Lock the Gate's, Rivers to Rivers Protest and March.

 Wednesday 14 September, Brisbane.

I am usually a silent supporter of organisations trying to protect our environment. I sign petitions and sometimes write letters to members of parliament. I receive a regular email from the organisation, Lock the Gate. I came to know of them when they were unsuccessful in their efforts in 2016, to get the Government to not allow the Indian coal giant, Adani, to have coal leases in Queensland.

This email came 2 weeks ago and I felt very strongly that it was time for me to be more proactive.

"Dear Helen,

The rivers of the Lake Eyre Basin in Western Queensland are some of the last free-flowing rivers in the world. Every few years in flood, this area springs into life - and becomes a network of billabongs, swamps, and wetlands supporting a rich diversity of wildlife.

Since 2014, the Queensland Labor Party and Government have made multiple election promises to protect the floodplains of the Lake Eyre Basin, but they are yet to fulfil that promise.

AND NOW fracking companies Origin and Santos want to drill thousands of gas wells into these precious floodplains.

We can't let this happen. The Queensland Government is making a decision right now on whether to protect the floodplains from fracking, but the gas industry is pushing back hard.

Please join the protest at 10am, Wed 14 Sept with a bright spectacle of resistance, as we weave a blue fabric 'river' down George St to Parliament House.

The gas from this part of the Lake Eyre Basin is the dirtiest gas in Australia. Opening fracked gas fields in the Lake Eyre Basin will blow our carbon budget and fuel more floods, storms, heatwaves, and bushfires. For our climate and our rivers, it's time to take to the streets!

Together we can protect some of the world's last free-flowing desert rivers of the Lake Eyre Basin.

Hope to see you there."

Consequently, we were small in numbers but strong in our convictions, as we walked George Street to Parliament House. 

Signs in the city add to the message to the Government.

I sincerely hope that the Lock the Gates submissions will convince the Government to say NO to big money.

I would love to read your comment.