March Alert: Global Month of Action on Energy - AngloAmerican again targeted by civil society

As part of the Global Month of Action on Energy, civil society organisations are going to march to AngloAmerican in Johannesburg on October 11. Earthilfe Africa Johannesburg called for this action which coincides with the annual meeting of the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF). As these international financing institutions are pulling out of funding of coal-fired power stations, South African activists are even more encouraged in confronting the bad energy choices made by their companies.

Civil society organisation will demand from AngloAmerican to rethink their energy plans. With the head winds also growing stronger against coal-fired power stations on an international level, participants are going to give AngloAmerican insights into the recent publication by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). Participants will raise concerns about the company’s unwillingness and inability to cope with the report’s findings, the impacts of coal-fired power stations on global climate change and the threat to local communities.

This march is part of the campaign against AngloAmerican’s and Vedanta’s power plant but is part of the wider campaigning for sustainable and just energy solutions for South Africans.
It is going to start at 9:00am from Pieter Roos Park. Check the issues:

• The new IPCC report clearly shows that human activity is causing climate change. We do so mostly by burning fossil fuels like coal. So why would Anglo American not consider clean and safe energy alternatives?
• AngloAmerican needs to reconsider their energy provision. Right now, AngloAmerican does not acknowledge and act on the puclicly available climate science. Hence – like Eskom – it scores “F” for Science.
• Civil society is opposing coal-fired power stations. Because renewable solutions are available. And we want all electricity utilities to use them. Coal is a no-go for AngloAmerican. AngloAmerican could build clean, safe solar and wind plants that would benefit the local renewable industry and create jobs.
• Why does Anglo American want to contribute to air pollution?
• Burning coal pollutes the air with small particles, sulfur dioxide, oxides of nitrogen, carbon dioxide, mercury, arsenic, chromium, nickel, other heavy metals, acid gases, hydrocarbons and varying levels of uranium and thorium in fly ash – all with known negative impacts on human health.
• Why would AngloAmerican want to build another coal-fired power station in the Lephalale area?
• There are already two power stations threating local communities and the environment. Even Eskom is unable to supply enough water to the Medupi power station in order to comply with the loan requirements put forward by the World Bank.
• Where does the plant’s water come from?
• Water is already scarce in the Lephalale area. Water consumption by four power plants – including the planned Coal-3 – will be competing with local communities and towns.

Civil society will not tolerate yet another South African contribution to climate change and the threat it poses to communities!

Information about the march:

When:   9am - 1pm
Where:  Gather at Peter Roos Park, Corner Empire Rd & Joubert St, Johannesburg

For more details, please contact:

Makoma Lekalakala
Programme Officer, Earthlife Africa Jhb
Cell: +27 82 682 9177

Tristen Taylor
Project Coordinator, Earthlife Africa Jhb
Cell: +27 84 250 2434