P*O*L*I*C*E raid Verve Energy

Safe Climate Perth is proud to announce that Verve Energy offices were raided today by the People Opposing Local Increases in Carbon Emissions (that is, the P.O.L.I.C.E).

Verve Energy is currently working to reopen the Muja A&B power stations that were previously closed down because they were too polluting. P.O.L.I.C.E investigations revealed that this act of climate vandalism was being orchestrated from the company's head office in William St, Perth.

They were determined to prevent any further expansion of coal infrastructure in WA and conducted a search to find evidence. Eight P.O.L.I.C.E officers descended on the building, and after the announcement "Carbon polluters, come out with your hands up and your emissions down" made a thorough search of the premises.

Strangely enough, no-one we interviewed seemed to want to talk about why they were expanding their coal projects instead of building renewable energy infrastructure. Our questions about why they were implementing plans that, along with other projects, would contribute to a 75% increase in WA greenhouse emissions also went unanswered.

For a company that "takes it's environmental responsibilities seriously" there seemed to be a lot of locked doors and guilty looks. Specifically we hoped to find Verve's climate vandal in chief Shirley In't Veld, but she beat a hasty retreat in the face of P.O.L.I.C.E.

Members of the Western Australian Police did talk to P.O.L.I.C.E members after the action but made no arrest of the Verve boss nor anyone else.

Today's raid was conducted in the lead up to the rally for a safe climate on December 11. The rally will meet at Wesley Church, cnr William & Hay Sts, Perth and march to the shady Stirling Gardens (also known as Supreme Court Gardens).

3 December 2010