Carbon Credits against Coal Mining

Press Release: Save Happy Valley Coalition
Tuesday 12th June 2007
For Immediate Use

The Save Happy Valley Coalition will launch new carbon credits into the
market today, after Solid Energy blamed the group for a reduction in coal
production from its opencast Stockton Mine.

The state-owned miner recently said(1) that it was reducing production for
the year by 250,000 tonnes, in part because of the protests by Save Happy
Valley Coalition members.

"This is great news for the climate," says Save Happy Valley Coalition
spokesperson Frances Mountier. "Solid Energy can't catch up that lost
250,000 tonnes of production, so that's 600,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide
that have been prevented from reaching the atmosphere – the equivalent of
taking 170,000 New Zealand cars off the road for a year."

"Our members repeatedly tramped up the steep untracked Mt Augustus, often in

shocking weather, to use our physical presence to prevent Solid Energy's
blast explosions. We're now celebrating the fact that we've had a real and
beneficial effect on the climate."

"We will be selling carbon credits at a bargain rate – just $10 for 100
tonnes of carbon dioxide! We hope to encourage people to buy credits that
ensure active reductions in emissions, not offsetting using sinks," said Ms
Mountier. "Now is the time to act on climate change. We need to see serious
action to reduce emissions from the source."

The carbon credits will be available on Trademe from Tuesday 12th June.
Billiard
posters will be distributed across Christchurch in the following days, and
green organisations and local businesses will be contacted. More information
will be
available on the Save Happy Valley Coalition website
http://www.savehappyvalley.org.nz

The Coalition is selling the certificates as a light-hearted fundraiser.
Buyers will
receive a personalised carbon credit certificate detailing the credits
purchased. The remaining text reads: 'Thank you for supporting the campaign
for a socially just and environmentally sustainable transition away from
coal mining, and the protection of precious West Coast ecosystems.'

"Buy our carbon credits to offset the emissions of your, your family, or
your businesses, and help ensure a socially just and environmentally
sustainable transition away from coal mining," said Ms Mountier.

ends

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