Monday morning, 11am September 20, the group Switch Off Hazelwood Switch On Renewable Energy , delivered the new owners of Hazelwood power station - French company GDF Suez - a box of lemons and a letter informing them of the nature of their recent acquisition.
Related - Switch Off Action Website - Pre-event activities
Gathering outside the companies' office at Rialto Towers, 525 Collins St, the group announced plans to rally en masse' at Australia's dirtiest power station, this October 10, the "International Day of Climate Action". Using lemons to spell the word 'Hazelwood', 16 people held aloft a range of signs & sparked up the classic chant "Coal, don't dig it - leave it in the ground it's time to get with it!"
"We are pushing for an urgent shift away from coal, and for a just transition for coal workers through the development of renewable energy and energy efficiency manufacturing facilities in the Latrobe Valley," Said protest organiser Shaun Murray.
"There are real opportunities to re-power the Gippsland region and we call on the Brumby government to commit to a clear plan to switch off all of Hazelwood in the next term of goverment," he said.
The group plan to create Victoria's "first" solar thermal power plant outside Hazelwood power station with hundreds of people holding large reflectors to shine the light of clean energy on a 10m 'power tower', on October 10.
"Premier Brumby has said he might close one quarter of Hazelwood by 2014, but vague partial promises are no substitute for actual commitment - if you want jobs, if you care about the future, then it's time to switch off Hazelwood, and switch on renewable energy," said event organiser Carey Priest.
GDF Suez advised Rialto Tower's security to refuse entry to Switch Off Hazelwood representatives, who attempted to deliver a letter and a box of lemons to the company, which illustrated the immense liability the company have knowingly taken on by purchasing Hazelwood power station.
"Off to the post office then!" Mr. Murray said.
Media for this event: http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/09/20/3016410.htm
Comments
GDF Suez also part-owns the Wonthaggi Desalination Plant
GDF Suez also owns a 35% stake in Suez Environment one of the major stakeholders in Aquasure, the consortium that owns the Wonthaggi Desalination plant. This is significant because one company stands to profit when we produce energy at Hazelwood that then will be consumed at the desalination plant. Secondly, it shows the degree to which Victoria's essential services are now owned by foreign multi-nationals. The long term contracts with these companies and the compensation they are demanding if we change to renewable energy or sustainable water sources such as recycling are major political and economic obstacles to sustainable policies in Victoria. This is why the environment movement needs to move to demanding the renationalisation of our energy and water an high priority.
The info below demonstrates the connection between GDF Suez and Suez Environment.
GDF Suez S.A. (Euronext: GSZ) is a French-based energy company active in the fields of electricity generation and distribution, natural gas andrenewable energy. The world's second-largest utility behind Electricité de France, the company was formed by the merger of Gaz de France and Suez on 22 July 2008. The firm also holds a 35% stake in Suez Environment, the water treatment and waste management company spun out from Suez the time of the merger.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GDF_Suez
AquaSure, an international consortium consists of Degremont, Suez Environment, Thiess and Macquarie Capital Group.
http://www.theage.com.au/national/aquasure-wins-desal-plant-contract-200...