“Stop Adani” spelt out by 1000s: Big Day of Action across nation
- Human signs at 45 locations, from Bondi to Great Barrier Reef
- New national polling to be released
- Stop Adani Alliance membership doubles
As Adani pledges to start work this month on what would be one of the biggest coal mines in the world, and in the wake of an explosive ABC 4Corners program this week, local Stop Adani groups and major environmental organisations are staging over 45 colourful, creative community events across the nation, with thousands of people using their bodies to create human signs which spell out ‘Stop Adani’.
Human “Stop Adani” signs will be staged at iconic locations on Saturday, from Bondi to Bells Beach, Suva to the Whitsundays, Melbourne to Airlie Beach, Adelaide’s Henley Beach to the Gold Coast, and Perth’s Cottesloe Beach to Port Douglas. Photo and drone/b-roll vision will be made available.
The Stop Adani movement today released new, national ReachTEL polling showing:
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A clear majority (56%) of Australians now oppose Adani’s coal project.
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In relation to the controversial prospect of a $1 billion loan of public money to Adani, two thirds of Australians believe the Queensland Government should keep its election promise to not spend public money on Adani’s private rail line. The poll shows 66% of Australians want the Queensland government to use its power to veto the loan.
The Stop Adani Alliance has more than doubled its membership since it was launched in March 2017 and now has 31 member organisations. More than 160 local Stop Adani groups have also formed.
Blair Palese, CEO of 350.org Australia, said, "While the Queensland and Federal governments remain staunch supporters of this dirty mine, new polling shows the Australian community is angry that $1 billion of public money could be handed to Adani for a mine which will wreck the climate and the Reef.
“Voters are clear. They believe the Queensland government should stick to its promise and block the $1 billion loan to billionaire Adani for his private rail line.
“Australians want their political leaders to take action on climate change. Thousands of us have come together to spell out what our governments need to do: Stop Adani.”
Anita Everett, spokesperson for Stop Adani Douglas Shire and a former tour guide who works in Reef hospitality said, "The chief risk to our beautiful Great Barrier Reef is global warming. It is global warming that’s bleaching the Reef, and a polluting new coal mine will only make that worse.
“Here in Far North Queensland we have everything to lose from the Adani coal mine. 80 per cent of economic activity in Port Douglas stems from the Reef and the Daintree National Park. If there’s $1 billion of public money up for grabs, it should go to clean energy, not coal.”
Gemma Borgo-Caratti, National Director of the Australian Youth Climate Coalitionsaid, “Adani’s coal mine poses an unacceptable threat to our future. Young people won’t stand by and let another massive coal mine be built in this country.
“Australia just sweltered through the hottest September on record, with the hottest days more than 16oC warmer than the average. Right at the time we need to take substantive climate action, Adani’s coal mine would take us in the wrong direction.
“It’s time to upgrade to 100% renewable energy. Young people are demanding that our politicians stop getting in the way of that vision. They are skilled up and ready to do whatever it takes to stop Adani.”
Visuals: High quality images (here) and drone footage and b-roll from the events (here) will be made available. For pre-event photos, see Underwater Reef sign (here) and Stop Adani human sign at Federal Parliament (here).