More than 2000 people rallied in Boorloo/Perth on June 2 to protest mining in Jarrah native forests by bauxite mining companies Alcoa and South32.
The rally started in the Supreme Court Gardens where the crowd greeted forest activist Ricky England, who concluded his 10 day march for Jarrah forests.
Heavy rain didn’t deter the crowd as it marched up to Western Australian parliament, where speakers from the WA Forest Alliance, Conservation Council and the End Forest Mining campaign called upon WA government and Environmental Protection Authority to reject the proposed expansion of mining in South West WAs native forests.
End Forest Mining said Alcoa and South32 have “already cleared tens of thousands of hectares over the last 60 years”. “Massive expansions will threaten critical drinking water supplies and air quality, impact world-class trails and destroy vital carbon stores and habitat for threatened wildlife.”