It’s a grassroots campaign spreading throughout communities across NSW – one voice alone may not sway a major energy company to change its ways, but as part of a chorus from across the country it might.
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Bellingen residents on Wednesday, September 28 will join a national protest against AGL Energy, demanding the company provide a clear timeline on how it can transition from dirty fossil fuel powered energy to 100 per cent renewables by 2025.
In the lead up to the State gathering, about 30 locals gathered at Maam Gaduying, on Tuesday under a banner reading “Bellingen calls on AGL to go fossil-fuel free”.
“The people of the Pacific Islands have no options but call on the industrialised nations and specially the big energy companies to accelerate the transition from fossil fuels to Renewables,” said Tu'ulenana Iuli committee member of the Bellingen Environment Centre and the Polynesian Panther Party.
“We are not drowning, we are fighting!”
Joining Tu'ulenana Iuli ‘s call-to-arms is North Coast resident and organiser of the protest, John Ross.
He told teh Courier-Sun, “AGL has a dirty secret. It is Australia’s biggest carbon polluter, emitting 38 million tonnes of carbon dioxide per year. That is equivalent to the pollution produced by almost half of all the cars in Australia”.
“Despite all of AGL’s talk about climate action, they plan to keep their coal plants open til 2050, locking in decades more pollution and condemning us to climate devastation.”
“It’s time for AGL to get out of dirty coal and gas and make a rapid and fair transition to renewables.”
The rally at AGL Energy’s AGM is co-hosted by 350 Australia and Stop CSG Sydney and supported by GetUp! It will be held at Angel Place, Sydney, from 9.30am on Wednesday.
Speakers include
- Raymond 'Bubbly' Weatherall — Gamilaraay man, Gomeroi Native Title applicant
- Julie Lyford — Groundswell Gloucester
- Dr Helen Redmond — Doctors for the Environment
- Melinda Wilson — Australian Mothers Against Gas
- Ecopella, an environmental choir, will be performing
