Activists and refugees leading the movement for their rights came together at the first Rural Australians for Refugees national conference in four years. Jonathan Strauss reports.
Katoomba
Rachel Evans reports that a Blue Mountains Women’s Health and Resource Centre rally opposing violence against women brought together hundreds of members of the sex and gender diverse community.
Between 300-350 people attended a solidarity action in Katoomba, reports Lisa Macdonald.
Up to 1000 people marched through the streets of Katoomba, in the Blue Mountains, on June 9 to oppose the NSW Coalition government's plan to raise the wall of the Warragamba Dam by 14 metres.
A fortnight after the NSW Liberal government announced policy changes to coal seam gas (CSG) mining in NSW to ban drilling within two kilometres of some residential areas, about 400 local residents met at Springwood Civic Centre on March 24 for the “Coal seam gas — it still stinks” public forum.
Speakers explained the continuing threat to the environment, residents’ health and the world heritage values of this area posed by the CSG industry.
Members of environmental group Katoomba Climate Action Now (CAN) gathered on December 21 outside their local branch of the ANZ Bank to demonstrate, leaflet and chat with customers, staff and passers-by about coal.
Recent research by Greenpeace has shown the bank is one of the most substantial and consistent investors in coalmining and coal-fired power stations in Australia.
Environmental scientists regard coal as the dirtiest of power generation fuels because of its prolific carbon waste output.
The ingredients of big-business operations in NSW were all there: a multinational tourism operator; environmental groups with varying interests; a donation to the NSW Labor Party; the apparent channelling of another donation; a local council decision overturned by the Land and Environment Court; and development approved by the then-Labor Party planning minister, Frank Sartor.
