Save the Great Barrier Reef

The Great Barrier Reef could still be saved.

“We’ll find every way we can to work with business, but we are not taking backward steps on levels of protection. We’re talking it’s a very very iconic environmental asset. We’re talking about the importance of the Great Barrier Reef”, said Environment Minister Toni Burke on television.

Meanwhile the Great Barrier Reef is not only suffering from climate change but also from coal decomposition at Abbot Point, all allowed by the Australian Government. Near Gladstone there are channels that cut through the seafloor for huge coal ships. In doing so, toxins trapped in sediments are released, finding their way into our food chain.

“Environment Minister Tony Burke keeps saying publicly that he wants to save the Reef. He’s trying to walk both sides of the street – saying he’ll save the Reef but at the same time approving massive new coal and coal seam gas terminals – and so far he’s getting away with it, because only locals know what’s really going on. Together, we’re going to change that, and show both major parties that voters will know what they doing to the reef”, explains Sam McLean, National Director of GetUp. GetUp is an independent, not-for-profit community campaigning group. Recently it is trying to make Australians more aware of the destruction of the Great Barrier Reef with getting the following video into cinema adds. Especially as there is an election not far away and Environment Minister Tony Burke and his government really don’t want destroying the Reef to become their legacy.

1,623 GetUp members have already been financial supporting the project so that this ad is shown after screenings like Finding Nemo 3D. Every donations means more voters will see this message – and that means more leverage for the campaign itself. “Within a day of launching our new ad about the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area, our phone was ringing with Government MPs trying to convince us to pull the campaign. We’ve never seen a response quite like it — and it proves our strategy is cutting through”, thinks Sam McLean.

GetUp is not alone in the fight against the dramatic destruction of the Reef by coal decomposition.

At Eastside Radio we think that this is a very important too and would like to help GetUp with spreading their video around. If you also think so then GET UP and GET INVOLVED in their campaign or support them with your donation. Help to make other people aware of the dramatic destruction of one of our most breathtaking miracles of nature – our Great Barrier Reef.

To donate just visit GetUps’ website with a click HERE. You can also check out some other projects of GetUp with a click HERE.