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Robert Redford: statement supporting the campaign against new coal power station in Kent.
17 July 2008
Robert Redford, actor and film maker, has given a powerful written statement to the World Development Movement lending his support for the campaign against the new coal power station in Kent. The full statement will be read tomorrow (Thurs 17) at a film and discussion event: ‘Kent, coal and climate change’ organised by the World Development Movement in Chatham, Kent.
Robert Redford addressed the local community in Kent:
"To those gathered this evening around the proposed coal fire power plant in your community of Kent, I congratulate all of you for coming together to learn more and to do more.
He outlined the reasons for his opposition for new coal:
"Coal power plants or as you call them, stations, are bad for public health; they are bad for the environment close by in proximity as well as much farther away as pollution is taken by wind and water; they contribute greatly to climate impacts in a highly negative manner; and thus are ultimately very bad for the local and larger economies."
During the World Development Movement’s film and discussion evening on Thursday 17 July, there will be a screening of “Fighting Goliath: The Texas Coal Wars” narrated by Robert Redford. The film follows city mayors, lawyers, environmentalists, ranchers, and CEOs in Texas who came together to fight the construction of new coal fire power stations in Texas.
Benedict Southworth, director of the World Development Movement said:
“It’s brilliant that such a well-known figure has leant his support to our campaign. This is a campaign about climate change and its impact on Kent, but also on the poorest people in the world, who are already suffering from drought, disease and flooding because of climate change.
“Robert Redford is a knowledgeable and passionate advocate for grass roots campaigners who are coming together everywhere to fight new coal power stations. The film that he has narrated resonates with the emerging coalition of people from all backgrounds in Kent, including, councillors, stay-at-home mums and dads, local authority employees, furniture makers, and young people who are coming together to fight the new coal power station proposed at Kingsnorth in Kent.”
Robert Redford acknowledged the universality between the fight against coal power stations around the world:
“The story in Fighting Goliath: the Texas Coal Wars may well ring familiar to you, as it’s a universal story of what is happening in many communities across the U.S. and the world."
For more information/interviews/a copy of the full statement from Robert Redford, please call Kate Blagojevic on 020 7820 4900 / 07711 875 345. Please note that unfortunately Robert Redford is not available for interview
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