Save the GBR – crowdsourcing appeal
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The Great Barrier Reef is already under great pressure from climate change. But to make things worse, the Australian Government is giving the green light to build the world’s biggest coal export facility at Abbot Point, right on the edge of the Reef.
Near Gladstone they’re literally cutting channels through the seafloor for huge coal ships in a practice known as dredging. It releases toxins trapped in sediment which then find their way into our food chain. Locally, the effects are clear: fishers are bringing in catch that are so sick it’s not safe to sell. Globally, we are losing one of the natural wonders of the world, and doing it so we can export more coal to warm the planet. It’s absolutely crazy!
There’s something we can do about it. Environment Minister Tony Burke keeps saying publicly that he wants to save the Reef. He’s trying to walk both sides of the street – saying he’ll save the Reef but at the same time approving massive new coal and coal seam gas terminals – and so far he’s getting away with it, because only locals know what’s really going on. Together, we’re going to change that, and show both major parties that voters will know what they doing to the reef:
50 years ago there was a successful community campaign to create the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area. In the face of massive dredging and proposed shipping traffic increases through the area, concerned ocean lovers need to act once more.
Please join this campaign and help get this ad on air by donating at GetUp – click here for how to.
From GetUp campaign central….
Tomorrow is a big day in our long-running campaign to protect the Great Barrier Reef.
Across the country, our allies in the campaign are holding media-grabbing events tomorrow. If you are in Brisbane, Melbourne, Canberra, Sydney, Yeppoon or Mackay, click here to join in: http://www.getup.org.au/rally-for-the-reef
At the same time, we will be delivering the petition you signed, along with 127,015 other Getup members, to Federal Environment Minister Tony Burke in Sydney. The petition is a massive effort and sends a message loud and clear: Australian people expect more from the Government when it comes to protecting our World Heritage listed Reef. Thanks for adding your name.
Unfortunately, the Reef will be in the news tomorrow for all the wrong reasons. Tomorrow the Government has to hand in its homework to UNESCO and it’s looking like an “F” on the Great Barrier Reef.
We wanted to give you a heads-up on the news — all reasons why we must keep fighting in this campaign. It’s already evident that the government have failed to address the “extreme concerns” raised by UNESCO and the IUCN last year. Since then, things have gone from bad to worse for the Great Barrier Reef. Here’s why:
• The most urgent recommendation still hasn’t been acted on. UNESCO and the World Heritage Committee asked the Federal Government to conduct an independent review into the damage being done to the World Heritage site in Gladstone Harbour and into the dredging, coal ports and CSG plants planned for Curtis Island. Not only has the review not been completed, it is only just getting started.
• The Queensland Government has been allowed to damage an national icon. It has weakened coastal protections, neglected to enforce pollution control regulations and is backing more coal ports and more dredging along the Reef.
• The Great Barrier Reef marine park is now being used as a dumping ground by the mining industry. Last year the mining industry made use of new regulations which allowed it to dump over 2.5 million tonnes of dredge spoil into protected marine parks.
• Miners have continued to massively expand coal production and new ports. Queensland Premier Campbell Newman is already indicating his government will approve this move despite the fact the strategic assessment for the Reef has not been completed and fierce opposition from UNESCO and the local community.
Despite this bad news, we can’t give up hope, and we can’t give up campaigning. Our negotiations with the Government have already helped secure the independent scientific review, and we have more opportunities for impact in the coming months, which we’ll keep in touch about. We’ll keep defending our unparrelled environmental treasure home to dugongs, dolphins and the most amazing coral anywhere on earth, a job creator for over 60,000 people, a source of recreation and fishing for hundreds of thousands, and a key part of the Australia’s global brand.
Thanks for being part of this,
The GetUp team.
PS – UNESCO has an active Twitter account. Click here to let them know on Twitter that the situation has become much, much worse for the Great Barrier Reef.