justice

This first evening in a series of climate justice events will focus on the international UN climate talks, in the lead up to Copenhagen in December 2009.

CHALLENGE TO WANDOAN COAL MINE LAUNCHED IN QUEENSLAND COURT

On Friday 25th February, 2011, Friends of the Earth lodged an objection against a massive open cut coal mine proposed by Xstrata Coal for west of Wandoan in South West Queensland.

Sources have indicated that the Queensland Government is now considering a plan to restrict the protection of Strategic Cropping Land, buckling under pressure from the Queensland Resources Council to reduce the total area of the State’s landmass to be protected from 4.1% to less than 1.5%. If adopted, the policy would effectively mean that areas such as the Felton Valley and Wandoan have been singled out so they do not qualify as Strategic Cropping Land. This would allow the coal mines proposed by Ambre Energy and Xstrata in both locations to be approved.

With over 40,000 Coal Seam Gas wells planned for southern Queensland alone, this uncontrolled experiment threatens the future of our food supply and the Great Artesian Basin on which our farmers and rural towns depend. Sign this petition to halt the massive expansion of this experimental industry until the long term environmental, social and health impacts are known.

Click here to sign the petition.

Environmentalists, farmers and the communities of the Western Downs are anxiously awaiting tomorrow’s decision by Federal Environment Minister, Tony Burke, regarding applications by coal seam gas companies Santos and British Gas, for environmental approval of their export operations.

In the Parliament last week, Independent member for Nanango Dorothy Pratt spoke passionately about the impact that the Queensland Government's experiments with underground coal gasification and coal seam gas is having on her constituents. We were so moved by this speech, we thought we'd share it with you.

Minister Stephen Robinson and Department of Environment and Resource Management Director-General John Bradley will finally face the community of Kingaroy on Wednesday August 25th, to address a public meeting of locals citizens concerned about Cougars Energy’s Underground Coal Gasification project. He will be accompanied by three members of an industry expert panel appointed to assess the impact of the project, and in particular the contamination event that became public in mid-July.

ABC Radio presenter Steve Austin interviewed Scott Collins on the 30th July, 2010. Mr Collins is a property owner at Tara and the resident who purchased his own gas testing equipment to check for gas well head leaks. It was his complaint that lead to the state government inspection of well heads around Tara.

A brief diversion from coal to mention the inspiring efforts of some of our friends in the Climate Justice Fast. It's day 16 of the hunger strike (yep, they haven't eaten a thing for 16 days!) and today one of the Australian fasters, Paul, made a great vlog post on civil disobedience.

This is very pertinent given that Steve and Nathan from Six Degrees will be facing court tomorrow for disrupting coal loading during last month's Brisbane Coal Port Blockade.

When: Saturday 7 November, 2 - 4pm
Where: Upstairs, Yeronga Bowls Club, 11 Querrin St, Yeronga

The hopes of many people lie with the UN climate negotiations in Copenhagen this December
– however, even if an effective and immediate solution is not reached at Copenhagen, what alternatives exist?