Dear friends, when we launched our campaign to stop Adani’s Carmichael mine from destroying our country, we knew it wouldn’t be easy. Since we first said “no” to the Carmichael mine back in October 2014, Adani have searched for every way they can to undermine our decision. Well, the fight’s not over. In fact it just got bigger. We are taking on a billion dollar mining company, legislation that is stacked against us, and Governments that want to continue coal mining at the expense of our rights and country. The next few weeks are crucial.
Adani know they need our people’s consent to build their dirty mine, so they are preparing to launch one final devious effort to get what they want.
If they succeed, they will be allowed to destroy our land and rivers, and strip away our rights.
But we have a plan – and we have the courage that comes from knowing what’s right. We are coming together this weekend to rally our people to say no to Adani for the third time. It will be three strikes and you’re out!
No longer will Adani and Governments and their backers in the media get to dictate the terms of engagement.
We decide for ourselves what we want to do and what we want for our future generations.
We are setting the agenda and building the legal and political momentum to fight off Adani for good.
We will not trade away our human rights for the false promises of a foreign-owned mining company. We deserve better than being thrown the bait of a few jobs in a dirty coal pit or driving buses for fly-in fly-out workers – while Adani hopes to rake in billions of dollars.
You have been standing with us as we take on one of the most significant fights in Australia for Aboriginal rights and the protection of our country in many years. The last 18 months has been the biggest fight of our lives.
To all the hundreds of thousands of people who support us across Australia and internationally, thank you for your support.
Please continue to stand strong with us. We can fight off Adani one last time, but we can't do it without you. Can you please make a donation to our campaign to stop the Carmichael mine and defend our country, our rights and our people?
Adani Mining won’t listen – they are rude and obstinate – so we will take the fight up a notch. We are planning more action in the courts and will take this fight all the way.
We won’t just make sure Adani doesn’t get our consent, we’re aiming to make sure they never get the leases they so desperately need to carry out their rapacious plans. Our struggle has implications for all of us fighting for a future free of reckless, dangerous projects like the Carmichael mine, which is why we need you to stand with us.
We will continue to fight. We are protecting Wangan and Jagalingou country from irreversible destruction, from complete devastation. We will maintain our stand against the Adani Carmichael mine. Because when we say no, we mean no.
Adrian and Murrawah,
For the Wangan & Jagalingou Traditional Owners Council
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Previous linksunten coverage of this dispute:
Mega coalmine along Great Barrier Reef coast 'not a foregone conclusion' - Aboriginal opposition to mega-mine caves in – ‘We want a job, a car, a house like any Australian' - We just took on the world - Terrible news: Australian government re-approves one of the world's biggest coal mines - Stop Adani destroying our land and culture - Aboriginal group fights to stop $16bn Carmichael coalmine, Australia’s largest - Aborigines take coalmine worries to United Nations bodies and corporations - New plans to dredge the Great Barrier Reef for thousands of coal ships - Aborigines to visit US and European banks to prevent funding of Australia’s biggest coalmine on their country - The coral and the coal king
Great Barrier Reef in greater danger than feared:
Great Barrier Reef coral bleaching threat level increased - Fears over coral bleaching - Coral bleaching threat rises - Bleaching 'severe' on inner reefs - Severe bleaching worsens in most pristine parts - Stepping back in time to protect the future - 'Godfather of coral' warns of 'mass extinction' - Video shows extent of bleaching - Next few weeks critical - Serious coral bleaching risk - Ocean acidification harming growth - Devastating global coral bleaching event could hit - 'Herpes-like virus' impacting on coral - Infection by a herpes-like virus
Global warming is causing a tragedy on the Great Barrier Reef
In recent weeks, we've seen widespread bleaching drain colour from large sections of the Reef. In some of its most pristine and remote areas, coral has started to die completely.1 And we know who's to blame -- the coal industry fuelling runaway climate change.
So we've created an ad calling them out. Can you share it with your friends?
Share on Facebook! Share on Twitter! Help get it on the air!
We've worked with pollsters, scriptwriters and analysts to create the perfect message to cut through with voters, and we're using every dollar we can to target key decision makers in marginal electorates.
And we know our message is working. Polling released today shows climate change and saving the Reef are shaping up as vote-changing issues in the election. And the huge majority of people who know about Adani's Carmichael mine are worried about what it will do to the Reef.2
But the will of the electorate is yet to be reflected in Government policy. If we want our politicians to move away from coal towards renewable energy, they need to understand that pandering to big politicians will cost them votes at the upcoming federal election.
We know the message works. The most helpful thing we can do right now is to share it far and wide.
Our message can only cut through if we can afford to make this ad buy huge. Can you chip in to help us lock in prime-time TV spots in marginal electorates?
In hope,
Adam, for the GetUp team
References
[1] Coral bleaching intensifies on the Great Barrier Reef, RN Breakfast, 16 March 2016
[2] Climate change a vote-changer at federal election, says poll, The Guardian, 17 March 2016
Climate change a vote-changer at federal election, says poll
Almost half of Australian voters say policies on climate change, renewable energy and the Great Barrier Reef will influence the way they vote at the next federal election, according to new polling shared exclusively with Guardian Australia.
The nationwide poll of 1,048 people over the weekend found 47% of people agreed or strongly agreed that “climate change and renewable energy will influence the way I vote at this year’s federal election”.
44% of respondents said they either agreed or strongly agreed that measures to protect the Great Barrier Reef would influence their vote – again, more than double the 20% who disagreed.
And voters appeared particularly concerned about the impact of the Carmichael coalmine.
The Australian Conservation Foundation is fighting the federal government’s approval of Adani’s Carmichael coalmine in court, arguing the carbon emissions from the coal it produces will put the Great Barrier Reef at risk. It will create more annual emissions than New York City, according to calculations done last year.
Severe danger to tourism
Radio report
The regional body responsible for promoting tourism in Far North Queensland says coral bleaching on the Great Barrier Reef could severely affect the local tourism industry.