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Climate change protesters disrupt coal industry party
Rashid Razaq27.02.09
CLIMATE change activists clashed with police after they tried to storm a five-star London hotel during an award ceremony for the coal industry.
More than 100 protesters targeted the Landmark Hotel in Marylebone, where energy minister Mike O'Brien was last night due to attend the annual dinner for power company bosses.
The Climate Rush activists, led by Tamsin Omond, the 24-year-old student who last year scaled the Palace of Westminster to protest against expansion, disrupted proceedings in the grand ballroom, unfurling banners calling for "No New Coal Awards", before being dragged away by security guards.
About 50 police officers held back the crowd of protesters, who tried to storm the building through the main entrance, opposite Marylebone railway station.
The protest organisers claimed they had a further 100 supporters, wearing cocktail dresses and black ties, inside the hotel, who they said sneaked inside before the event got under way.
Leading figures within the industry, including chief executives of energy company E.ON and the head of the UK's largest coal-powered power station, Drax, were at the hotel. The evening was also an industry networking event.
The ceremony was disrupted as the protesters refused to leave until the hotel's management agreed not to host the event again. Miss Omond, Climate Rush organiser, said: "They weren't expecting such a no-nonsense statement in front of all the bigwigs.
"It is completely irresponsible to engage in such back-slapping for the most polluting industry in the world."
Earlier the protesters gave out six papier mâché mock awards for categories in the shape of canaries, to represent the birds that were used to detect lethal gas in coalmines. They included Climate Coward, which went to Gordon Brown, and the Financial Fool Award for Royal Bank of Scotland.
Miss Omond said: "The [mock awards] also represent the arctic ice caps, which are the canaries of our world. They have started melting - a warning sign to us." Police said the crowd was dispersed peacefully and there were no arrests.
Reader views (6)
Well done ... the coal industry is not only contributing to runaway climate change but poisoning the atmosphere into the bargain with toxic particualte and demanding resources (coal) that can only be won at a cost in human blood. Something like 3000 miners will die in China alone this coming year and worldwide the figure is closer to 50,000. And lets not count life-years lost through black lung.
The case for moving quickly to phase out coal harvest and combustion is compelling.
- Fran Barlow, Sydney Australia
Yesterday I was at a Direct action protest in Seoul regarding kicking out the corrupt president and his lack of commitment to the People.
When I left England in October I joined the protest organised by Tamsin regarding flight policy and I am glad to see she is (-as expected-) continuing to gain support from the public over critical issues that otherwise may not be confronted. I support her and the causes she is demonstrating against.
A demonstration of Direct Action makes a wider dent in people's consciousness that needs to be touched in order to gather actual support as opposed to minor conversation. I am glad it was peaceful and successful, Moreover i'm glad it happened.
- Douglas Park, Seoul, South Korea
Why should anyone be awarded for helping to drown London and Portsmouth?
They should have a criminal record.
- Paul, Portsmouth, UK
Super super super! It takes guts and a real passion to protest peacefully!
More please....
- Mia Manners, London
Yes, good to see it is the coal industry who is now no longer welcome... we have most of the technology, will develop the rest, we just need the will to change. Well done..
- Happymoderate, London, UK
Superb. I wish there were photos - I'd love to see the canary awards.
- Bonzhe, London
