Anti Coal Activists Strategy Exposed!!
Back in 2011 A COALITION of environmental activists released an
extraordinary secret plan to ruin Australia's coal export boom by
disrupting and delaying key projects and infrastructure.
The radical environmentalist group Greenpeace spearheaded a push to block the expansion of Australia’s coal export industry, with “generous support from the Rockefeller Family Fund”, a charitable foundation based in New York.
The radical environmentalist group Greenpeace spearheaded a push to block the expansion of Australia’s coal export industry, with “generous support from the Rockefeller Family Fund”, a charitable foundation based in New York.
The strategy included mounting legal challenges to up to a dozen key
mines and exploiting the Lock The Gate movement against coal-seam gas to
put pressure on governments to block mining.
The organizers’ draft plan says that it aims to raise funds in the United States as well as Australia to bankroll the campaign. Another foreign group involved in the campaign is CoalSwarm.
The campaign plans to build on the anti-coal-seam gas protests and to inflate concerns that mining will threaten the Great Barrier Reef.
But its overriding objective is to massively reduce the exports of coal to India and China, which import Australian coal to produce low-cost electricity needed to develop their emerging economies. Why? In order to cut carbon dioxide emissions.
The proposal for the Australian anti-coal movement, declared that 2012 and 2013 were critical years to stop tens of billions of dollars of investment and says the aim of the strategy is to "disrupt and delay" projects "while gradually eroding public and political support for the industry and continually building the power of the movement to win more".
The document - which is believed to have been written by Greenpeace
Australia Pacific's John Hepburn and CoalSwarm's Bob Burton - issues a
call to arms for coal activists nationwide.
The document names philanthropic consultant Sam Hardy and a foundation
set up by Wotif founder and Greens donor Graeme Wood on the cover.
It outlines that up to $5.92 million would be used to fund
litigation to stop coal port expansions, major rail lines and new mines;
to wage a "battle of Galilee" to stop "mega-mines" in central
Queensland's Galilee Basin and expose it as a "globally significant
carbon bomb".
The strategy proposes hiring staff to conduct "industry scandal
research" to help change the story of coal so that, instead of being
seen as the backbone of the economy and a creator of jobs and
prosperity, the coal sector is seen as a "destructive industry that
destroys the landscape and communities, corrupts our democracy, and
threatens the global climate". It also proposes pouring funds into
"symbolically contesting coal industry conferences" and annual general
meetings in a bid to increase investor uncertainty, to lead to delays
and higher finance costs on projects, as well as involving health
professionals - "among the most trusted people in the Australian
community" - in the campaign.
The anti-coal movement's document details a six-pronged strategy, for
which the first priority is to lodge legal challenges against coal port
expansions in Queensland and NSW, two major rail lines - particularly
the rail line to the Galilee Basin that would unlock a series of major
mines - and up to a dozen key mines.
Link to Report: Stopping the Australian Coal Export Boom
Let's look at who is involved in the Stopping the Australian Coal Export Boom!!
Greenpeace
Let's look at who is involved in the Stopping the Australian Coal Export Boom!!
Greenpeace
Greenpeace is the largest environmental organization in the world, with
an international membership of over 3 million and offices in over 40
countries. Forbes magazine once described it as “a skillfully managed
business” with full command of “the tools of direct mail and image
manipulation — and tactics that would bring instant condemnation if
practiced by a for-profit corporation.” But Greenpeace has escaped
public censure by hiding behind the mask of its “non-profit” status and
its U.S. tax exemption. In other countries, however, Greenpeace has not
been as lucky: Both Canada and New Zealand have revoked the
organization’s non-profit status, noting that the group’s overly
politicized agenda no longer has any “public benefit.”
- Greenpeace campaigns against all forms of energy production except for wind and solar. Unfortunately, a whopping 98% of the worlds energy supply comes from sources other than wind and solar, This is not likely to change anytime soon due to the cost, both in dollars and in raw materials, required to produce wind turbines and photovoltaic arrays.
- Greenpeace claims to be dedicated to saving the whales. They are happy to exploit the emotional impact of the slaughter of these noble creatures to raise funds and recruit members, but less interested in acting to end the practice of whaling worldwide. In principle, Greenpeace is not even opposed to whaling.
- Greenpeace is against the use of numerous chemical substances including, but not limited to, elemental chlorine, one of the building blocks of life on our planet. Considering that chlorine is responsible for providing much of the world with clean drinking water, and the Earth’s population with some 85 percent of all pharmaceuticals and vitamins, this hard-line stance must be considered both uninformed and inhumane.
