I have been reading news stories about large fossil fuel companies’ corporate negligence, disregard for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture, environmental breaches and relentless well-resourced tripe about how sustainable and socially responsible they are.
If they extract and sell coal, oil or gas, we know what to expect. Can’t put lipstick on a pig as they say.
In the end, there can be no more fossil fuels if we are to inhabit a livable planet. So let’s get there as quickly as humanly possible.
The big companies are lying to us, their shareholders and to governments. They continue to do business which condemns future generations to the loss of lives, health and homes, livelihoods and the living things we share the planet with. Profit before people.
Last week Santos came clean and admitted that a large gas pipeline had exploded back in January. Last year they covered up an incident where escaping oil killed dolphins nearby. “All sorted now. Nothing to see here”, they say.
Well, those villains are easy to spot – but the big banks enabling their expansions, their new projects and destructive profit-making are also in clear view now.
Campaigning to knock out the source of finance for fossil fuel projects is a tried and true tactic. You can have a go today in one of our five minute actions below.
Australia is the third largest exporter of fossil fuels in the world. The twisted tale of political interdependence between coal and governments is well documented by Marian Wilkinson in The Carbon Club, Judith Brett and others.
But last week, the Queensland Department of Environment and Science refused the environmental authority application for Clive Palmer’s Waratah Coal project in central Queensland.
This decision follows the Land Court’s recommendation late last year, to refuse the environmental authority and mining lease applications for the project (covered in Issue #9).
In the ‘old days’, expert advice and legal findings did not stop a government from approving a new coal mine. The Adani Carmichael coal mine is only there because the governments rode roughshod over expert advice about water and endangered species.
Maybe the Queensland Government department position on this latest coal project (and a different Palmer proposal near the Great Barrier Reef), signal a shift in intentions – i.e. “no more free rides for coal barons”.
Upping the royalties from the resources sector by the treasurer has not led to the sky falling as the Qld Resources Council suggested it would in their tepid ad campaign.
So, get angry, but get active too! We are gradually seeing more evidence of governments no longer being under the spell of the coal, oil and gas lobby: together we can accelearate this change.
As Cathy from the Climate Club says “… what we do matters. Not as individuals making single big statements, but collectively as diverse groups chipping away at the areas where we have influence.”
What can you do today?
🐝 If you have 5 minutes:
In Issue 10, we celebrated the win by Tiwi Islanders who used the courts to stare down the gas giant Santos over their plan to run a pipeline through Tiwi Island Sea Country without meaningful consultation. But now it’s come to light that while that court case was running, the big four banks, CommBank, NAB, ANZ and Westpac, plus a range of international banks were part of a $1.5 billion loan to Santos.
Appallingly, the banks loaned to Santos while the court case was ongoing, meaning they must have known of Traditional Owners’ opposition to the Barossa project. Unbelievable! Tiwi Islands and Larrakia Traditional Owners have now lodged formal complaints alleging Australia’s big four banks breached their human rights responsibilities by participating in the loan. Market Forces and 350.org and are both offering the chance to lay it on the banks about this. 350.org is directed at the CommBank, while Market Forces will go to all four. So read the background, then smash out two emails, all with their simple templates which you can choose to adapt, personalise or send as is.
Action: Email the CommBank CEO and tell him to respect Tiwi Islanders
In Issue #7 we reported how Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek must now, for the first time, consider climate impact when reviewing projects. She is now reviewing 18 new coal and gas projects. The science is clear: if she considers the climate impact, these projects can't proceed.
Action: Ask Minister Plibersek to cancel 18 coal and gas projects
More than eight million homes are energy-inefficient. They're ill-equipped and reliant on expensive fossil fuel power. People who can't easily make changes to their home – renters and public and community housing residents – are often the ones most seriously affected. The government could replace gas with electric appliances, install solar, and insulate and retrofit homes, so people can have comfortable, affordable, climate-resilient homes.
Action: Add your signature to ask the Government to announce a home electrification and efficiency package in the federal budget
🐇 If you have 15 minutes:
Fossil fuel giants are eyeing off the world-class rivers and floodplains of the Channel Country in the Lake Eyre Basin to expand dirty oil and gas. The Queensland government promised to protect these sensitive rivers and floodplains in 2015. But the consultation and report they undertook is so overdue it’s not funny any more! While they stall on protection, new oil and gas still threatens the rivers and floodplains.
Action: Email Premier Palaszczuk asking her to release the report NOW and pave the way for protection of these critical desert rivers and floodplains.
💃🏽 If you have 30 minutes or more:
On the first Sunday of every month, Moreton Climate Action Now (MoretonCAN) holds a stall in the community to have a chat and explain their campaign to persuade Moreton Bay Regional Council to declare a climate emergency.
Sunday 7 May 8am – 12pm
Dayboro markets, Heathwood St, Dayboro QLD 4521
Despite the rant about corporate greed at the beginning of this action news, I am hopeful that together we will overcome fossil fuel greed with our passion for nature and justice. It means changing the course of history, which only happens when people start taking baby steps to do something. For me, it was going to an event where I heard about a coal mine! Had no idea where that would lead but I am so glad I went! Hoping you find ways to be part of this too.
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That’s all for today, folks 👋🏽 Thanks for taking action.
See you in two weeks
Malcolm
plus Jan, Robyn and Ron - The Climate Club Qld team
We live, work and play on the lands of the Yuggara and Turrbal people in and around Meanjin - Brisbane. We pay respect to their Elders, past and present, and acknowledge that sovereignty was never ceded - always was, always will be Aboriginal land.
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