Page 35 - EarthHeroes

Alliance, and Amelia and her team challenged politicians and business leaders on their support for the mine. Wanting to avoid the negative publicity of being associated with fossil fuels, several banks announced that they would not lend money for the project.
Meanwhile, in Australia’s Northern Territory, SEED has campaigned against plans to extract gas trapped in shale rock layers beneath Aboriginal lands through a process called ‘fracking’. This involves drilling into the rock layers to allow a mix of water, sand and chemicals to be forced through. This cracks
the rocks and releases the gas, which is captured and piped away. The process can cause earth tremors and also pollute water. Most Australian states do not allow fracking, and SEED argues that the Northern
Territory, one of the sunniest places in Australia, should switch to solar power
rather than burning gas. The group has organised colourful, noisy actions all over
the country to protest against fracking, including a sit-down protest in Parliament.
Unfortunately, both the Carmichael mine and the fracking project have been given approval by politicians. However, Amelia refuses to give up. She believes anything is possible if you are determined enough. She still hopes one day
to study medicine, but in the meantime she will continue to lead SEED’s fight against the fossil fuel industry and campaign for a move to more renewable energy instead, something most Australians support.
Amelia has described SEED’s battle for climate justice as like climbing a mountain: they’ve come a long way, but they’re still far from the top, and although they know their goal is possible it will take a whole team supporting each other to make it all the way. Above all, Amelia believes passionately in the importance of including all people in this fight, whatever their position in society or the colour of their skin. To find answers to the world’s environmental problems we need to learn from people who have always lived sustainably from the land and have a special connection to it. Amelia is working tirelessly to ensure that those voices are heard.
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