The Virginian-Pilot
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Thirteen environmental activists were arrested Monday after they chained themselves to the headquarters of Dominion Virginia Power in downtown Richmond, causing a morning traffic jam but no injuries.
Four activists encased their hands in 55-gallon drums of cement. Another suspended himself from a footbridge near the James River before coming down voluntarily when Richmond police and firefighters arrived.
The activists were protesting Dominion’s plans to build a $1.8 billion coal-fired power plant in Wise County in southwest Virginia – a project that they and other environmentalists have argued would perpetuate mountaintop coal removal, global warming, smog and water pollution.
The State Corporation Commission already has approved the plant, and the Virginia Air Pollution Control Board last week adopted permits for the power station that will significantly limit mercury and sulfur dioxide emissions.
Dominion put out a news release late Monday saying that its hired crews had begun construction of the plant that day. It is scheduled to open in 2012, though environmental groups say they will contest state permits in court.
“Dominion respects peaceful protests. However, we don’t condone illegal acts, such as blocking roads, that prevent our employees from coming to work and performing their role of keeping the lights on and energy flowing for our millions of customers,” the state’s largest electric utility said in a statement.
Those arrested identified themselves as members of Blue Ridge Earth First! and Mountain Justice and said they were from southwest Virginia. A spokeswoman for the groups, Hilary Lufkin, said most were students from James Madison University and Virginia Tech.
The activists were forcibly removed by police after firefighters cut their chains or removed their hands from the cement. They were charged with various misdemeanors, including impeding traffic, according to a statement from the Richmond Police Department.
Scott Harper, (757) 446-22340, scott.harper@pilotonline.com
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Before you condemn (Part II)
. . .to halt the construction of a new Dominion coal-fired power plant Wise Co, yet these avenues have been corrupted by campaign contributions and have failed very the citizens they were intended to represent. And unlike Al Gore, these activists have already drastically altered their own lifestyles to lighten their footprint on the world--unfortunately the world pays little attention and continues to march on, merely dismissing their efforts as youthful "idealism". So no, I do not consider these 12 activists morons. I thank them from the very bottom of my hart. I ask myself, why are only young people being asked to sacrifice their well being and freedom? Why are Al Gore and James Hansen not hanging from bridges and blockading power plants? Why am I not getting arrested with these folks?
Before you condemn . . .
No Jones: I know for a fact that these protesters are utterly aware, shocked and sickened by the explosion of growth, both around college campuses and across the nation. The energy intensive lifestyle of the average American and the means we use to generate this energy is exactly the reason for the protest.
Others: As for referring to these a activists as "morons", I worry that that this dismissal is simply being used justify our own continued inaction and complacency on the most serious and challenging issue of our time. According to NASA's Dr. James Hansen, the countries premier climate expert, "It seems to me that young people, especially, should be doing whatever is necessary to block construction of dirty coal-fired power plants." Or perhaps you prefer Al Gore, "I can’t understand why there aren’t rings of young people blocking bulldozers and preventing them from constructing coal-fired power plants."
These selfless activists fully understood the risks and consequences of their actions, and yet decided to put their own self interest aside because of the much greater consequence of societal inaction. They have diligently pursued every political avenue to halt
...Part Of The Problem
Had these students looked at an aerial map of JMU and VT in 1988 versus 2008, they'd be shocked at the utter explosion of growth and sprawl of these two fine tax-payer supported Universities. Created by the ever increasing demand by high school seniors to have a brand name education even though all colleges share a similar mix of professors who use the same publishers textbooks. And they can thank Dominion Power for the lights that get them to their cars and dorms and libraries safely at night. The power that allows hundreds of thousands of computers and cell phones at these schools to function that barely existed twenty years ago and to power televised football and basketball games. The additional hotels, restaurants, gas stations, and bars that feed the needs. Kool-Aid Kids, think before you drink.
WHY?????
Why didn't they let them stay there? The police violated their rights of being stupid. If they want to encased their hands in 55-gallon drums of cement then my GOD let them, and leave them alone. And as part of their rights the police must check on them every 6 weeks to see how they were doing.
I just wish the police would just stand back and watch because you know one of the idiots would need to use a restroom at some point in their protest. I feel sorry for their parents who are paying for their education, I wonder if the school will kick them out for the little stunt. I'm sure we'll see great things from these little morons.
what a waste
is this even news worthy,if i where someone with a little pull at dominion power, i' find a way of turning out these few peoples lights for a few days and see how they react.i'm sure as any good liberal does,complain!
Dummys
"Four activists encased their hands in 55-gallon drums of cement" We are not too smart are we?
Bafoons!
Let my Treeple go!!!