The national movement against coal and coal seam gas mining, farmers and environmental groups around the country are backing a three-day event, including displays, workshops and direct action, at Tara on the western Darling Downs in Queensland.
The event will be held on the 29 April to the 4 May 2011, local organisers The Western Downs Alliance are engaged in a confrontation with the British Gas-owned QGC who intend to establish a gas field early in 2011 on the Tara rural residential estates, home to more than 2,000 people.
Farmers, environmentalists and scientists have been warning the State and federal governments for some time that CSG activities are potentially hazardous to human health, agricultural land and underground water and could damage the Great Artesian Basin for centuries. They have called on these governments to impose a moratorium on the industry until all outstanding social and environmental issues have been addressed. Their only response has been to give the companies the go-ahead to bulldoze their way onto people’s properties and conduct an uncontrolled experiment on the Australian environment, meanwhile crossing their fingers that nothing disastrous happens – at least while they are in office.
Tara 2011 will be based at the Tara Showground and supporters are urged to gather showlng the widespread popular concern. Remember, the coal seam gas industry has plans to move into many, many parts of Australia so, while this is happening on the Western Downs now, it could be happening in your area tomorrow.
For more details or to register your intention to participate
Email: tara2011@lockthegate.org.au
Telephone: 07 4669 4864
More info: http://westerndowns.group-action.com/events/
Media Friends of the Earth
Drew Hutton 0428 487 110
