 |
| Illawarra Knitting Nanas outside Shelly Hancock's Office |
It was a great treat to hang out with the IKNAG (Illawarra Knitting Nanas against gas) during their recent protest in Nowra.
The Nanas having been staging their knit in's all across the state campaigning to stop the destruction of coal seam gas mining.Check out the Knitting Nanas and catch up with their activities on Facebook.
Check out the press release from the Nana's after the event.
Illawarra Knitting Nannas Against Gas (I KNAG) and South Coast Knitting Nannas from CSG Free Shoalhaven, converged on Shelley Hancock’s office today in Nowra for a ‘knit-in’.
Sittin’, knittin’ and natterin’ furiously about the deadly serious state election issue of coal seam gas mining in our drinking water catchment, the Nannas want action from the government to permanently protect our water.
“Leichhardt Resources lost their exploration licence last year,” said Nowra Nanna, Trish Kahler, gran of three, “but until we have a permanent ban there is nothing stopping another miner taking it up. AGL has a license that covers the northern part of the catchment for the Tallowa Dam on the Shoalhaven River, Nowra’s water supply. Sydney Water’s website says it feds Sydney’s dams too, as soon as they drop to 70%. I have to ask though, why am I charged top dollar for water to grow organic vegies to fed my family but these miners get water for free? Then to add insult to injury CSG mining produces huge amounts of waste water contaminated with coal chemicals and salt, where are we going to store that?”
“Last week the Baird government announced they would buy back the CSG mining license covering the Sydney Basin area”, added Nanna Annie Marlow, “but not a mention of the 4 licenses covering the Sydney Drinking water catchments. This has got to be a vote catching stunt by the Liberal Government. If CSG is too risky to be where Sydney-siders live then it is certainly too risky to be near Sydneysiders’ drinking water.”
Uncle Gerry Moore from Habitat Personnel, next door to Ms Hancock’s office, was very pleased to see the knit-in. He added a pack of bottled water to Trish’s organic vegies for the Nannas to share.
The Nannas are surveying politicians and candidates in the electorates they visit asking for simple yes/no answers to 3 questions, (“Do you support a ban of CSG mining in water catchment?”, “Will you vote for legislation for such a ban?”, “Will you move legislation for such a ban?”) . Responses will be published before the election.
Greens candidate, Amanda Finley was there with a score of 3 ‘yeses’ to the survey questions. There was no word from Labor candidate, Fiona Phillips, who was sent the survey and an invite. Ms Hancock, Liberal, was unavailable.
Nanna Shirley Gadding said “We want evidence of commitment. But like other government MPs we have visited, Shelley Hancock has left us a page of waffle that we could pick holes in like loose knitting. We are waiting for her response to our questions knowing that only ‘yes’ answers will commit her to action to protect our drinking water. Voters must know what their representatives in Parliament will do before the election.”
The Nannas will continue their peaceful public knit-ins, pointing their needles directly at our politicians until there is a legislated ban on CSG mining in water catchment.
Zoe the dog, who came with Nowra Nanna Jill, was heard to say, ‘I love to drink clean water, that’s why my mum brings me to Stop CSG knit-ins!”
And their little clip from the day
No comments:
Post a Comment