- Greenpeace is unwavering in its conviction that the unforseen health and environmental consequences of planting genetically engineered crops that can grow in hostile environments will forever outweigh any potential humanitarian benefits. While they mount protests aimed at ripping these mutant "Frankenfoods" from the soil and the supermarket shelves, impoverished populations around the globe suffer from the preventable pandemic of malnutrition.
- Greenpeace remains bent on destroying the aquaculture industry while they continue to raise alarm about the status of wild fish stocks. Using the apocalyptic image of oceans picked clean of all aquatic organisms, Greenpeace keeps raking in the donations while battling against an industry that is already taking great pains to ensure its sustainability.
Instead of working hand-in-hand with business owners to forge a path
towards a sustainable future like other less myopic environmental
organizations, Greenpeace’s dogmatic adherence to the precautionary principile causes them to overlook the fatal flaws inherent in their own radical policies.
Greenpeace has spread worldwide, the Australian arm of their organization has many followers. It is this part of their organization that created the "Stopping the Australian Coal Export Boom"
Rockefeller Family Fund
Rockefeller Family Fund is a U.S.-based, family-led public charity that
initiates, cultivates, and funds strategic efforts to promote a
sustainable, just, free, and participatory society.
Since 2006, RFF has focused its Environment program almost exclusively on climate change. Their program emphasizes public education on the risks of global warming
and implementation of sound solutions. RFF is interested in the
development of initiatives designed to enact aggressive policies at the
state and national levels to reduce carbon emissions; disrupt the coal
life cycle from mining and burning to ash disposal and exporting; bring
diverse and compelling new voices into the climate debate; and examine
how special interests are distorting science and delaying constructive
steps to deal with this impending global crisis.
There are several Rockefeller Funds/Foundations, all traced back to the famous Rockefeller Family in the USA , who made their millions on big OIL!!
Coal Swarm
The purpose of CoalSwarm is to create a collaborative information
clearinghouse for the worldwide citizens’ movement to address the
impacts of coal and move to cleaner sources of energy. Containing over
7,000 articles on coal-related topics posted on the SourceWatch wiki,
this open-source reference provides a constantly expanding body of
information that anyone can utilize and contribute to.
The CoalSwarm wiki was launched in early 2008 and later that year was
accepted as a project of Earth Island Institute, an incubator for
innovative projects in ecology and social justice. Affiliation with
Earth Island Institute gave CoalSwarm access to logistical resources and
501(c)3 tax status, allowing the project to receive tax-deductable
donations as well as foundation support. In addition to donations by
private citizens, CoalSwarm has received grants from the Carlin Family
Fund, the Energy Foundation, the European Climate Foundation, the Mertz
Gilmore Foundation, the Natural Resources Defense Council, the
Rockefeller Family Fund, the Sierra Club, and the Wallace Global Fund.
Bob Burton - one of the creators of the "Stopping the Australian Coal Export Boom" is involved in Coal Swarm.
John Hepburn
John grew up in Central Queensland where his father worked as an engineer in the coal industry. He completed degrees in business and engineering from the Queensland University of Technology and worked for several years as a production engineer making components for the coal, gas and oil industries, before making a career about-turn. After establishing several successful non-profit recycling businesses, John was awarded a Churchill Fellowship to study community based environmental programs in the US and Europe. He has worked on a wide range of environmental issues for over fifteen years including ten years at Greenpeace Australia Pacific where he performed a wide variety of roles including managing the climate and energy campaign, the genetic engineering campaign, and the outreach and mobilization department. During this time, he also worked for Greenpeace International as an advisor to campaign teams in India, China and Japan.
In 2006 he co-ordinated the successful Greenpeace International campaign to prevent the imminent commercial release of genetically engineered rice into China.
John is also involved in The Sunrise Project - another anti fossil fuel organization. The Sunrise Project is also heavily involved with aligning with some of the Traditional Owners who are opposed to the Carmichael Coal Mine in the Galilee Basin. These Traditional Owners have apparently accepted money for their help!
Sam Hardy
Sam Hardy is also involved with the "Stopping the Australian Coal Export Boom"
Dr Samantha Hardy is a campaign strategist, an experienced social and environmental policy advisor and an expert in philanthropy, grant making and major gift fundraising.
