Cooling towers symbolize waste, endless steam that could typically provide free hot water if the power company cared enough to invest in some new pipes.  However as the court heard, stopping this waste is still serious.  I really liked this case. 

Summoned to court almost a year after the "Spring into Action" week organised by a Nottingham Climate Action group, the 11 defendants got a chance to grill the manager of the big local polluter, a rusty old coal-fired powerstation. 10 of the activists admitted they went to the power-station uninvited, with the pure intention of stopping its emissions of carbon dioxide, which would threaten everyone's future. They used ordinary bicycle chains and D-locks and did not plan with military precision.  In fact it was peaceful and did not effect the rest of the site, proving that it was not "just a protest".  "We're protesters not people". In fact one managed to run away following arrest!  The power station would have run out of coal if they had stayed attached to the "trash screens" but after some negotiation with Mr Smith the shift deputy team leader, they moved to a "safer location".  However it should have been e.on in the dock, for breeching their duty of care to future generations.  Though the figures were not made available by e.on's energy traders, thee group estimated they saved 100 million tonnes 10 lives! On day 3 sentancing was delayed to allow the judge to read the climate science, but the one who remained silent was freed. Good precedent methinks if you can remain silent!

The full report is on Nottinghamshire Indymedia.