The State Bank of India had reneged on a $1 billion financing agreement for Adani’s Galilee Basin coalmine.
The loan was agreed to five months ago to help finance mining giant Adani’s plan to develop the Carmichael mega coalmine in Queensland’s Galilee Basin. This is the 12th global investment bank to publicly walk away from the proposal in recent months.
Blair Palese from 350.org Australia said: “This news is a massive blow to Adani and its ill-fated plan to mine Australian coal for export to Asia and turn the Great Barrier Reef in to a major shipping route. It is a true testament to just how toxic this proposal is, not only to the environment but the bottom line as well.
WORLD ZOO BODY SUSPENDS JAPANESE ZOOS OVER DOLPHIN HUNTING
Legal action by animal welfare charity Australia for Dolphins has forced the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums (WAZA) to suspended its Japanese members because of their involvement in the globally-condemned Taiji dolphin hunts.
Sarah Lucas, CEO of Australia for Dolphins, said: “It is a significant first step towards ending the horrific annual dolphin hunts in Taiji. Up to 40% of total demand for Taiji dolphins comes from WAZA network aquariums. WAZA’s decision to suspend its Japanese member for involvement in the hunts is a major blow to the world’s largest dolphin trade.
“This means Japan has been thrown out of the world’s peak zoo organisation. Following the IWC’s recent rejection of Japan’s new whaling plan, this is another huge embarrassment to the global reputation of Japan, and another nail in the coffin for the Taiji drive hunts.
NEW COCA-COLA BOTTLING PLANT IN INDIA CANCELLED
On April 20, the state government of Tamil Nadu in south India announced that it has cancelled the agreement with Hindustan Coca-Cola Beverages to build a new Coca-Cola bottling plant in Perundurai in Erode district.
The cancellation of the agreement came as the result of an extremely well-coordinated campaign led by farmers and residents. Residents in Perundurai cited the dismal track record of Coca-Cola in India – creating water shortages across the country and polluting with toxic chemicals – as their main reasons for opposing Coca-Cola.
The company also faces significant opposition in various parts of India where it has located its bottling plants in drought-stricken areas, and challenges to Coca-Cola’s bottling operations are expected to grow as water conditions deteriorate across the country.
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