Campaigners who worked to keep St Ives Bay chemical free when a global company sought to carry out chemical geo-engineering tests have celebrated their success.
A moment of meditation at the water’s edge
On a sunny Sunday afternoon, members of Keep Our Sea Chemical Free — Save St Ives Bay marked their success in stopping Elon-Musk-backed Planetary Technologies from carrying out experiments.
Ocean Alkalinity Enhancement is a form of marine geo-engineering that introduces alkalinity into the sea to facilitate the drawdown of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. Planetary Technologies considered St Ives Bay the ideal testing ground, aiming to ship mine waste from China to Texas, and on to Cornwall, for the trial.
But campaigners, led by Senara Wilson-Hodges, mounted an incredible campaign drawing together environmental pressure groups and putting pressure on statutory authorities to force Planetary Technologies to give in.
Yesterday, the campaigners who had put so much time into high-profile protests, formally celebrated their win with speeches, music, and a ceremonial dip in the bay they had fought so hard to protect.
“We kept being calm, kind, and rational,” said Senera, outlining how a textbook campaign had achieved its aim. When Planetary Technologies could not answer the campaigners’ well-executed questions, the plan was dead in the water.
And speakers revealed how their research in fighting the Planetary Technologies scheme had revealed what an incredible eco system we have in our doorstep. Large razor clams are a good indication that all is well, kelp forests thrive, and bass, pollock, rass, schools of mackerel, lobsters, and crabs are numerous, enjoying rocky reefs and patchy sands, dive survey teams discovered. Logically, the further one gets from the sewage outlets, the more biodiversity there is.
The work of Keep Our Sea Chemical Free has not only resulted in St Ives Bay remaining as it is, but is also helping campaigners facing similar threats around the UK and across the globe.
It is was a happy, celebratory afternoon, enjoyed by all. And even the swallows returned to mark the bay’s new era.
Visit the Keep Our Sea Chemical Free website to read the full story behind the campaign. This includes a link to a documentary Senara made as the backbone to the camaign.
