Pages tagged "ecopress"
EcoPress November 2018
How Will We Stop Adani Opening Its Mega-Mine?
The world is facing a climate crisis and the next Australian federal election is a crucial moment that will decide the world's future. We're asking you to volunteer a couple of hours of your time to help our campaign to change Australia's and the Earth's future.
Two weeks ago we heard from the world's leading climatologists, the IPCC, that the world must stop burning coal by 2050 if we have any chance of maintaining a livable climate into the future. Every week Australia emits about 5 cubic kilometres of carbon-dioxide (CO2) into the atmosphere. That makes global air temperature hotter, rainfall less predictable, more intense cyclones and bleaches the Great Barrier Reef. It also presents a real challenge to future Australians when they try to reduce the CO2 concentration of the atmosphere.
Imagine trying to find 5 cubic kilometres of safe and secure underground storage, that's a pretty big job. Then multiply that by 30 years worth of CO2. About 7,500 cubic kilometres of storage must be found to secure the gas that will be emitted between now and 2050. If we start reducing our carbon-dioxide emissions today the future problem becomes much more achievable.
This week Adani announced it is close to financing its 
disastrous mega-mine near Clermont west of Mackay with the aim of commencing construction early in 2019. The Carmichael Mine will operate for 60 years and produce up to 60 million tonnes of coal every year. It must never be opened so it's time for us to ramp up our campaign.
Australia has a choice to make about whether we make the shift to renewable energy or continue to mine coal and destroy the Great Barrier Reef, putting all forms of life at risk. The federal election in May 2019 will be crucial in that decision but right now, neither major party has a policy to rule out new coal projects.
Even though most people in Australia oppose Adani's mine, politicians believe they can cruise to the next federal election without making a commitment to stop it. It's time they started to feel the heat of our campaign and make clear policies to Stop Adani and urgently reorganise our energy system to make life safe for everyone.
We're asking you to make a commitment to lend a few hours to support our campaign. No matter where you live you can help. Over the next few months we'll be knocking on doors in Mackay and other parts of Central Queensland to find out what people think about Adani and climate change and let them know how they can help. We'll be writing letters to politicians of all persuasions. We'll be making phone calls. We'll have stalls at markets. We'll be surveying community opinion. That's just for starters. So please sign our volunteer pledge and let us know that you want to join this campaign.
EcoPress October 2018
October 2018
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Stop Adani Meeting Thursday 11 Oct 5.30pm |
Volunteers Meeting Tuesday 16 Oct 6.30pm |
Beautiful Walk Sunday 21 Oct 8.30am |
| Our next Stop Adani meeting will be on Thursday 11 October. We'll be celebrating the success of our recent doorknock and planning new activities for the upcoming crucial weeks in our campaign to keep coal in the ground.
The Environment Centre, 156 Wood St Mackay |
Peter Rosier will present a talk on the Tragedy of the Commons. Some people are permitted to treat the environment as a dumping ground for the wastes of our industrial society, the worse things are for us all. Afterwards we'll hear about the current situation with Great Barrier Reef water quality and government responses.
The Environment Centre, 156 Wood St Mackay
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Emma Barrett has another fantastic treat in store for us in less than two weeks. This month we're visiting the shorebirds that have migrated all the way from Siberia to overwinter on Mackay's sunny beaches. This annual migration is a very special part of living in Mackay so come along to our Beautiful Walk and learn about our precious wildlife.
The Environment Centre, 156 Wood St Mackay |
Shorebirds & waders at Shellgrit Creek
The waders are almost back on Mackay's shores and we're going to welcome them in true MCG fashion with a Beautiful Walk! Each year, these little shorebirds travel long distances between Australia and the northern hemisphere, chasing the warmer weather. Some waders fly from countries as far away as Japan, China, Siberia and Alaska. After their arduous journey to Mackay, the waders spend the next 6 months resting and feeding on our coasts. We're excited to welcome the new arrivals and would love you to join us!
Guest speakers from Birdlife Mackay will be on hand to identify bird species and tell us more about their behaviour and ecology. It's a great opportunity to get outdoors and discover the nature at our doorstep with other like-minded people.
Please wear enclosed shoes and appropriate clothing. Don't forget your water bottle, sunscreen, hat and binoculars!
RSVP your place today, we will book out soon.
EcoPress October 2017
Lindeman Island Update
Back in July White Horse Australia released its draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for its Lindeman Island resort project. The company proposed to resurrect the defunct Lindeman Island resort and proposed that nearly four square kilometres of the national park be revoked as part of the development.
Mackay Conservation Group and other environment organisations raised concerns that the temporary leases over the national park were to become perpetual. That would set a precedent for national park land to be traded for tourism developments.
