Oddfellows Hall in Kempsey overflowed last Friday night with 100 people keen to watch two documentaries that convey the collective strength and commitment of activists trying to stop Adani’s Carmichael Coal Mine from going ahead in Central Queensland’s Galilee Basin: A Mighty Force and Guarding the Galilee.
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Live music set a convivial tone to the evening as people streamed in, gradually filling the hall to full capacity.
Key speaker and member of Macleay Living Sustainably (MLS) Cherry Muddle shared her own lived experiences from her time in the Whitsundays trying to protect the Great Barrier Reef, and explained why stopping the mine is relevant not only to protecting the reef, but to everyone on the planet.
“If this mine goes ahead, it will open up the whole Galilee Basin to coal mining and will release five billion tonnes of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere”, Miss Muddle said.
“The mining and burning of coal will accelerate global warming to even more dangerous levels, by polluting our air and heating our oceans.
“The impact on the local environment, ground water, and the Great Barrier Reef will be devastating.”
Miss Muddle put a human face to the struggle in the far north and shared successes of the Stop Adani movement so far.
“People power has delayed Adani’s mine, helped secure strong laws to protect the Reef and stopped Adani from receiving a public loan of $5 billion from the Northern Australia Infrastructure Facility (NAIF)”, she said.
Unfortunately the other speaker, Jeremy Buckingham MLC, had a car accident on the way to the event, and though not injured, was unable to attend.
At a Q and A session after the screenings, many wanted to know what they could do to help stop this Goliath from going ahead.
Local Greens’ secretary Arthur Bain was in attendance. He said the Australian Labor Party (ALP) is currently wavering about whether to support the mine or not.
“Put pressure on your local Labor MP and let them know you do not want them to support it.
“And you can also give support to the Native Title landholders, the Wangan and Jagalingou by going to their website:http://wanganjagalingou.com.au/our-fight”, he said.
MLS meet once a month at Gladstone Hall to explore ways of leading a healthier, greener, more sustainable life.
To get involved or find out more about #Stop Adani join their next meeting at 4pm, 6th June. Kids welcome. Or visit Macleay Living Sustainably on Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/groups/384206941997369/
