Local hui tells fossil fuel industry to sod off

September 17th, 2012

Over 40 people from across the Top of the South and West Coast gathered for two days at Te Awhina Marae last weekend for the 2012 SODOFF (Stop Our Dependency on Fossil Fuels) Hui.

The Hui brought together people motivated to take action to stop new fossil fuel extraction and prevent runaway climate change in Aotearoa.

A member of the Motueka-based group The Renewables, Helen Tulett said, "We're concerned and outraged about the Government's mining and drilling plans. Our environment is under threat from companies who seek to make private profit out of nature's resources.

"This short-term profiteering will hurt our region's natural capital. The true wealth of the Top of the South and the West Coast is worth defending. Climate change is not being addressed at a global or national level, and acting locally seems the most sensible approach."

She said people met to discuss what strategies we can use from here for greater effectiveness, and to build a strong network across the Top of the South and West Coast. (See photo.)

"We must work alongside people on the West Coast to bring about sustainable solutions to the problems that we all face with climate change."

During the SODOFF Hui, the group endorsed the recent declaration made at the Ka Nui conference held in Rotorua earlier this month, sending a message of solidarity to those who are also struggling against extractive industries in the North Island, Ms Tulett said. See this document for full declaration details.

Organisers aim to make the SODOFF Hui an annual event and are already looking forward to next year. "The issue of climate change will only become more pressing and action more urgent as time goes on," said Ms Tulett.

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