Sam worked with WWF-Australia in Brisbane and Sydney as a Fundraising Manager where she lead major fundraising and advocacy campaigns to save the Great Barrier Reef and the forests of Borneo. Sam also worked as Head of Advancement at the University of Queensland’s Faculty of Business Economics and Law where she managed a gift budget of $18 million. Over her 15-year public policy and community campaigning career, Sam has advised the British Cabinet, the Queensland Premiers Office, the Commission for Children and Young People and numerous intergovernmental and non-profit organisations on priority social, economic and environmental policy interventions and campaigns. One significant policy achievement was her advice to Patricia Hewitt MP, UK Secretary of State for Trade and Industry and Minister for Women, which lead to new laws to give parents with young children and disabled children the right to request flexible working from their employer, a right that has now been enshrined into European law and has been adopted as a policy position around the world.
Sam has also provided strategic research and advice to the Graeme Wood Foundation who have also been mentioned in the "Stopping the Australian Coal Export Boom"
The anti-coal-mining alliance launched this project at its first Australian National Coal Convergence conference, which was held in the Blue Mountains.
The alliance included the following groups:
Beyond Zero Emissions (BZE). One of its key personnel, Mark Ogge, is on the anti-coal campaign’s Strategy Advisory Group. In 2008, BZE presented its “Transition to a Zero Carbon Future”, outlining its ambitious “coal switch” philosophy, under which the state of Victoria’s greenhouse gas emissions would be slashed by 50 per cent in three years.
GetUp! The prominent left-wing online campaign website.
United Voice, A large services-based trade union affiliated to the ALP. One of its representatives to the anti-coal campaign is Holly Creenaune, an activist with Friends of the Earth (FOE), who co-authored an article promoting a “low-carbon future, focusing on green renewable energy sources and smarter energy use”, in FOE’s Chain Reaction magazine. A second United Voice representative to the campaign is Ellie Smith, who signed an advertisement on the Gold Coast Greens web page in January 2011 calling for volunteers for a “Nature refuge and mining conference organizer … to halt coal production expansion in Queensland”.
The Pew Environment Group, This conservation group is associated with the US-based Pew Charitable Trusts, whose Barry Traill is on the anti-coal Program Reference Group.
Lock the Gate Alliance Inc. Partly organized by Drew Hutton, a long-time activist, academic, campaigner and past political candidate for the Queensland Greens.
The Environmental Defender’s Office Queensland Inc., Which is part of a nation-wide network of nine non-profit, non-government community legal centres working in the area of public interest planning and environment law. The centre, which is dedicated to fighting “climate change”, receives funding from “Commonwealth and State Community Legal Service Funding Programs and Queensland EPA project funding,” as well as from donations.
The Nature Conservation Council of NSW, Founded in 1955, one of the spokespersons, Armidale resident Carmel Flint, has also contributed to the anti-coal-mining campaign strategy. She appeared before a Senate inquiry into coal-seam gas in Narrabri, representing a diverse coalition of environmental groups including the Nature Conservation Council of NSW, the Wilderness Society and Friends of the Earth. The Nature Conservation Council of NSW is a non-profit, non-government organization representing more than 100 community environment groups across NSW.
Mineral Policy Institute, an Australian think-tank aimed at holding companies accountable on environmental issues.
The Australia Institute, whose executive director Dr Richard Denniss is also on the anti-coal Program Advisory Group.
Mackay Conservation Group, is the peak environmental organization in the Mackay region in Queensland, Australia. The organization focuses its conservation and environmental protection efforts on the Central Queensland Coast and Brigalow Belt bioregions in the area from Bowen in the north, west to Clermont and South to St Lawrence, and the off-shore islands of the Great Barrier Reef.
Mackay Conservation Group receives some funding for specific projects from government, and relies on volunteers and donations for its advocacy work. A non profit organization with tax deductibility status, Mackay Conservation Group is run by a volunteer Committee.
Also involved are : United Voice, Capricornia Conservation Council , Environment Victoria and the Climate Action Network Australia.
Below: excerpts taken from the "Stopping the Australian Coal Export Boom" document!!
John grew up in Central Queensland where his father worked as an engineer in the coal industry. He completed degrees in business and engineering from the Queensland University of Technology and worked for several years as a production engineer making components for the coal, gas and oil industries, before making a career about-turn. After establishing several successful non-profit recycling businesses, John was awarded a Churchill Fellowship to study community based environmental programs in the US and Europe. He has worked on a wide range of environmental issues for over fifteen years including ten years at Greenpeace Australia Pacific where he performed a wide variety of roles including managing the climate and energy campaign, the genetic engineering campaign, and the outreach and mobilization department. During this time, he also worked for Greenpeace International as an advisor to campaign teams in India, China and Japan.
In 2006 he co-ordinated the successful Greenpeace International campaign to prevent the imminent commercial release of genetically engineered rice into China.
