How a lizard and a snake beat king coal
This week two major wins came out of the campaign to protect Australia’s Great Barrier Reef. But the fight is not over…
When news broke of Australia’s Federal Court overturning the approval of the Carmichael coal mine – a A$16 billion mine, rail and port project proposed for the Galilee Basin in Queensland, right on the doorstep of the Great Barrier Reef – there was rapturous applause. But the good news didn’t stop there. The same day Australia’s biggest bank pulled the plug on Carmichael – the first bank that was involved in the project and now no longer wants to be.
This was a good day for the Reef!
Local NGOs, Mackay Conservation Group and the Environmental Defenders Office Queensland, mounted the legal challenge; and the courtroom questioning flushed out all sorts of inaccuracies around the mine’s use of water, super inflated job promises, and identified the massive environmental impacts of the mine. But at the end of the day the Federal Court overturned the approval due to two native endangered reptiles whose plight was ill-considered when the mine got the green light. Yep, that’s right a lizard and a snake, or rather the yakka skink and the ornamental snake.
The company behind the mine is part of the Adani group – a multinational conglomerate, seeking to burn this coal in Indian coal-fired power stations. In a statement, the Adani group referred to the overturning of their license to operate as merely a “technicality”.
“It is regrettable that a technical legal error from the Federal Environment Department has exposed the approval to an adverse decision,” said the statement.
If endangered species are a mere “technicality” how can this company ever be trusted with putting in place any measures to protect the environment?
Just a technicality #auspol pic.twitter.com/KBrsuSeLc4
— Mark David (@mdavidcartoons) August 6, 2015
When it’s been proven time and time again that the mine project would create 121 million tonnes of greenhouse gas a year at full production; that it will put an extra 600 coal ships a year through the Reef; and would negate any of Australia’s efforts to reduce their carbon emissions, that’s the cold hard truth, not a technicality.
Demonstrating further that this is a dead-end project, Australia’s biggest bank, Commonwealth Bank cut ties with this project, joining 11 international banks who refuse to fund this controversial project. It’s clear to see – it’s un-bankable, unprofitable and unconscionable.
Adani have proven that their greedy coal mine project is like flogging a dead horse, but they will persist. Right now Australia’s government is revising their approval plan and Standard Chartered is the only bank left involved in the project.
The fight is not over. The struggle to protect the world’s largest Reef has seen many of you do incredible things: we’ve rallied in thousands, called on politicians, and lobbied the UNESCO World Heritage Committee and it doesn’t stop there. Last night, activists in Hong Kong took the message straight to 170 Standard Chartered ATMs across the city, showing people the Reef destruction is reaching its way around the world.
Source: http://www.greenpeace.org/international/en/news/Blogs/makingwaves/lizard-and-a-snake-beat-king-coal-reef/blog/53734/
Anyone can join.
Anyone can contribute.
Anyone can become informed about their world.
"United We Stand" Click Here To Create Your Personal Citizen Journalist Account Today, Be Sure To Invite Your Friends.
Please Help Support BeforeitsNews by trying our Natural Health Products below!
Order by Phone at 888-809-8385 or online at https://mitocopper.com M - F 9am to 5pm EST
Order by Phone at 866-388-7003 or online at https://www.herbanomic.com M - F 9am to 5pm EST
Order by Phone at 866-388-7003 or online at https://www.herbanomics.com M - F 9am to 5pm EST
Humic & Fulvic Trace Minerals Complex - Nature's most important supplement! Vivid Dreams again!
HNEX HydroNano EXtracellular Water - Improve immune system health and reduce inflammation.
Ultimate Clinical Potency Curcumin - Natural pain relief, reduce inflammation and so much more.
MitoCopper - Bioavailable Copper destroys pathogens and gives you more energy. (See Blood Video)
Oxy Powder - Natural Colon Cleanser! Cleans out toxic buildup with oxygen!
Nascent Iodine - Promotes detoxification, mental focus and thyroid health.
Smart Meter Cover - Reduces Smart Meter radiation by 96%! (See Video).