Great Barrier Grief
BY Nina Kempster
Protesters gathered once more at banking giant Westpac’s central headquarters on Kent St early on the morning of Monday February 20th. Nearly 200 people, clad in red and sporting signs urging ‘Don’t Risk the Reef’ called on Westpac clients to divest from the company due to their potential dealings with mining conglomerate Adani.
The ‘Stop Adani’ protest was echoed all over Australia, with turnouts to Melbourne, Brisbane and Canberra Westpac headquarters to advocate for the protection of the reef as customers continue to divest from the company. It was the launch of a long-term collaboration project between international green group 350.org and national Australian Youth Climate Coalition in a last bid effort to halt Adani’s Carmichael coal mine from receiving funding from Westpac.
According to environmental activist group Market Forces, Westpac is responsible for $5.9 billion in funding to fossil fuel projects from 2008 – 2014, making it overall the fourth biggest lender to fossil fuels in Australia. However in the first six months of 2015, its lending to fossil fuel projects in Australia was more than any other bank.
According to a spokesperson for the Australian Youth Climate Coalition, “Westpac have been silent on their involvement in Adani’s project, but we know they’ve already loaned the company $641 million and they’re the only big bank that hasn’t ruled out funding it. We have a plan. We know the Westpac board hate it when we talk to their staff, customers and use their brand against them. So that’s exactly what we’re going to do.”
James Dagher, the NSW State Coordinator of the AYCC told City Hub, “We won’t stop until they stop funding Adani.”
Indigenous activist Donna Bartlett called on supporters to use their collective power to resist the encroaching attack on Australia’s future.
“They are the 1%, I’m looking at the 99%. We can do this. We divest, we let them know; you’re not going to destroy my country, and you’re not going to wreck my reef.”
The impassioned crowd responded with cheers and shouts of “No more coal!” and “Divest!” as Westpac employees silently filed past the banners and into the building.
“We have to look after this place. We are the 99%, we have the power. Let’s tell them enough is enough. Let’s look after one another, look after our children. We can’t afford to do this anymore. We don’t have time, people! At the end of the day, we are running out of water. We’re living in a desert. They don’t know that we have the power. They are eco-terrorists. Let’s show them what the 99% look like. Let’s mobilise. We are the rescue team.”
The collective protest will continue weekly, with organised actions outside multiple Westpac branches in Sydney.
