs are ‘trading on the margins’ or to put it another way turning shit into sugar and are therefore highly risky.

One of the ways CFD’s will likely benefit Centrica is by allowing them to put up a tiny ‘deposit’ on the construction of new nuclear plants whilst we the taxpayer loan them the rest, of course they get to keep their profits which ever way you slice the pie, they can even make money out of the project failing with CFDs. It is clear to see that being able to profit out of falling markets in this way is a cleverly disguised way of socialising the costs of bad investment choices giving investors a win-win situation at an extreme cost to civil society & the environment.

We believe that centrica’s pressure on the UK government to take more taxpayers money to pay for a project that they themselves believe will fail in order that their shareholders can profit out of us twice (once when they build the plant then again when they bill us for energy) is immoral and unethical.

The electricity market reform act already promised to these greedy utilities is a public subsidy by the back door. Nuclear power plants never have been and never will be profitable endeavours which is why in 2006 when the government tried to create the nuclear renaissance they knew it wouldn’t go down well with the public. Now after a six year campaign of lobbying and expensive PR campaigns to get the public to swallow nuclear as a ‘necessary evil’ they want to dump responsibility for financing back on the already skint public.

South West Against Nulear (SWAN)