Demanding energy justice

Date: 12 November 2014

It’s been a busy few weeks for our energy justice campaign.

Last month we hosted activists from Colombia and Indonesia who are fighting destructive energy projects in their communities, and who came to the UK to challenge the involvement of London-listed BHP Billiton at their AGM.

Rogelio from FECODEMIGUA, the network of community groups that are fighting the Cerrejón coal mine in Colombia, put it like this:

“The coal that comes from Cerrejón is dirty coal, stained by the blood and sweat of the people of La Guajira. In Europe, people enjoy light at the suffering of these communities. Oil is the blood of the land, and coal is like its bones. This extractivism is taking out our bones; we will no longer be able to stand. People are dying of thirst whilst Cerrejón is using 17,000 gallons of water every day to clear the land.”

As part of the campaign, we have joined forces with groups in Indonesia and Australia to highlight the pathetic compensation – half a penny per square metre – that local people have been given for their land which will be destroyed by new mines BHP Billiton is planning in Indonesian Borneo. So far 8257 people have taken action to demand justice for the people of Borneo. If you haven’t yet, there’s still time before the company’s second AGM in Adelaide later this month. (The company is listed in both the UK and Australia.)

A week later, we had good news from campaigners in South Africa who have been fighting plans by multinational companies Anglo-American and Vedanta to build a coal mine and power station. Both projects have been put on hold – and our allies sent special thanks to WDM for organising solidarity protests in the UK.

Then just days afterwards, we welcomed the recommendations by MPs on the parliamentary business committee that companies wanting to list on the London Stock Exchange be screened on their social and environmental standards. This is something we and other groups have been demanding for several years, and which WDM policy officer Alex Scrivener gave evidence to the committee about as part of their inquiry. We’re waiting now to make sure the government follows this recommendation .

All this shows that we can win. While achieving true energy justice is hard work, people around the world are challenging corporate control of our energy systems, and getting results!

If you want to know more about the latest phase of the campaign read more and download our energy justice briefing here. Please also take action to stop the firced displacements.