AMCS joins Midnight Oil to Fight For Our Reef
The Australian Marine Conservation Society (AMCS) will be at Midnight Oil concerts across Queensland urging the legendary rock band’s fans to join the Fight For Our Reef.
Midnight Oil has a long history of campaigning on environmental and land rights issues. It’s focus now is protection of the iconic Great Barrier Reef from the devastating impacts of climate change and Adani’s massive coal mine.
Tony Fontes, AMCS Fight For Our Reef Campaigner said:
“We’re delighted to be joining Midnight Oil at all Queensland concerts. The band has an incredible track record in engaging their fans – and the wider public – on the most pressing environmental issues of our time. This is a very exciting chance to take our Fight For Our Reef message to a new stage.
“At each gig we’re talking to fans about why we must not let Adani’s giant dirty coal mine go ahead – or any new coal mines.
“Our Great Barrier Reef has already suffered two back-to-back bleaching events driven by climate change. As a result, half of all the Reef’s shallow water corals bleached and died.
“Adani is attempting to build the world’s largest export coal mine which would generate billions of tonnes of pollution, accelerate global warming and put our Reef in even more danger.
“Burning more dirty coal also threatens the 64,000 jobs in regional Queensland that depend on a healthy Reef and the $6 billion it generates every year for the Queensland economy.
“With the mine at full scale, Adani would send 500 more coal ships ploughing through the Reef’s waters increasing the risk of groundings and collisions, and dredge over 1 million cubic meters of sea floor in the World Heritage area at Abbot Point.
“Adani companies in India have destroyed mangroves and polluted coastal environments. This is a company that can’t be trusted with our Reef.
“Yet, the federal government wants to give Adani a $1 billion public NAIF loan to fund the project – despite all four big Aussie banks refusing to back it.”
“We’re asking fans to join us and the Oils to speak out for our Reef. We’re asking them to call on Prime Minister Turnbull and Queensland Premier Palaszczuk to refuse Adani’s $1 billion loan and say no to new coal mines. Instead we want the government to invest in our Reef, the jobs it supports and renewable energy.
“With Midnight Oil’s power behind us, we’re excited to engage even more people in our Fight For Our Reef. It’s all about a safe future for our kids, a healthy Reef and jobs for the region in clean renewable energy.”
More information fightforourreef.org.au
For interviews, high res images and vision please contact:
Tony Fontes, AMCS Fight For Our Reef Campaigner
0417 749 143 – tonyfontes@amcs.org.au
Greg Muller, Climate Media Centre
0414 654 288 – greg@climatemediacentre.org.au