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| EDF faces calls to drop legal action against activists | EDF faces calls to drop legal action against activists |
| (4 months later) | |
| More than 8,000 people in 24 hours have signed a petition calling on the energy company EDF to drop a £5m civil action against 21 activists who occupied one of its power plants last October. | More than 8,000 people in 24 hours have signed a petition calling on the energy company EDF to drop a £5m civil action against 21 activists who occupied one of its power plants last October. |
| The campaigners, from the No Dash for Gas pressure group, occupied EDF's West Burton gas plant for a week. All pleaded guilty to charges of aggravated trespass in court on Wednesday and are awaiting sentencing in March and April – but they are also facing a civil claim from EDF, which is seeking to recover more than £5m in damages and costs from the protest. | The campaigners, from the No Dash for Gas pressure group, occupied EDF's West Burton gas plant for a week. All pleaded guilty to charges of aggravated trespass in court on Wednesday and are awaiting sentencing in March and April – but they are also facing a civil claim from EDF, which is seeking to recover more than £5m in damages and costs from the protest. |
| The Change.org petition against the civil claim was started by semi-retired schoolteachers Barbara and Russ Fauset, the parents of Claire Fauset, one of the activists named in the suit. | The Change.org petition against the civil claim was started by semi-retired schoolteachers Barbara and Russ Fauset, the parents of Claire Fauset, one of the activists named in the suit. |
| "Claire and her friends act on principle and are entirely altruistic in what they do," they say in the petition text. "She has lobbied the government, emailed companies, signed petitions and marched with placards, but nothing changed. So Claire and her friends decided they needed to take more decisive action to get the government and energy companies to change their ways. The company says that they have to take the consequences for their actions. | "Claire and her friends act on principle and are entirely altruistic in what they do," they say in the petition text. "She has lobbied the government, emailed companies, signed petitions and marched with placards, but nothing changed. So Claire and her friends decided they needed to take more decisive action to get the government and energy companies to change their ways. The company says that they have to take the consequences for their actions. |
| "It's heartbreaking to think that Claire and her friends are being punished for putting themselves at risk for the good of humanity." | "It's heartbreaking to think that Claire and her friends are being punished for putting themselves at risk for the good of humanity." |
| The petition characterises the civil claim as a threat to protest in the UK – a view echoed by other direct action groups – and calls on EDF to "drop this unprecedented legal assault". | The petition characterises the civil claim as a threat to protest in the UK – a view echoed by other direct action groups – and calls on EDF to "drop this unprecedented legal assault". |
| EDF's civil claim seeks redress for damage to the site, the cost of extra security, lost earnings, and carbon credits that had been activated for use on the dates of the protest. Speaking earlier this week, when the Guardian first reported on the civil claim, a spokesman for the company said the action was necessary in the light of the disruption caused. | EDF's civil claim seeks redress for damage to the site, the cost of extra security, lost earnings, and carbon credits that had been activated for use on the dates of the protest. Speaking earlier this week, when the Guardian first reported on the civil claim, a spokesman for the company said the action was necessary in the light of the disruption caused. |
| "EDF Energy supports the right to lawful protest and respects differing points of view. However, the consequences of this illegal activity put lives at risk, caused considerable disruption to the site during its construction, and considerable financial losses. It also delayed the completion of the new power station – part of a massive investment in the UK's energy supply, which will provide enough electricity for 1.5m homes. | "EDF Energy supports the right to lawful protest and respects differing points of view. However, the consequences of this illegal activity put lives at risk, caused considerable disruption to the site during its construction, and considerable financial losses. It also delayed the completion of the new power station – part of a massive investment in the UK's energy supply, which will provide enough electricity for 1.5m homes. |
| "It is important that those considering this kind of action understand that they may face consequences through civil action for the damage, cost and disruption they cause." | "It is important that those considering this kind of action understand that they may face consequences through civil action for the damage, cost and disruption they cause." |
| Supporters of the protesters have been inundating EDF's Facebook wall and Twitter account with hundreds of posts criticising the company and calling on it to drop the civil action. | Supporters of the protesters have been inundating EDF's Facebook wall and Twitter account with hundreds of posts criticising the company and calling on it to drop the civil action. |
| "Stop bullying rightful protestors," wrote one. "Put your efforts to converting to renewables and show leadership in clean energy itself." Another – climate campaigner Ben Stewart – jokingly suggested that Zingy, the company's animated mascot in its UK advertising, would not support the company's case. | "Stop bullying rightful protestors," wrote one. "Put your efforts to converting to renewables and show leadership in clean energy itself." Another – climate campaigner Ben Stewart – jokingly suggested that Zingy, the company's animated mascot in its UK advertising, would not support the company's case. |
| "Does Zingy know what the grown-ups at EDF are up to, trying to stifle peaceful protest with a legal hammer?" he wrote. "Have you even told Zingy yet? I think you have, and I think Zingy doesn't like it but you're holding him under duress." | "Does Zingy know what the grown-ups at EDF are up to, trying to stifle peaceful protest with a legal hammer?" he wrote. "Have you even told Zingy yet? I think you have, and I think Zingy doesn't like it but you're holding him under duress." |
| Change.org is one of the UK's most-visited petition-hosting websites, hosting campaigns against page three in the Sun newspaper (82,000 signatures), for Amazon to pay more in UK tax (92,000), and a successful campaign against the extradition of UK student Richard O'Dwyer (253,000), launched by Wikipedia founder Jimmy Wales in conjunction with the Guardian. | Change.org is one of the UK's most-visited petition-hosting websites, hosting campaigns against page three in the Sun newspaper (82,000 signatures), for Amazon to pay more in UK tax (92,000), and a successful campaign against the extradition of UK student Richard O'Dwyer (253,000), launched by Wikipedia founder Jimmy Wales in conjunction with the Guardian. |
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