Rally for the Reef
On Friday 1 February, our government will respond to world leaders on its plans to stop skyrocketing coal exports in Queensland from destroying the Great Barrier Reef. Our friends at Greenpeace, the Australian Youth Climate Coalition, Australian Marine Conservation Society, Friends of the Earth and beyond Beyond Zero Emissions are marking the day by holding a Rally for the Reef at locations around the country.
If planned coal export expansion in Queensland go ahead, our beautiful Reef could become a superhighway for some 10,000 coal transportation ships every year. That's why it is so important we come together at this crucial time. Everyone's welcome -- so bring your friends, kids, siblings, colleagues and anyone who wants the Reef kept safe for our children. See the details below to find an event near you.
Sydney
What: Snap action to save the Great Barrier Reef from expanding coal exports
When: Friday 1 February, 12 midday.
Where: Hyde Park Fountain, Sydney.
Organised by: Quit Coal Sydney.
Contact: Moira Williams moira.williams@gmail.com / 0420 504 411.
Brisbane
What: Rally for the reef
When: Friday 1 February, 12 midday.
Where: Queensland Government Executive Building, 100 George Street, Brisbane.
Contact: Louise Matthiesson lmatthie@greenpeace.org.au.
Canberra
What: Parade through Civic with costumes and signs.
When: 5:30pm Friday the 1st of February.
Organised by: Australian Youth Climate Coalition.
Contact: Alex Ross alex.ross@aycc.org.au.
Melbourne
What: Walk to Federation Square, creating a living moving reef with costumes, cut-out fish and other sea creatures.
Where: Corner of Elizabeth St and Burke street, City..
When: 9:30-10:30am Friday the 1st of February.
Contact: Koel Wrigley 0412 699 151.
Organised by: Australian Youth Climate Coalition
Yeppoon - Rockhampton
What: Beach Breakfast to show UNESCO and the Government how much the reef means to you.
Where: Yeppoon main beach.
When: 7am – 9am.
Contact: 07 3103 3115 info@protectkeppelbay.org.
Organised by: Keppel and Fitzroy Delta Alliance.
Mackay
What: Community members with sea creatures and fishers with their rods.
Where: Corner of Wood Street and Victoria Street.
When: 12pm – 1pm.
Contact: Jack Redpath 0457 040 483.
Organised by: Communities Protecting our Region and the Mackay Recreational Fishers Association.
38 years ago the Great Barrier Reef was protected from mining. Then Queensland Premier Joh Bjelke-Petersen wanted to drill the Reef for oil and gas. Then community, scientists and conservationists wouldn't stand for it and called on the Federal Government to intervene. Today, despite past protective measures, the Reef is under greater threat than ever - but the solution is the same, community action.
Over the last 27 years half of the Reef's coral cover has been lost due to storm damage, crown of thorns starfish (which are flourishing due to farm chemical runoff) and coral bleaching[1]. Now coal miners want to build the biggest coal mines in the world in the Reef's catchment and ship the coal out through the Reef's narrow channels.
This presents a dangerous double threat for the Reef. Firstly, to make way for the ports major shipping channels need to be dug out (dredged) through the sea floor. Effectively tens of millions of tonnes of seabed will be dredged resulting in thousands of hectares of turtle, dolphin and dugong habitat being destroyed. Then these same tens of millions of tonnes will be dumped further out to sea, and closer and closer to the Reef. Re-suspension of this enormous amount of dumped material will occur during rough weather and float through the Reef for years to come.
New research shows that dredging to make way for coal and CSG exports in the Gladstone region of the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage area is likely to have caused a major outbreak of diseases in marine life and depleted local fisheries[2].The coastal islands, seagrass, estuaries and river mouths like Gladstone are nurseries of many of the Reef's most loved fish, as well as the core habitat of turtles dugongs and dolphins. Dredging, dumping and plying those waters with thousands of coal tankers with huge propellers just isn't appropriate if you love the Reef.
Secondly, the massive expansion of Australian coal would be the second largest new source of carbon emissions in the world[3] according to a new study by Greenpeace International, as the climate warms the Reef will face greater losses to storm damage and coral bleaching.
[1] The 27–year decline of coral cover on the Great Barrier Reef and its causes, Australian Institute of Marine Science (AIMS), October 2012.
[2] Investigation of the causes of aquatic animal health problems in the Gladstone harbour and near-shore waters, Dr Matt Landos, Gladstone Fishing Research Fund, January 2013.
[3] Point of No Return, Ecofys, Greenpeace International. January 2013.