Newsflash - Anvil Hill - June 9, 2007
Hello CCBR supporters,
Two days ago approval for the proposed Anvil Hill mine was given by Minister Frank Sartor. His argument being that if we don't lift this coal out of the ground someone else will, and, that one company should not bear the consequences of change in response to global warming.
CCBR has been campaigning for over 18 months to inform our communities that flicking a switch relates directly to global warming when electricity is powered by coal. We feel that Minister Sartor's view is morally flawed in the light of both Nicholas Stern's recommendations and the IPCC report. The approval of this mine opens the door for over a dozen more waiting in the wings to be approved and let's face it if you live on this earth, this mine is going to affect us all. The decision is symbolic of the leadership we can expect on this issue and we need to act promptly to remind our leaders that they are representing us when they make these decisions.
So...we are calling on all of you to make some noise and let them know of your disapproval. There is much talk in the media of community outrage - Let's let them hear it!
Even if you have never written to a paper or minister before, put something down, it doesn't have to be clever, just write what you think and send it off.
Please act now your voice is the wind under this movement’s wings:
● Send this email to your networks - far and wide - the consequences are global.
● Send a letter to the politicians: See below for full addresses and example comments/letters.
State:
Premier Morris Iemma - thepremier@www.nsw.gov.au
Minister Frank Sartor - office@sartor.minister.nsw.gov.au
Phil Koperberg MP - office@koperberg.minister.nsw.gov.au
and your local member:
Verity Firth - balmain@parliament.nsw.gov.au
Federal: (this could become an iconic case on Climate Change for the election)
Prime Minister John Howard - www.pm.gov.au/contact/index.cfm (follow prompts)
Opposition Leader, Kevin Rudd - Kevin.Rudd.MP@aph.gov.au
Minister for the Environment, Malcolm Turnbull - Malcolm.Turnbull.MP@aph.gov.au
Shadow minister for the environment, Peter Garrett, MP - Peter.Garrett.MP@aph.gov.au
and your local federal member:
Tanya Plibersek MP- tanya@tanyaplibersek.com
When you write a letter, please end with your address and a contact phone number (even if you’re international). Printing and sending hard copy too is great if you can.
● Send a letter to the media:
Sydney Morning Herald - letters@smh.com.au
The Daily Telegraph - yoursay@dailytelegraph.com.au
Australian Financial Review - edletters@afr.com.au
The Australian - letters@theaustralian.com.au
● Vote NO in this SMH poll about Anvil Hill. http://www.smh.com.au/news/environment/pollution-solution-too-far-off-for-mine/2007/06/08/1181089328773.html _______________________________________________________________________
Here are some examples of the letters we've sent:
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dear Editor:
To the NSW Labor Govt.
Re: Anvil Hill coal mine approval.
In the light of the environmental calamity we face, how can the NSW Labor Govt. ignore business leaders, the Stern report, Ian Dunlop and scientists who have all come to the same conclusion: that is that the cost of “business as usual” will be greater than the cost of addressing the urgent transition to non-polluting energy sources?
As a grassroots climate change group we are outraged that Ministers have ignored the loud voices of protest from many of their constituents; all of whom have expressed, in writing, their opposition to Anvil Hill on the grounds of its contribution to greenhouse gas emissions.
Minister Sartor's declaration that Anvil Hill coal mine will have no nett affect on greenhouse pollution because “another coal mine, somewhere, would go ahead”, is utterly immoral.
The effect on the nascent renewable energy industries, the Hunter Valley tourism industry, Hunter Valley farming communities and vineyards will be devastating.
Could Minister Sartor and Premier Iemma please explain to our 500+ supporters when will there be enough coal mines in NSW to secure our financial future?
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Dear editor,
I know it and everybody I have spoken to in the last 24 hours knows it - so why is it so hard for our government to show strong leadership on this issue - This was a golden oppportunity. To give a clear sign that our elected leaders have a grip on the reality of the situation and repel the strangle hold that an incredibly powerful industry has and clearly continues to have on our politicians.
Yes coal brings in the dollars but at what price? who really benefits, surely not our children. And to add insult to injury the added $22milliion to be thrown at geosequestration can only be described as obscene when the renewables sector is being deprived of all the mechanisms that would allow it to flourish.
Having spent the last 8 years of my life nurturing a new generation - I feel ill at the prospect that our governments are not listening to the overwhelming call from it's citizens. We understand the issues and what's at stake.We call for change, yes we give them a mandate to run the show but when they do so in a way that so clearly goes against the wishes of the people then we need to remind them who put them there in the first place.
This government is protecting and growing an industry that needs to be retired - phased out and superceded by a new era of clean power generation.
For the planet and for our children's children.
