Lock The Gate : Good News Update
Date: 23-Mar-11
Author: John C. Thomson
Hello All,
Lock The Gate Alliance is spreading far and wide. Our message is resonating, our plan for action is being heard, the combined voices of communities across Australia are having an enormous impact.
There are so many stories to tell. Stories of hope and courage. Stories of inspiration. Stories that trigger outrage and shame. We must stand together and continue to raise our voices until our demands are met in full. Please visit the Lock The Gate Website, Lock The Gate FaceBook Group and Twitter profile for more updates and activities.
The past few days have helped highlight just what our campaign is all about and what can be achieved. Following are a few highlights from the past few days:
CAN'T EAT COAL, CAN'T DRINK GAS RALLY
On Sunday 20-March-2011, over 1200 people assembled in the rain and wind to raise our cry for action. People young, old and in-between from virtually every walk of life came together to hear about the impacts, the denials and the urgent call to action. Farmers, Sydney-siders, Queenslanders, coal miners, doctors, teachers, retirees, students, bankers, lawyers, friars and nuns, just to name a few, were all there and adding their voices to the campaign. People who have traditionally voted for Independent, Greens, Labor, Liberal, National and Christian-Democrat all came out to illustrate the reality that this is an outcry that needs ALL those in government to think and act independently on these issues that are at the forefront of our national agenda.
The rally has proven to be a seminal moment in the building wave of community outcry that forms the heart of the Lock The Gate Alliance. Perhaps the most impressive aspect of the rally was to look across the sea of people and to see the sheer number and variety of messages borne on the incredible signs and banners held aloft by people. The march from Martin Place to 1 Ferrer Place, the home of NSW state offices, was an incredible event. The music during the rally brought the event to life. The rally cry by Dayne "The Frackman" Pratzky brought us to our feet.
This rally made clear that its not just about protecting your own piece of dirt but standing up for what's right and looking after your fellow Australians. We were addressed by fellow campaigners Drew Hutton and Dayne Pratzky from Queensland, where they are fighting a front-line battle against British Gas in the guise of Queensland Gas. We heard from residents of Gloucester, the Southern Highlands, West Sydney, Liverpool Plains and Central West NSW describing the relentless development of coal mines and gas fields throughout the State.
Politicians including Rob Oakshott, Tim Duddy, Christine Milne and Cate Faehrmann joined us and spoke of the need to stop this uncontrolled expansion at the expense of food and water security, community, health and environment.
Thank-you to all the organisers who worked so tirelessly to make this event a success. Thank-you to all the speakers at the event who helped illuminate the scope and scale of the problems and the opportunity to raise our voices to put a stop to the devastation. Thank-you to the musicians who made the march an incredible, memorable event. And a special thank-you who travelled, in many cases from great distances, from Queensland and across NSW to make this event a resounding success.
W.A. EPA SAYS NO TO MARGARET RIVER COAL MINE
The champagne was flowing last evening when news arrived that the Western Australian Environmental Protection Agency had knocked back LD Operations' Vasse Coal project to
