jimjazz
9th July 2009, 11:06 AM
THIS EPISODE OF FOUR CORNERS HAS BEEN BUMPED TO THE FOLLOWING MONDAY THE 20TH JULY. Next Monday night (13 Jul), Tim Duddy, will appear on a Four Corners investigation into BHP's attempt to long wall mine coal on the fertile Liverpool Plains in northern NSW.
For those who haven't heard, this is the No Mines campaign that Duddy, and the Caroona Coal Action Group, have been waging for the last year in what can only be described as a David & Goliath Battle.
The key issue? That longwall mining will put at risk the valuable aquifer system that exists under the Liverpool Plain - often described as the Food Bowl of Australia. Duddy wants to see the Water Act changed so that water - clearly a more precious resource than coal - is given the appropriate priority in considering any coal mine.
Duddy is openly gay and has become something of a hero in the local district. Recently elected onto Gunnedah Shire Council, Duddy has made representations not just to NSW politicians but has made many trips to Canberra to meet with Garrett, Wong, Brown and Hunt.
This issue goes to the heart of the confluence of resource depletion and their increasing values and climate change and food scarcity. One is tangible and can realise enormous short term gains financially. The other is less obvious and refers more to our capacity to live sustainably.
BHP argues that long wall mining is completely safe. I think that the evidence suggests otherwise. Ben Cubby in the Sydney Morning Herald recently exposed issues of subsidence in a long wall mine under the Cataract Reservoir just south of Sydney. The issue? How would you feel about your water supply being poisoned when the long wall mine subsides and chemicals leach into the water supply?
http://www.smh.com.au/environment/water-issues/longwall-mine-plan-a-threat-to-water-supply-20090609-c29x.html
None too happy I'd guess. Not much point of having lots of wealth if you posion your water supply and render your food supply parched and wilting.
Support this action. To help, go to
http://www.ccag.org.au/
DON'T MISS FOUR CORNERS NEXT MONDAY, 13 JULY, 2009
For those who haven't heard, this is the No Mines campaign that Duddy, and the Caroona Coal Action Group, have been waging for the last year in what can only be described as a David & Goliath Battle.
The key issue? That longwall mining will put at risk the valuable aquifer system that exists under the Liverpool Plain - often described as the Food Bowl of Australia. Duddy wants to see the Water Act changed so that water - clearly a more precious resource than coal - is given the appropriate priority in considering any coal mine.
Duddy is openly gay and has become something of a hero in the local district. Recently elected onto Gunnedah Shire Council, Duddy has made representations not just to NSW politicians but has made many trips to Canberra to meet with Garrett, Wong, Brown and Hunt.
This issue goes to the heart of the confluence of resource depletion and their increasing values and climate change and food scarcity. One is tangible and can realise enormous short term gains financially. The other is less obvious and refers more to our capacity to live sustainably.
BHP argues that long wall mining is completely safe. I think that the evidence suggests otherwise. Ben Cubby in the Sydney Morning Herald recently exposed issues of subsidence in a long wall mine under the Cataract Reservoir just south of Sydney. The issue? How would you feel about your water supply being poisoned when the long wall mine subsides and chemicals leach into the water supply?
http://www.smh.com.au/environment/water-issues/longwall-mine-plan-a-threat-to-water-supply-20090609-c29x.html
None too happy I'd guess. Not much point of having lots of wealth if you posion your water supply and render your food supply parched and wilting.
Support this action. To help, go to
http://www.ccag.org.au/
DON'T MISS FOUR CORNERS NEXT MONDAY, 13 JULY, 2009