John is also involved in The Sunrise Project - another anti fossil fuel organization. The Sunrise Project is also heavily involved with aligning with some of the Traditional Owners who are opposed to the Carmichael Coal Mine in the Galilee Basin. These Traditional Owners have apparently accepted money for their help!
Sam Hardy
Sam Hardy is also involved with the "Stopping the Australian Coal Export Boom"
Dr Samantha Hardy is a campaign strategist, an experienced social and environmental policy advisor and an expert in philanthropy, grant making and major gift fundraising.
Sam worked with WWF-Australia in Brisbane and Sydney as a Fundraising Manager where she lead major fundraising and advocacy campaigns to save the Great Barrier Reef and the forests of Borneo. Sam also worked as Head of Advancement at the University of Queensland’s Faculty of Business Economics and Law where she managed a gift budget of $18 million. Over her 15-year public policy and community campaigning career, Sam has advised the British Cabinet, the Queensland Premiers Office, the Commission for Children and Young People and numerous intergovernmental and non-profit organisations on priority social, economic and environmental policy interventions and campaigns. One significant policy achievement was her advice to Patricia Hewitt MP, UK Secretary of State for Trade and Industry and Minister for Women, which lead to new laws to give parents with young children and disabled children the right to request flexible working from their employer, a right that has now been enshrined into European law and has been adopted as a policy position around the world.
Sam has also provided strategic research and advice to the Graeme Wood Foundation who have also been mentioned in the "Stopping the Australian Coal Export Boom"
The anti-coal-mining alliance launched this project at its first Australian National Coal Convergence conference, which was held in the Blue Mountains.
The alliance included the following groups:
Beyond Zero Emissions (BZE). One of its key personnel, Mark Ogge, is on the anti-coal campaign’s Strategy Advisory Group. In 2008, BZE presented its “Transition to a Zero Carbon Future”, outlining its ambitious “coal switch” philosophy, under which the state of Victoria’s greenhouse gas emissions would be slashed by 50 per cent in three years.
GetUp! The prominent left-wing online campaign website.
United Voice, A large services-based trade union affiliated to the ALP. One of its representatives to the anti-coal campaign is Holly Creenaune, an activist with Friends of the Earth (FOE), who co-authored an article promoting a “low-carbon future, focusing on green renewable energy sources and smarter energy use”, in FOE’s Chain Reaction magazine. A second United Voice representative to the campaign is Ellie Smith, who signed an advertisement on the Gold Coast Greens web page in January 2011 calling for volunteers for a “Nature refuge and mining conference organizer … to halt coal production expansion in Queensland”.
The Pew Environment Group, This conservation group is associated with the US-based Pew Charitable Trusts, whose Barry Traill is on the anti-coal Program Reference Group.
Lock the Gate Alliance Inc. Partly organized by Drew Hutton, a long-time activist, academic, campaigner and past political candidate for the Queensland Greens.
The Environmental Defender’s Office Queensland Inc., Which is part of a nation-wide network of nine non-profit, non-government community legal centres working in the area of public interest planning and environment law. The centre, which is dedicated to fighting “climate change”, receives funding from “Commonwealth and State Community Legal Service Funding Programs and Queensland EPA project funding,” as well as from donations.
The Nature Conservation Council of NSW, Founded in 1955, one of the spokespersons, Armidale resident Carmel Flint, has also contributed to the anti-coal-mining campaign strategy. She appeared before a Senate inquiry into coal-seam gas in Narrabri, representing a diverse coalition of environmental groups including the Nature Conservation Council of NSW, the Wilderness Society and Friends of the Earth. The Nature Conservation Council of NSW is a non-profit, non-government organization representing more than 100 community environment groups across NSW.
Mineral Policy Institute, an Australian think-tank aimed at holding companies accountable on environmental issues.
The Australia Institute, whose executive director Dr Richard Denniss is also on the anti-coal Program Advisory Group.
Mackay Conservation Group, is the peak environmental organization in the Mackay region in Queensland, Australia. The organization focuses its conservation and environmental protection efforts on the Central Queensland Coast and Brigalow Belt bioregions in the area from Bowen in the north, west to Clermont and South to St Lawrence, and the off-shore islands of the Great Barrier Reef.
Mackay Conservation Group receives some funding for specific projects from government, and relies on volunteers and donations for its advocacy work. A non profit organization with tax deductibility status, Mackay Conservation Group is run by a volunteer Committee.
Also involved are : United Voice, Capricornia Conservation Council , Environment Victoria and the Climate Action Network Australia.
Below: excerpts taken from the "Stopping the Australian Coal Export Boom" document!!
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The war on COAL has only just begun!
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