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Dear Verity,
I wish to express my profound disgust at the NSW Labor Govt. approval of the Anvil Hill coal mine. It beggars belief that in the light of all scientific evidence (IPCC), business and industry analysis (Stern, business roundtable, Ian Dunlop!), not to mention hundreds of letters of opposition from constituents around NSW, that this decision has been made. The loss of land and water sources for farms, vineyards and remnant forest will be immense both economically and environmentally. The loss of jobs in these local industries will be sorely felt as many people from the Hunter move their business away from the area. That the coal industry is a dirty, polluting, water-guzzling, habitat-decimating and highly mechanized industry seems not to matter to the NSW Labor Govt. A Government commitment to support clean, renewable energy industries with high employment opportunities is a pipe dream.
I look forward to hearing you, as Balmain’s elected representative, express your concerns about this mine as you have done so in the recent past.
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What page is Minister Sartor on? The Stern report says the costs of continuing with “business as usual” are greater than addressing climate change now. Sir Ian Dunlop CEO from the coal industry says we should not be committing to any more coal exports. The climate change scientists say that the greatest contributor to greenhouse gas emissions is coal fired power stations. Even my nine-year old understands that the choice between a polluting, non-renewable source of power (which also uses megalitres of water daily) and a non-polluting, renewable source is pretty obvious. A no-brainer you might say!
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This is an absurd and disastrous step taken by the New South Wales government. By approving this mine, the government is telling us they are putting the interests of the coal industry ahead of this planet's future – they will approve any mine, anywhere, regardless of the overwhelming opposition. They are also opening the doors to a raft of new coal mines in the Hunter Valley region of NSW. We need to draw a line in the sand with the coal industry and say “enough is enough”. You cannot deal with climate change in Australia without dealing with coal and by expanding the industry, we are wilfully riding roughshod over the local land and the planet’s atmosphere.
Each year, enough coal will be mined from Anvil Hill to produce 27 million tonnes of greenhouse pollution. The mine will be in operation for 30 about 20 years and by that time, its greenhouse impact would have been 529 million tonnes (more than the annual emissions of many). The NSW government is choosing to further fuel global warming for the sake of keeping the coal industry happy.
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We are Climate Change Balmain Rozelle www.climatechangebr.org
Contact us at ccbrmail@aapt.net.au
For more information on Anvil Hill please go to www.greenpeace.org.au or www.anvilhill.org.au
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ADDRESSES, FAXES and PHONE NUMBERS:
The Hon. John Howard, Prime Minister
Electorate Office:
Location:
230 Victoria Road
Gladesville NSW 2111
Postal Address:
PO Box 336
Gladesville NSW 2111
Tel: (02) 9816 1300
Fax: (02) 9816 1349
Sydney Office:
Location:
56-70 Phillip Street
Sydney NSW 2000
Postal Address:
GPO Box 59
Sydney NSW 2001
Tel: (02) 8226 8400
Fax: (02) 9251 5454
Peter Garrett MP:
Electorate Office Contact, Maroubra Office:
Location:
Level 6 Maroubra Gateway Building
806-812 Anzac Pde
Maroubra NSW 2035
Postal Address:
PO Box 249
Maroubra NSW 2035
Tel: (02) 9349 6007
Fax: (02) 9349 808
Tanya Plibersek MP:
Electorate Office Contact: Surry Hills Office:
Location/Postal Address:
422 Crown St
Surry Hills NSW 2010
Tel: (02) 9357 6366
Fax: (02) 9357 6466
Kevin Rudd, Leader of the Opposition:
Parliament House Contact
PO Box 6022
House of Representatives
Parliament House
Canberra ACT 2600
Tel: (02) 6277 4022
Fax: (02) 6277 8495
Electorate Office Contact: Morningside Office:
Location:
630 Wynnum Road
Morningside Qld 4170
Postal Address:
PO Box 476A
Morningside Qld 4170
Tel: (07) 3899 4031
Fax: (07) 3899 5755
Malcolm Turnbull
Bondi Junction Office:
Location:
Level 1
5a Bronte Road
Bondi Junction NSW 2022
Postal Address:
PO Box 1840
Bondi Junction NSW 1355
Tel: (02) 9369 5221
Fax: (02) 9369 5225
Verity Firth, NSW State Minister assisting the Minister for Climate Change
Glebe Office:
Location:
112A Glebe Pt. Rd.,
Glebe NSW 2037
Postal Address:
PO Box 1840
Bondi Junction NSW 1355
Tel: (02) 96607586
Fax: (02) 96606112
Phil Koperberg, NSW State Minister for Climate Change
Sydney Office:
Location:
Level 25,.
59-61 Goulburn St.,
Sydney NSW 2000
Postal Address:
PO Box A290
Sydney South NSW 1232
Tel: (02) 99956750
Fax: (02) 99956654
