Why we protest
On Friday, 25 March it was the Global Climate Strike and residents from Northern Illawarra joined hundreds of thousands of concerned citizens worldwide.
By Kristen McDonald, of Extinction Rebellion Northern Illawarra
On Friday, 25 March it was the Global Climate Strike and residents from Northern Illawarra joined hundreds of thousands of concerned citizens worldwide. Activists young and old blockaded Russell Vale Mine for nearly three hours, which was supported by a range of groups including Stop Russell Vale Mine, POWA and Extinction Rebellion.
I asked Jacqui Besgrove why she helped organise the blockade.
“I’ve spent years working for positive environmental outcomes in my various jobs, from permaculture farming to lecturing on restorative ecologies, but I am becoming increasingly aware we need direct action,” Jacqui said.
“The window of opportunity to limit temperatures below 1.5 degrees Celsius is rapidly closing if we are to avoid a future filled with more floods and bushfires that have ravaged Australian communities these past few years. If we want to stop the climate crisis, we need to stop mining coal.
“All the coal from Russell Vale mine will be exported overseas and while a few Indian billionaires and Wollongong Coal Ltd will make a motza out of it, the local community will pay the cost. There will be 36 coal trucks per hour travelling up Bellambi Lane six days a week, bringing a truckload of pollution and congestion to our residential areas. The coal stockpile is a few hundred metres away from houses and schools and our drinking water is under threat as the coal will be mined directly under the Cataract Reservoir in the Greater Sydney Water catchment.”
To join activists like Jacqui, sign up to a local group (like stoprussellvalemine.org) or write to your state MP (Ryan Park for Keira).
