Protests in Kent over coal-fired power

摘要

More than 500 climate change protesters have clashed with police at Kent's Kingsnorth coal-fired power station this week. The protesters, Climate Camp 08, are opposing plans by energy firm Eon to demolish the existing plant and replace it with a coal-fired unit despite Eon's claims it will be 20% cleaner. As NCE went to press 12 protesters had been arrested at the protest camp on the Hoo peninsula, 3km from the power plant. Local police claim to have also uncovered stashes of weapons which they say are connected to the climate camp, an allegation vigorously denied by the camp's organisers. Climate Camp 08 organisers describe the event as being "for anyone who wants to take action on climate change; for anyone who's fed up with empty government rhetoric and corporate spin". Several politicians have visited the camp, including Labour MP for Hayes and Harlington John McDonnell, Liberal Democrat MEP Chris Davies and Green MEP Caroline Lucas.