Cutter
Nicholas Shehadie (39)
I don't know how much anyone knows about this, but there is a good documentary about its effects in the US called Gasland (http://www.gaslandthemovie.com/). Watch it if you can, it's a frightening example of political opportunism, corporate greed and the little guy being screwed. In particular, this type of mining, where they use a technique called fracking to release the gas, contaminates aquifers.
As it happens, the same thing is now happening across Queensland and, increasingly, in NSW. The driest continent on earth is allowing it's underground water supplies to be poisoned and used in enormous quantities. Of course, the usual order of events is being carried out. The mainstream media reports on it a little bit but only from a soundbite perspective. Gillard is taking the traditional liberal/national position, Tony Abbott has done his traditional policy backflip already and away we go.
Interestingly, Barnaby Joyce and Bill Heffernan oppose it as, of course, do the Greens. Given Gillard's position and Abbott flip flops like a fish in a boat, this might be an issue that brings rural voters to the Greens. It is actually that big.
GetUp (yes, that insidious organisation that does nothing good for anyone), thinks we need to be concerned about it and that we shouldn't allow any more approvals until we know a bit more about it. So too do Government science agencies http://www.abc.net.au/news/2011-05-27/gillard-bligh-unveil-coal-seam-gas-expansion/2734636.
http://www.getup.org.au/campaigns/coal-seam-gas/petition/stop-coal-seam-gas
As it happens, the same thing is now happening across Queensland and, increasingly, in NSW. The driest continent on earth is allowing it's underground water supplies to be poisoned and used in enormous quantities. Of course, the usual order of events is being carried out. The mainstream media reports on it a little bit but only from a soundbite perspective. Gillard is taking the traditional liberal/national position, Tony Abbott has done his traditional policy backflip already and away we go.
Interestingly, Barnaby Joyce and Bill Heffernan oppose it as, of course, do the Greens. Given Gillard's position and Abbott flip flops like a fish in a boat, this might be an issue that brings rural voters to the Greens. It is actually that big.
GetUp (yes, that insidious organisation that does nothing good for anyone), thinks we need to be concerned about it and that we shouldn't allow any more approvals until we know a bit more about it. So too do Government science agencies http://www.abc.net.au/news/2011-05-27/gillard-bligh-unveil-coal-seam-gas-expansion/2734636.
http://www.getup.org.au/campaigns/coal-seam-gas/petition/stop-coal-seam-gas
Currently, Australia’s laws do not take proper account of the irreversible impacts of coal seam gas mining.
If we don't act now, we're losing precious time to protect the health and livelihoods of communities, the quality of our water, and the sustainability of our farmland.
From Sydney’s water supply catchment to the rich agricultural lands of the Liverpool Plains and the Darling Downs, the coal seam gas industry is expanding at breakneck speed. Government regulators are playing catch-up, leaving local communities to deal with a poorly regulated, rapidly growing industry. They're doing so by locking the gate to their properties, writing to politicians, and informing their neighbours about the issue.
Let's join the communities affected in calling on the Health, Environment, Water and Agriculture Ministers to stop the coal seam gas industry until proper regulations are put in place? Sign the petition on the right.