BSFG President Peter Holmes recently emailed The Honourable Michael Gunner Chief Minister of the Northern Territory about Proposed Fracking in the Northern Territory. Peter was inspired to write this letter after hearing a young girl speak at Katherine in the students Strike for Climate Action while he and Christine were travelling in the Territory.
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From: Christine and Peter Holmes
Sent: Thursday, 3 October 2019 10:35 PM
To: 'chief.minister@nt.gov.au'
Subject: Proposed Fracking in the Northern Territory
The Honourable Michael Gunner
Chief Minister of the Northern Territory
Dear Sir
On Friday 20th September, my wife and I were privileged to participate with students from Katherine Secondary schools in the students Strike for Climate Action. We were passing through Katherine on our return journey to Victoria.
One of the student speakers at the rally was an incredibly erudite 15 year old girl (unfortunately, I do not recall her name), who spoke with the clarity of message and urgency one would expect of someone many years her senior. She spoke of her concerns for the future of the Northern Territory in particular, and of course the Earth in general, if your Government were to proceed with proposals to open up the Territory to gas exploration and fracking.
Chief Minister, you need to heed the concerns of your young (and older) citizens, as well as the scientists, who are all telling us that we have very few years left to take urgent action to combat the worst effects of climate change. If you were to approve fracking in the Territory, your Government would be complicit in contributing to an impending global disaster. Fracking has been found to have extremely adverse effects on subterranean water supplies, not only because of the huge volumes of water required in each drilling operation, but because of the chemical contamination of groundwater. It has caused many serious human and animal health issues in communities close to fracking operations, and also releases huge amounts of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. At this point in history, we need to be drastically reducing our reliance on fossil fuels – not approving projects which condemn our young people to a bleak future.
I write, as President, on behalf of all the members and supporters of Benalla Sustainable Future Group, urging you to refrain from approving fracking in the Northern Territory. Any short-term financial profit that these companies, or your Government, may realise from such activity, will very soon pale into insignificance, compared to the costs associated with repair bills from weather related disasters caused by the escalating carbon dioxide levels the fracking has contributed to, and the costs associated with the health issues the communities will need to address.
For the sake of that 15 year old girl and all her fellow students who are showing courage and leadership in speaking out about their concerns, we as responsible citizens must make wise decisions, even if they may seem to be politically unpopular. There are many other options available to us right now to provide energy and transport into the future, so why not pursue these options as an investment in the future well-being of your young people.
Yours faithfully
Peter Holmes
President – Benalla Sustainable Future Group
PO Box 642, Benalla, Vic, 3672
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From: Christine and Peter Holmes
Sent: Thursday, 3 October 2019 10:35 PM
To: 'chief.minister@nt.gov.au'
Subject: Proposed Fracking in the Northern Territory
The Honourable Michael Gunner
Chief Minister of the Northern Territory
Dear Sir
On Friday 20th September, my wife and I were privileged to participate with students from Katherine Secondary schools in the students Strike for Climate Action. We were passing through Katherine on our return journey to Victoria.
One of the student speakers at the rally was an incredibly erudite 15 year old girl (unfortunately, I do not recall her name), who spoke with the clarity of message and urgency one would expect of someone many years her senior. She spoke of her concerns for the future of the Northern Territory in particular, and of course the Earth in general, if your Government were to proceed with proposals to open up the Territory to gas exploration and fracking.
Chief Minister, you need to heed the concerns of your young (and older) citizens, as well as the scientists, who are all telling us that we have very few years left to take urgent action to combat the worst effects of climate change. If you were to approve fracking in the Territory, your Government would be complicit in contributing to an impending global disaster. Fracking has been found to have extremely adverse effects on subterranean water supplies, not only because of the huge volumes of water required in each drilling operation, but because of the chemical contamination of groundwater. It has caused many serious human and animal health issues in communities close to fracking operations, and also releases huge amounts of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. At this point in history, we need to be drastically reducing our reliance on fossil fuels – not approving projects which condemn our young people to a bleak future.
I write, as President, on behalf of all the members and supporters of Benalla Sustainable Future Group, urging you to refrain from approving fracking in the Northern Territory. Any short-term financial profit that these companies, or your Government, may realise from such activity, will very soon pale into insignificance, compared to the costs associated with repair bills from weather related disasters caused by the escalating carbon dioxide levels the fracking has contributed to, and the costs associated with the health issues the communities will need to address.
For the sake of that 15 year old girl and all her fellow students who are showing courage and leadership in speaking out about their concerns, we as responsible citizens must make wise decisions, even if they may seem to be politically unpopular. There are many other options available to us right now to provide energy and transport into the future, so why not pursue these options as an investment in the future well-being of your young people.
Yours faithfully
Peter Holmes
President – Benalla Sustainable Future Group
PO Box 642, Benalla, Vic, 3672
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