In preparation for the Lock the Gate National Week of Action from October 13 to 21, Progressive Cinema will be screening The Sky is Pink by Josh Fox, and Battle for a CSG Free Northern Rivers, at 7:30pm on Wednesday, October 10, 2012, at Turntables Restaurant at the Armidale Club, 91 Beardy Street.
“The theme for this year’s Lock the Gate National Week of Action is ‘Healthy Communities’. The very fabric of our communities is at risk from mining, especially from coal and coal seam gas mining,” said Bea Bleile, one of the organisers.
“When we showed Bimblebox, a film about the impact of coal mining in Australia, the audience was shocked by the results of mining in the Hunter Valley.
“Now the coal industry is targeting Maules Creek near the foothills of Mt Kaputar. The heart of Maules Creek is Leard State Forest, the largest area of remnant native vegetation left on the heavily cleared Liverpool Plains.
“Leard State Forest is a major refuge crucial for the survival of resilient populations of wildlife threatened by climate change. It is home to 26 threatened plant and animal species and endangered ecological communities, including one of the largest remaining stands of the nationally endangered Grassy White Box ecosystem.
“The Maules Creek Community Council website estimates that the mammoth mine-complex formed by the proposed new or expanded mines will clear at least 5,000ha of land, produce 23 million tonnes of coal each year and result in 18,000 tonnes of dust landing on adjoining farmland.
“Armidale Action on Coal Seam Gas is planning a picnic at Leard State Forest on Sunday, 14th October, and a community event at 3pm on Saturday, 20th October at the Armidale Community Garden.
“The October screening of Progressive Cinema provides further information on coal seam gas mining and the campaign to protect our water, our environment and our health.”
The Sky is Pink is an emergency short film from Josh Fox, the Oscar-nominated director of GasLand, addressing the urgent crisis of drilling and fracking in New York state.
“Battle for a CSG Free Northern Rivers provides information about coal seam gas mining in Australia and shows community action in the Northern Rivers to stop it.
All are welcome to this free event. For more information contact Bea Bleile on 0458 752 680
