1. #AxeDrax: Roundup of protests and events during Drax's AGM
For full background information about Drax and the #AxeDrax campaign see here.
On 22nd April, scores of people of all ages gathered outside the Drax AGM in the City of London to protest against burning millions of tonnes of wood and coal, and against Drax profiting from subsidies which should be going towards truly low-carbon and renewable energy. See a short video from the demonstration here. The protest featured the Draxosaurus, a very chic cooling tower and grim DECC complete with axe. See pictures here and here. Speeches made by members of Biofuelwatch, Care2, Colombia Solidarity, London Mining Network and the Coal Action Network can be viewed here. Attenders to the AGM were handed a Warning to Investors. A number of people went into the AGM to ask difficult questions. Meanwhile, Drax power station was visited by members of Sheffield People & Planet in a solidarity action.
At 1 pm, a number of protesters moved on the the Department of Energy and Climate Change where a petition organised by Biofuelwatch and Care2 was handed in, demanding that no more subsidy be wasted on Drax. The petition has now attracted over 130,000 signatures.
Drax had earlier thrown down the gauntlet to the government saying that they could convert to 100% biomass before 2025 if DECC were to double the subsidy they receive from the projected £600m+ to about £1.3bn a year. We threw down a real gauntlet on the steps of DECC saying 'DECC, don't overdose on Drax. Just say no!' We then ritually slaughtered the Draxosaurus to show DECC what is required.
The Draxosaurus also joined the march organised by Campaign against Climate Change, Going Backwards on Climate Change down Whitehall receiving a cheque for £451m, its subsidy for 2015, from George Osborne outside Downing St. See minute 1.45 of this short film.
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