75 groups back rally against data centre expansion – Daily Business

The data centre planned near Motherwesll

Thousands of campaigners from more than 75 organisations opposed to the expansion of data centres will join a rally in Edinburgh next weekend.

The march along the Royal Mile is part of a Europe-wide wave of protests to “Stop Dirty Data Centres”, with over 70 demonstrations taking place in 15 countries this month.

Business leaders have become concerned that protests are persuading governments to step back, and in Scotland there have been warnings that resisting data centres risks putting the country at a competitive disadvantage.

Investors have seen millions wiped from the value of companies behind the development of artificial intelligence and data centres following sweeping victories in the US mid-term elections by Democrats who are expected to take a more cautionary approach to the industrry’s expansion.

Anti-war groups highlight the growing use of AI in military settings, while housing and anti-poverty groups are concerned about the impact a proliferation of data centres could have on household energy bills. Trade unions are highlighting that rather than provide jobs, AI growth is actually making working conditions more insecure.

At least 23 proposals for huge AI data centres have been submitted by big tech developers in Scotland, with many grassroots community campaigns opposing them formed in response.

The March in Edinburgh on Saturday will escalate pressure on the Scottish Government, which is accused by campaigners of not doing enough to mitigate the potential harms of the data centres.

Charities are demanding that the Scottish Government publicly consult on these plans for AI data centres before making decisions to approve them, in a ‘national conversation’ where people across Scotland can have their say.

The march is being organised by a coalition of groups including Friends of the Earth Scotland, Action to Protect Rural Scotland and numerous local campaign groups.

Claire Robertson from Edinburgh Trades Union Council said: “The Edinburgh Trades Union Council stands in solidarity with community campaigners marching against the unchecked expansion of artificial intelligence data centres.

“They demand massive public infrastructure and resource support, yet return virtually no secure, permanent, or unionised jobs for the local communities forced to host them.

“As representatives of working people across Edinburgh, we recognise that the physical infrastructure of Big Tech cannot be separated from the broader economic, human, and environmental exploitation taking place in our communities and workplaces.

“We demand that public resources are protected under democratic control. Technological progress must serve the collective good, and the massive wealth generated by automated systems must be fairly redistributed to the society that builds it, rather than hoarded by a handful of tech billionaires.”

Friends of the Earth Scotland’s Kim Pratt said: “The movement against AI data centres is growing day by day as people realise the threats they pose to our land, our energy and our environment.It is heartening to see so many diverse and respected organisations coming together to speak out and to join the March.

“We need a public conversation about the need for AI and monster data centres. The Scottish Government should be led by what the people of Scotland think about these proposals, and not the profits of big tech developers.

“That’s why we’re marching to demand a proper public consultation on these AI data centre plans before any developers can force them through.”

Full list of organisations supporting the march:

Friends of the Earth Scotland
Action to Protect Rural Scotland
Stop Climate Chaos Scotland
Our AI Collective
Edinburgh People & Planet
Climate Justice Coalition
CEMVO Scotland
Edinburgh Climate Coalition
Ethnic Minority Environmental Network
Parents for Future Scotland
Global Justice Now
Greenpeace Edinburgh
Greenpeace Glasgow
Environmental Rights Centre for Scotland (ERCS)
Fuel Poverty Action
North Sea Knitters
Campaign Against Climate Change
Edinburgh & Lothians Regional Equality Council
Extinction Rebellion Scotland
Stop the War Scotland
Women Against the Far Right Scotland
Unite Communities Edinburgh
Glasgow University AI Society
Tipping Point
Pull the Plug
Scottish CND
Green New Deal Rising
Stop Rosebank Campaign
Our Power Campaign
Time for Change
BANZAI (Bruntsfield Area Net Zero Action Initiative)
Common Weal
Sustainable Dalgety Bay
Edinburgh Trade Union Council
SCCAN
Wellbeing Economy Alliance Scotland
Scottish Palestine Solidarity Campaign
Culture for Climate Scotland
Circular Communities Scotland
People’s Health Movement Scotland
Sisters Against Cuts
Scientists for Global Responsibility
Aberdeen Trades Union Council
Mothers Against Genocide Scotland
Living Rent
Protect the Wild Scotland
UNISON Lothian Health Branch
Scottish Environment LINK
Stop AI Data Centres Campaign
Vixen Sound
UNISON South Lanakshire
SCIAF
Planning Democracy
Scottish Artists Union
Friends of the Earth Edinburgh
Friends of the Earth Glasgow
Friends of the Earth Falkirk
Say No To Larbert Data Centre, Kinnaird Village
The Inches Residents Association, Larbert
Larbert Residents Association
Say No to West Calder Hyperscale Data Centre
Auchtertool Action Group
Say No to Chapelhall AI Zone
West Edinburgh Against AI Data Centre
Dunbar Against Massive Datacentres
Reject Hunterston Data Centre
Ayrshire Major Development Community Group (Hurlford)
NO data centres in East Dunbartonshire
Woodhall, Faskine and Palacecraig Conservation Group
Say NO to the Chapelcross AI Data Centre
Cockenzie Communities Action Group
Say No to Cockenzie Data Centre
Grampian Against AI Data Centres
Save the Lammermuirs
Ravenscraig Locals against Mega Data Centre
No Gyle Data Centre Campaign

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