Who's Saving the Snails?

According to Scoop 14 March 2006 Twenty-two members of the Green Party, walked into Happy Valley for the weekend to show their support to members of the indefinite occupation.

The Save Happy Valley Coalition is grateful for the support shown by members of the Green Party and is pleased to be able to share interest and concern, as well as a decent meal, with members of the party.

In addition to the Green Party, the Save Happy Valley Coalition's occupation of the proposed mine site has received messages of support from Greenpeace, Forest and Bird, NZUSA Buller Conservation Group, ECO and concerned members of the public from all over New Zealand and the world.



Prominent Save Happy Valley campaigners have included;

Pete Lusk A former long time member of the Communist Party and until recently spokesman for the Buller Conservation Group.

Frances Mountier Studying for a Bachelor of Environmental Management degree at Lincoln University. From an activist family. grandfather, Neil Mountier, a Lincoln lecturer, was a sponsor of the anti Vietnam War movement. Frances Mountier is spokesman for the Save Happy Valley campaign and was involved in the March '05 protest at Solid Energy's Christchurch office and was one of two activists who stopped Solid Energy trains by chaining themselves to railway tracks in August 2005.

Daniel Rae A Christchurch disability worker. In 2003 Rae was involved in Peace Action Network and was arrested attempting to enter the US Air Force Base at Harewood, Christchurch and pour red paint on the runway to symbolise blood spilled in Iraq by US forces. Rae was also involved in the March '05 protest at Solid Energy, Christchurch and was chained to rail tracks with Frances Mountier in August '05.

Jon Oosterman A former spokesman for the Save Happy Valley group, Oosterman was involved in the March '05 protest at Solid Energy, Christchurch. In December '05 Oosterman was arrested in Wellington and charged with using offensive language at a protest outside the Governor-General's residence on the day that new US Ambassador William McCormack was presenting his credentials.