Lignite Costs the Earth

Interesting to see that while there is some discussion nationally about Solid Energy's plans down here in Southland, there is still nothing in local media ...

Lignite Costs The Earth
MEDIA RELEASE | Coal Action Network
Thursday 9th December 2010 | For Immediate Use

The Coal Action Network today praised the Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment (PCE) for exposing the high environmental cost of Solid Energy’s plans to exploit South Island lignite reserves in her new report ‘Lignite and climate change: The high cost of low grade coal.’

“For too long, Solid Energy has used greenwash, contradictory statements and snazzy promotional videos to obscure the reality of what they are planning to do in Southland,” said Coal Action Network spokesperson Frances Mountier. “In her report, the Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment has clearly shown how digging up and using South Island lignite would incur a prohibitively high environmental cost.”

“The reality is stark,” continued Ms Mountier. “Solid Energy has managed to lay its paws on 1.5 billion tonnes of lignite reserves.  The PCE’s report states that there are over 6 billion tonnes of economically recoverable lignite deposits in Southland and Otago.[i]  If Solid Energy, L&M and the other companies exploit all 6 billion tonnes, they will be responsible for releasing 8.89 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent into the atmosphere.”[ii]

“It’s not true that New Zealand is too small to make a difference on climate change. We can let these companies go ahead with their plans, and bring the world closer to the tipping point of runaway climate change, or we can stop them in their tracks, and make a major contribution to the stability of the world’s climate.

“We need to keep the coal in the hole,” Ms Mountier concluded. “We need to send the message that the mining companies must abandon their plans to mine and burn Southland lignite.”

What Attaches People to their Communities?

What makes a community a desirable place to live? 

What draws people to stake their future in it? 

Are communities with more attached residents better off?

The Knight Soul of the Community project started in 2008 with these questions in mind.  Over 3 years they interviewed close to 43,000 people in 26 communities in the United States.  The study found that three main qualities attach people to place:

1. Social offerings, such as entertainment venues and places to meet, 
2. Openness (how welcoming a place is) 
3.  Aesthetics (its physical beauty and green spaces).

What is it that draws you to your community?

Southland's Love Affair with Coal

I am constantly amazed, that with the spectre of a large opencast mining operation setting up on our back doorstep, there has been very little commentary (read none) covering the less savoury aspects of Solid Energy's plans for Southland.