We launched a petition calling for the Queensland Parliament to reject revocation of any part of Lindeman Island National Park and to ensure the national park is properly managed so as to protect its exceptional values.
Environment Minister, Dr Steven Miles, has responded to the petition and said that no revocation will occur unless there is a 'net conservation benefit'. The developer has now been given the opportunity to respond to comments made on its EIS. We'll keep you informed about any further information that comes to light.
Environmental Defenders Regional Tour
Book your free ticket hereCome and find out about your rights to be involved in development decisions – from major projects (like ports and mines like Adani Carmichael mine!) to urban developments under planning laws, that impact our trees, wildlife, coastline and Reef.
The law is a powerful tool for helping you to have your concerns meaningfully heard!
EDO solicitors Tania Heber and Revel Pointon are keen to meet you on our regional tour as we make our way from Mission Beach, to Townsville, Airlie Beach and Mackay.
In this session, Tania and Revel will be providing a simple guide to how you can make the most use of your powers to influence decisions that affect your environment and community.
Environmental Defenders Office (EDO) lawyers are experts in environment and planning laws. We provide free legal advice, education and representation to the community to help you use your legal powers to protect the environment and your community’s health.
There will be time for questions and discussions on issues of particular interest to you and your local community.
We look forward to seeing you!
Climate Campaigner comes to Mackay
Ruchira Talukdar is a climate activist from India who has been working on the Adani campaign for many years with Greenpeace and the Australian Conservation Foundation.
Sustainability Social
Friday 27th Oct - 5pm Mojos rooftop bar - 2 Sydney St Mackay
It's back!
Sustainability Social is a chance to meet and catch up with fellow friends of the planet!
It ain't easy being green - so let's get together for a cold one and some laughs on the last Friday of every month!
Cheap drinks, tasty treats, a great view and even better company! Everyone is welcome so make sure you bring all your friends!
Kids welcome until 7pm (hotel rules).
See you there!
State government grabs 3568 hectares of agricultural land for Adani
In an appalling move that is more special treatment for Adani, the Queensland government has compulsorily acquired 3568 hectares of agricultural land for the company's private rail line.
The government has also granted free, unlimited and unregulated access to groundwater and allowed a royalties holiday worth $320 million of Queensland taxpayer money.
The mine will extract up to 12,000 million litres of water every year from waterways, diverting up to 720 billion litres away from creeks and rivers over the life of the mine. Modelling demonstrates that two springs will be shut down, which would be a massive blow to rural communities that rely on groundwater sources.
In Queensland, water is our most precious resource, both for environmental health and for agricultural use. It supports regional communities and economies and should not be left in the hands of a company that has a demonstrated history of environmental abuse, both here and overseas.
We have set up a petition to Qld Premier Palaszczuk, calling on her to protect our land and our water from an untrustworthy company like Adani, and revoke the decision made by the Coordinator General to compulsorily acquire land for Adani.
Sign the petition here. Please share the petition by Facebook and email and ask your friends to sign as well.
EcoPress Friday 11 August - CommBank not funding Adani!
CommBank won't fund Adani!
You asked for it and CommBank listened! Late today we learned that the Commonwealth Bank has now joined with our other big banks and ruled out funding the polluting Adani coal mine.
All four of Australia's Big Banks will not be funding Adani. It's time that our government takes the hint and stops giving hand outs to a company and project that is financially in-viable!
The Commonwealth Bank has indicated it will not lend money to Adani’s proposed Carmichael coalmine, leaving the project without financing from any of Australia’s big four banks. A spokesman from Commonwealth Bank said the bank is “not among the banks who have been, or will be, asked to consider this financing”.
UpRiver - the story of the Franklin Blockade
You're invited to a free lecture by Alice Hungerford, author of UpRiver, the story of the Franklin River blockade that pushed Australia's environmental movement to the centre of political decision making.
UpRiver reveals the untold stories of over 60 activists who came to the Franklin and Gordon rivers in 1982, and stayed to non-violently defend one of the truly wild places of this earth.
Share the experiences of people who came and stayed in the harsh wilds of South-West Tasmania for almost nine months — from the smoky campfires, lentil stew, endless rain and over 1200 arrests, to a change in the Federal Government, a High Court battle and bulldozers finally leaving the rugged Tasmanian wilderness — UpRiver weaves together the stories of photos and songs collected from activists from one of the largest coordinated direct actions in Australia's history.
Mackay Environment Centre, 156 Wood St, Mackay
6.30pm Thursday 17 August 2017
RSVP essential: mackayconservationgroup.org.au/upriver
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