direct action

Yesterday's People's Assembly at Queensland's Parliament House brought together hundreds of farming families and environmentalists to Queensland Parliament - united in their opposition to coal and gas mining on prime agricultural lands. 

The peaceful protest combined the strength and the passion of the farming and environmental movements of Queensland to put pressure on the State Government to protect farming land and nature refuges from the encroachment of all forms of coal mining and the potential poisoning of waterways.

THE Queensland Government is facing an increasingly united front against the incursion of mining onto prime agricultural land.

As Premier Anna Bligh prepares for a series of government and industry-directed community forums through regions affected by coal seam gas, the grassroots protest movement continues to strengthen.

Farmers, environmentalists and concerned citizens will take their voices to state parliament at midday on Wednesday the 4th of August to demand that the Queensland Government protects Queensland’s cropping land, ground water and rural communities from coal and coal seam gas mining.

40 members of the community action group Friends of Felton ambushed Premier Anna Bligh as she arrived at Toowoomba radio station CFM for a broadcast yesterday, reported the Toowoomba Chronicle. 

Despite her attempts to avoid politics in her radio appearance, Friends of Felton managed to ensure that at least the Premier was able to see the extent of community support for their campaign to prevent mining on good agricultural land.

A 500 strong crowd of farmers, environmentalists and concerned citizens gathered at 'Waverley' on Wednesday 19th May to take part in a peaceful rally against the expansion of the Coal Seam Gas Mining Industry on the Darling Downs.

They were accompanied by the massing of 54 cotton and grain harvesters and tractors in a kilometre long blockade - to provide a strong show of farm power to protest against the intrusion of mining companies on prime agricultural land.

The farmers cheered when rally organiser Dave Armstrong called for a moratorium on mining activities so that major environment issues, such as the mining companies' proposed use of large quantities of underground water, could be addressed.

'Waverley' is the first intensive cropping property on the black soil plains that has been approached by a mining company looking to prove their methane reserves in the area.

A "bushie revolt" is being staged in the Western Downs of Queensland, according to the Toowoomba Chronicle, as outraged landholders fight to keep mining companies from consuming the region’s farming lands and invading residential areas.

Rising Tide activists have blockaded the first ship to arrive at Newcastle's new third coal export terminal, leading to four arrests.

Yesterday the court upheld a decision to fine Six Degrees activists Steve and Nathan over $4000 for their role in disrupting coal loading at the Brisbane Coal Port in October. This is a blow to citizens wanting to take real climate action in Queensland.

To support the ongoing use of direct action and civil disobedience against the biggest contributors to climate change we encourage you to make a donation now. 

Elves upended sacks of coal in the executive building at lunchtime today as others delivered 300 Christmas cards to the Premier, to the tune of a choir coal carolers.

The 300 Christmas cards were individually penned by Brisbane residents and were presented to the premier along with sacks of coal by Friends of the Earth activists dressed as elves.