In a powerful escalation of the global campaign against Indian mining company Adani’s proposed Abbot Point and Galilee Basin coal projects, more than 120 people peacefully protested on June 22 at the Abbot Point port.
The protest was organised by 350.org and the Reef Defenders Alliance.
Led by Juru elder Aunty Carol Prior and other traditional owners, the protesters walked on to Abbot Point coal terminal to deliver hand-written pledges to protect the climate and the Reef from Adani's senseless coal expansion plans.
As the UN World Heritage Committee prepares to meet in Bonn this week to discuss threats to the Reef, the Queensland government is preparing to submit the controversial dredging project to Federal Environment Minister Greg Hunt for approval.
Adani plans to dig up the coal reserves of the Galilee Basin and construct a massive new coal export port at Abbot Point in the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area.
The protest is the start of a campaign of civil disobedience against construction of the controversial project, which has already been ranked as having the third-highest reputation risk of any project on the planet.
“We are standing together, united as one, to protect mother Earth — our environment — which is my culture, my heritage, and my Aboriginality”, said Aunty Carol.
“We’re here today standing up for the future of the Great Barrier Reef, and a safe climate future for our grandchildren.
“We want to see investment in a positive future for our region, in job-rich renewables and a healthy and sustainable tourism industry.
“Adani has repeatedly overstated the local economic benefits of the project and exaggerated jobs figures by eightfold. We’ll be left to deal with the damage while Adani’s short-lived profits flow offshore.”
Eleven international banks have refused to fund the project while more than three million people around the world have expressed their opposition, including 670,000 people who signed a petition delivered to the US Export Import Bank in Washington DC last week.
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