More than 40 people attended a public meeting in Helensburgh, 40 minutes south of Sydney, on September 26 to discuss the issues of climate, water, jobs and political action.
The meeting was organised in the lead-up to the October 9-11 NSW Climate Camp in Helensburgh.
Speakers included retired coal-miner Graham Brown; Julie Shepherd from Rivers SOS and Dave Burgess from the Total Environment Centre. Peabody Energy, which owns the Metropolitan colliery in Helensburgh, and the NSW Labor Party were invited to speak but both declined.
Climate Camp is targetting the approved expansion of the colliery, which is Australia's oldest operating underground coal mine. The camp will includea non-violent direct action targetting the colliery on October 11.
Discussion at the meeting was robust, with various views expressed. The speakers highlighted the environmental and social cost of continued coal mining, and the need to move to a low-carbon economy.
For more information on Climate Camp visit Climatecamp.org.au.