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Christian Climate Action protests at coal giant's AGM

We know that GCM is determined to build a huge coal mine in Bangladesh on agricultural land and the local people have made it clear that they don't want GCM there." Holly-Anna Petersen, 34, a mental health therapist and member of Christian Climate action (CCA), was speaking outside the London AGM on 18 January of GCM Resources, formerly Global Coal Management, which is planning to build a giant coal mine in Phulbari, Bangladesh.

"It is clear that the mining project is not compatible with these communities providing for their families," she said, adding: "Will we let local communities determine their future, or will we let the coal project go ahead? I protest on this because I want it known that we know what GCM is trying to do in Bangladesh. GCM - we see you. You might not think those local people matter, but we know they do."

She pointed out: "Fossil fuels not only cause climate change when burned. Fossil fuel extraction in itself also has devastating impacts. We've seen the effects of oil spills in the sea. And extracting fossil fuels through mining just leaves lifeless scars on Earth - it destroys wildlife and destroys the lives of the people living there."

Members of Christian Climate Action joined London Mining Network outside the GCM Resources AGM at QEII Conference Centre, Westminster, standing in the cold in solidarity with the indigenous community in Phulbari and urging GCM to abandon the project.

GCM plans to develop an open-pit coal mine which would displace over 50,000 people of 23 different Indigenous groups and destroy a huge area of Bangladesh's most fertile farmlands. CCA members - including Catholic Lawyer Melanie Nazareth - were praying outside while representives of the London Mining Network were in the AGM itself, asking questions on behalf of the Phulbari community.