Front Line
Media Alert Two People Arrested After Coal Crusher Protest
Media Alert 19 Dec
Simon Browne aged 40, and Sarah Littlewood aged 25, scaled the coal crusher before 6am and remained there until 6pm when they climbed down and were arrested.
Front Line Action on Coal spokesperson Meret MacDonald said that both Whitehaven and Idemitsu’s mines will not only destroy over 4000 hectares of native box gum woodland but drop the water table 5-7 meters. This will have a catastrophic effect on both fertile farmland and the endangered habitats of many species including Corben’s Long-Eared Bat, the Regent Honey-Eater and the Koala.
“Globally, there is only 0.01% of critically endangered box-gum woodland left in good condition, of which the Leard State Forest contains the largest remnant. It is time for JBIC and ANZ to stop funding coal projects. It is not worth investing in, especially considering the swell of resistance from local and broader communities.”
Japanese comment – Akira Harida
JATAN
+81 90 9156 1291
The Northern Inland Council for the Environment have been unsuccessful in challenging the approval for Whitehaven’s Maules Creek coal project.
A recent change to national environmental laws worked in Whitehaven’s favour, The Northern Daily Leader reported:
The change – supported by both the Coalition and Labor – removes the need for ministers to consider expert conservation advice pertaining to endangered species when approving major projects, including mines.
Get involved in the campaign to protect Leard State Forest.
On the frontline, protecting Leard State Forest and Maules Creek
“I am Fran Wachtel. I am 60 years old. Today I got arrested for obstructing traffic on the Leard Forest Rd at Boggabri. I am not crazy and I am not brave I would just like some of the real world to be left for my grand children and their children.”
Fran was arrested earlier this week as part of a campaign of ongoing non-violent direct action against open-cut coal mining in Leard State Forest.
“Why we acted up at Maules Creek”
…And so the time came. The time to do the difficult things. The time to stand up and say no. The time to stand up and say ‘enough is enough’.
The Maules Creek Coal Mine cannot, and should not, go ahead. We are determined to make sure it doesn’t. Join us!
MR: Activists Scale Coal Crusher and Shut down Idemitsu Mine; Call on JBIC and ANZ to Divest
A group of people have shut down Idemitsu’s Boggabri Coal Mine today as part of ongoing protests to protect Leard State Forest and the surrounding Maules Creek community from coal mine expansion.
The group is calling on Japan Bank of International Cooperation (JBIC) and ANZ to stop funding both Idemitsu and Whitehaven Coal’s destruction of Leard State Forest. Two activists have scaled the coal crusher at Boggabri Coal shutting down all operations and dropping a banner that reads “Protect Our Water (in English); Water is for Everyone (in Japanese)”.
JBIC is a participant to the Equator Principles, an International environmental and social responsibility bench mark for private financial institutions. The Boggabri coal expansion is in breach of JBIC’s policies. It will have major biodiversity and environmental impacts, in addition to impacts on cultural heritage.
Front Line Action on Coal spokesperson Meret MacDonald said that both Whitehaven and Idemitsu’s mines will not only destroy over 4000 hectares of native box gum woodland but drop the water table 5-7 meters. This will have a catastrophic effect on both fertile farmland and the endangered habitats of many species including; Corben’s Long-Eared Bat, the Regent Honey-Eater and the Koala.
“Globally, there is only 0.01% of critically endangered box-gum woodland left in good condition, of which the Leard State Forest contains the largest remnant. It is time for JBIC and ANZ to stop funding coal projects. It is not worth investing in, especially considering the swell of resistance from local and broader communities.”
There have been nine peaceful arrests targeting Whitehaven since Monday. Today’s protest marks a continuation of civil disobedience in the face of large-scale coal operations and their financiers.
“We are standing up to protect the future of our water, forests, and farms in an increasingly unstable climate. This is an ongoing chapter in a global environmental movement. We will not give in until these forests and farms are protected.”
“It is a breach of the people’s trust, not only the people of Australia, not only the people of Japan, but the people of the world, when large financiers such as JBIC and ANZ disregard their own environmental and social responsibility policies for a gamble on coal.”
Email request for photos
For further comment contact
Meret MacDonald
0402017027
Icons Under Threat: Leard State Forest
Icons Under Threat: Leard State Forest
Boggabri Coal mine shut down
A group of people have shut down Idemitsu’s Boggabri Coal Mine today as part of ongoing protests to protect Leard State Forest and the surrounding Maules Creek community from coal mine expansion.
The group is calling on Japan Bank of International Cooperation (JBIC) and ANZ to stop funding both Idemitsu and Whitehaven Coal’s destruction of Leard State Forest. Two activists have scaled the coal crusher at Boggabri Coal shutting down all operations and dropping a banner that reads “Protect Our Water (in English); Water is for Everyone (in Japanese)”.
“It is a breach of the people’s trust, not only the people of Australia, not only the people of Japan, but the people of the world, when large financiers such as JBIC and ANZ disregard their own environmental and social responsibility policies for a gamble on coal.”
Boggabri Coal mine shut down
A group of people have shut down Idemitsu’s Boggabri Coal Mine today as part of ongoing protests to protect Leard State Forest and the surrounding Maules Creek community from coal mine expansion.
The group is calling on Japan Bank of International Cooperation (JBIC) and ANZ to stop funding both Idemitsu and Whitehaven Coal’s destruction of Leard State Forest. Two activists have scaled the coal crusher at Boggabri Coal shutting down all operations and dropping a banner that reads “Protect Our Water (in English); Water is for Everyone (in Japanese)”.
“It is a breach of the people’s trust, not only the people of Australia, not only the people of Japan, but the people of the world, when large financiers such as JBIC and ANZ disregard their own environmental and social responsibility policies for a gamble on coal.”