Thought crime.

Some of my friends, including my amazing ex-boyfriend, were part of yesterday’s 114 strong group who were arrested for the “planned action” on Ratcliffe-On-Soar power station. They were nicked for conspiracy to cause criminal damage and aggravated trespass. Basically, they were arrested for a hypothetical action; they weren’t nicked for any *actual* action!

So, basically, it’s now illegal to actually think about taking action against the root causes of climate change. And this particular power station is cited as being the third largest emitter of CO2 in the UK.

It has also been argued that coal is not clean; it’s responsible for the largest source of greenhouse gas emissions in the UK. And we don’t have the technology for carbon capture and storage (if we ever will). We just don’t have time, and can’t depend on these so-called technofixes to “save us”.

Climate scientists have reached consensus on climate change and the dangers it poses. Especially to those in the majority world. We need to act. And we need to act quickly. And if we get arrested from trying to stop things going horrendously wrong, for trying to protect this small, spinning, blue and green rock that we call home, then so be it.

As for my incredibly brave, and passionate, mates, they’ve been bailed to return in the next couple of months. It will be interesting to see whether the police can make any convictions stick.

Until then – take action! Some useful links:

• Activists’ Legal Project
• Coal Action Network
• Camp for Climate Action
• E.On F.Off
• Network for Climate Action
• People & Planet
• World Development Movement: No New Coal