Tuesday, August 14

Rally to Declare the Nimbin Valleys Gas Free


RALLY TO DECLARE THE NIMBIN VALLEYS (and all the roads within) GASFIELD FREE - PROTECTED BY OUR COMMUNITIES

When:      Saturday 18th August, 2012 at 2.30pm
Where:     Peace Park, Nimbin

 At 2.30PM, Saturday August 18th at Peace Park, Nimbin, in the presence of Lismore's Mayor Jenny Dowell, the Nimbin Community will declare itself a Coal Seam Gas (CSG) Free Community. Citizens from 43 Roads will present their Gasfield Free Road Declarations to Lismore's Mayor Jenny Dowell, along with some colourful “street theatre” (well it is Nimbin!).

 Nimbin community members have completed a survey of adult residents on every road around Nimbin (over 1400 respondents) asking "do you want your road/land to be CSG free? Yes? No? Not Sure? Ninety eight point nine percent have said "yes"; 1.1% "Not Sure". No one said "No".

 This is the largest survey yet in the Gasfield Free Community initiative spreading like wildfire across the Northern Rivers. It shows massive opposition to CSG mining, which clearly has no ‘social licence’. This opposition emerges loud and clear from every locality that has engaged in the grass-roots Gasfield Free Democracy Process.

 With completion of the Nimbin survey, the entire Nimbin Valley can be declared Gasfield Free - Protected by Communities. This was achieved jointly with the North Lismore, Booerie Creek, Goolmangar, Coffee Camp and Jiggi communities, who will celebrate with us on August 18th.

 One after another, Lismore communities have declared themselves Gasfield Free: The Channon, Keerrong, Dunoon, Modanville, Rock Valley, Rosebank, Dorroughby, Whian Whian - an ever expanding list. Local topographic maps show how valley after valley, catchment after catchment is becoming a Gasfield Free Catchment - Protected by Communities. The survey, a powerful strategy developed locally (see
http://www.csgfreenorthernrivers.org/) is spreading virally, into Ballina, Byron, Kyogle, Tweed, Richmond and Clarence Valley shires and beyond – so far, always with similar results.

 On Saturday 18th August, Nimbin Valley residents will be making an emphatic statement that they are willing to step up to protect their farmlands, water and landscapes from irremediable damage by an invasive and reckless industry. They do not accept the Petroleum Exploration Licence that the state government has imposed on their lands.

 So, it's rally, rally, rally at Peace Park in Nimbin at 2.30PM, Saturday August 18th. It may not be as big as the recent Lismore Anti-CSG rally, attended by a some 7000 people, but who knows? This is Nimbin. The rally will go ahead, whatever the weather.

 For further information, contact

 Dr Len Martin

 Nimbin Valley Gasfield Free Roads Coordinator

 CSG Free Northern Rivers

 0266 890 254 or
pteropus42@smartchat.net.au.



CSG Free Northern Rivers

www.csgfreenorthernrivers.org

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