Momentum is gathering in the climate movement. Young people with new ideas and skills in social media are taking lead roles. Cooperation between climate groups is the best it’s ever been. Although each group may have a different focus, or way of tackling the problem, their actions are supported by all.
Wednesday 28 August – Three Nanna Actions – 8am – 1pm, then lunch
Lock the Gate Coal Watch Conga line
Gather at 52 Martin Place (State Ministers’ offices) at 8am to make a conga line to NSW parliament to present a petition opposing the government’s coal policy to the Premier. Wear red for emergency or just add red to our black and yellow.
This is a timely action as the Land & Environment Court upholds an approval for a massive Mt Pleasant coal mine expansion – it will become the biggest open-cut coal mine and will keep going until 2048. Environmental Defenders Office
Attending Budget Estimates in NSW Parliament
Following the Conga Line Nannas will attend Budget Estimates in the NSW Parliament where the Premier will appear at a committee chaired by Jeremy Buckingham.
BBF Logging Vigil
12 noon -1pm – at the top of Martin Place opposite the Parliament.
Budget Estimates – 27 August to 11 September
Upper House committees will question the Premier, Ministers and public servants during Budget Estimates from 27 August to 11 September.
Budget Estimates sessions dealing with our topics are:
- Treasury – Thursday 29 August – Treasurer Daniel Mookhey will appear
- Environment – Thursday 29 August – Penny Sharpe will appear
- Planning – Friday 30 August – Paul Scully to appear, chaired by Sue Higginson
- Natural Resources – Thursday 5 September – Courtney Houssos to appear
- Water – Monday 9 September – Rose Jackson to appear
Snap action: Stop ANZ, NAB, and Westpac loaning $750 million to Santos
Nannas joined Market Forces, Rising Tide and other climate defenders outside Westpac HQ in Sydney on 21 August. The koala suits looked great but it was hot inside them.
CommBank recently announced it will not fund projects that don’t have plans to align with the Paris climate agreement. It is the first of the big banks to formally cut ties with coal, oil and gas without credible transition plans. Meanwhile, ANZ, NAB and Westpac are currently arranging a $750 million loan to Santos.
Letters were delivered to the three recalcitrant big banks, asking them not to fund Santos. The banks were due to announce their decision on 23 August.
Say No to Whitehaven Coal: A Sydney Walking Tour!
Move Beyond Coal partnered with Market Forces for an action on 22 August to stop funding for Whitehaven Coal’s Blackwater mine in Queensland, which they purchased last October. Australian banks had refused to finance Whitehaven so they turned to the private investment market with higher interest rates.
As expected, Whitehaven announced on the morning of the action that they had sold a 30% stake to Nippon Steel (20%) and JFE Steel (10%) – the two biggest steel companies in Japan, which were long-standing Blackwater customers under its previous ownership, BHP and Mitsubishi.
Despite the bad news the action against Whitehaven Coal was well-organised and good fun. A beautiful banner and a recorder player led 40 people on a silent walk through the city to the offices of the two Japanese steel companies. Prior to this action the companies had been repeatedly warned about the risks of doing business with Whitehaven. The message was clear – it’s #RiskyBusiness and #NoMoreCoal
Water Report
ABC Four Corners – Water Grab
Four Corners exposes how large-scale cotton growers threaten to destroy the Northern Territory’s precious water, cultural heritage sites and popular tourist destinations.
Belubula River near Blayney
Headwaters and springs of Belubula River in Central West NSW are now protected from a proposed gold mine tailings dam by a Section 10 under the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Heritage Protection Act. Tanya Plibersek media release
The Elder who proposed the Section 10 is a Nanna, Nyrie Reynolds, who has artwork currently in the ArtsOutWest exhibition in Parliament House until 28 August.
Global surge of water-related violence
Almost 350 water conflicts were documented worldwide in 2023, a 50% rise on 2022. The violence included attacks on dams, pipelines, wells, treatment plants and workers, as well as public unrest and disputes over access to water, and the use of water as a weapon of war. The Guardian
Meeting with Rory Amon MP Northern Beaches MP
Nannas Penny, Felicity and Tracey met with their MP Rory Amon and his assistant Melissa on 16 August for the second time this year. The first meeting was about the plight of koalas, and this meeting was about how both major parties voted last week to allow Santos to explore for coal seam gas on the prime agricultural land of the Liverpool Plains.
Rory appeared to be unaware of most of the issues we raised but was receptive. Like other young liberals who care about the environment they vote with the Party to keep their job and advance. We hope young liberals will take a better stance in the future on the environment and speak out more.
Rory sent good questions on koalas to the government after our last meeting, and he now has more questions to ask about gas mining, Santos and the Liverpool Plains.
Nannas are reading
How to make sure your disruptive protest helps your cause (Waging Nonviolence)
Senate inquiry raises deep concerns over $1.5 billion cash splash for new NT gas hub (Prof. Melissa Haswell – University of Sydney)
Santos CEO Kevin Gallaghers says it’s too soon to say when a final investment decision will be made on the Narrabri Pilliga Gas project. A number of projects will compete for capital, including Narrabri, Dorado off the coast of WA, Barossa north of Darwin and Pikka in Alaska. Santos shares fell 4.7 per cent to $7.45 on 21 August and finished the week at $7.37. (Narrabri Courier)
The new issue of Frankie magazine is out, including Nanna Judi’s article on craftivism. The magazine can be found in supermarkets and newsagents.
Nannas are Watching
Lismore Knitting Nannas Gas Battle Sites Tour: Casino, Dobies Bight, Doubtful Creek, Bentley. Music by Patti Smith: People Have the Power – In 2014 people power took on the coal seam gas industry in northern NSW and won. The Knitting Nannas were formed at the Bentley Blockade and have continued to fight against the gas industry in our state.
Forthcoming Events