An open Letter to Mr Gautam Adani Chair, The Adani Group *Thu 16 March 2017*
Download the full letter as a PDF 120KB >> <https://www.fightforourreef.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/ReachTel_AdaniPoll_14032017.pdf> Dear Mr Adani, We are writing to respectfully ask you to abandon the Adani Group’s proposal to dig the Carmichael coal mine in Queensland’s Galilee Basin. We would like to put to you three reasons why this mine should never go ahead. One, the Carmichael mine would be the biggest coal mine ever dug in Australia. Once its coal is burnt, it will contribute more climate-changing pollution to the atmosphere than the entire country of New Zealand does every year. Last year record-breaking ocean temperatures triggered a devastating coral bleaching event on the Great Barrier Reef – a natural wonder that visitors from every nation love. Sadly, another bleaching event is currently underway for an unprecedented second consecutive year. Pollution from burning coal is the single biggest driver of *global warming*, threatening life in Australia, India and all over the world. Two, coal is a killer. Coal is the biggest single cause of air pollution in Australia. Air pollution kills an estimated 3 million people globally each year. Coal burning is a key contributor. Black lung disease has re-emerged in Queensland, afflicting 19 coal mine workers. Last month The Lancet, one of the world’s leading medical journals, published a report that described your company’s Carmichael mine proposal as a “*public health disaster*”. Three, this mine proposal does not have wide public support in Australia <https://www.fightforourreef.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/ReachTel_AdaniPoll_14032017.pdf> and does not have the support of the Traditional Owners of the land where the mine would be dug. There are concerns about the impact the mine will have on groundwater resources and on nearby farmers who rely on this water for their livelihoods. Increasingly, Australians are deeply worried about how climate change is affecting our country through worse heatwaves, bushfires and reef bleaching. Australians know coal is driving global warming. And they definitely don’t want the publicly funded Northern Australia Infrastructure Facility to finance a railway line to service the Carmichael mine. A recent poll <https://www.fightforourreef.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/ReachTel_AdaniPoll_14032017.pdf> showed 75% of Australians would prefer the funding went towards renewable energy, not infrastructure for coal companies. True, the Queensland and federal governments are bending over backwards to fast-track this mine. True, they have changed water laws, stripped farmers of appeal rights, are attempting to change native title laws and have earmarked $1 billion of public money to build the rail line. But we urge you to think about global warming and public health and listen to the wishes of the people. It would be a great shame if this one project were to damage the image of India in Australia. We understand the Adani Group has not made a final investment decision on the Carmichael coal mine. We strongly urge you to decide to abandon this project. We the undersigned – and we believe all Australians – would support and welcome moves by your company to invest further in renewable energy in Australia. *Signatories* *Geoffrey Cousins* AM Business and community leader *Dr Lindsay Simpson* Great Barrier Reef tourism operator *Bruce Currie* Queensland farmer *Imogen Zethoven* AO Australian Marine Conservation Society *Ian Chappell* Former Captain of the Australian Cricket Team *Greg Chappell* Former Captain of the Australian Cricket Team *Bob Brown* Former Australian Senator *Christine Milne* Former Australian Senator *Tim Winton* Award winning author *David Williamson* AO Playwright and screenwriter *Kristin Williamson* Author and journalist *Richard Flanagan* Award winning author *John Mullen* Business leader *Simon McKeon* 2011 Australian of the Year *Indira Naidoo* Author and TV presenter *Ian Dunlop* Former Chair, Australian Coal Association *John Thwaites* Former Deputy Premier Victoria *Ken Peters* *Dodd* Birriah Widi Traditional Owner *Midnight Oil* Australian rock band *Peter Garrett* AM Musician, environmentalist and former politician *Rob Hirst* Musician *Naomi Klein* Author *Ben Elton* Comedian and author *Aunty Carol Prior* Juru Traditional Owner *Mark Burrows* Investment banker *David Paradice* Paradice Investment Management Pty Ltd *Professor Tim Flannery* Councillor Climate Council and 2007 Australian of the Year *Geraldine Brooks* AO Pulitzer prize winning author *Missy Higgins* Australian singer, songwriter *Helen Garner* Writer *Renata Kaldor* AO Business and community leader *Robyn Nevin* AM Actress and Former CEO, Queensland Theatre Company, Sydney Theatre Company *Michael Dillon* AM Cinematographer and documentary maker *Robin de Crespigny* Author and filmmaker *Mark Joiner* Business leader *Robert Purves* AM Purves Environmental Fund *John Butler* Musician *Dr Anne Poelina* Nyikina Traditional Custodian *David Fisher* Producer, The Science Show ABCRN *Professor Carmen Lawrence* President, Conservation Council of Western Australia *Distinguished Professor Terry Hughes* FAA Reef scientist *Keith Tuffley* CEO, The B Team *Dr Nigel Westlake* Composer *Edmund Capon* Former Director, Art Gallery of New South Wales *Bernard Fanning* Musician *Darleen Bungey* Writer *Professor Robert Costanza* Chair of Public Policy, Australian National University Professor *Fiona Stanley* AC, FAA, FASSA Distinguished Research Professor University of Western Australia, Vice-Chancellor’s Fellow University of Melbourne, 2003 Australian of the Year *Garry Shead* Artist *Virginia Duigan* Author and screenwriter *Sally Morrison* Biographer and fiction writer *Janet Laurence* Artist *Ben Quilty* Artist, activist, Trustee of Art Gallery of New South Wales and Honorary Doctorate Western Sydney University *Andrew Davies* Publisher and musician *Anne Manne* Writer *Peter Kingston* Artist *Richard Walsh* Publisher and social commentator *Lea Ferris* Caring citizen *Ash Grunwald* Musician *Tim Hollo* Musician and CEO, Green Music Australia *Graeme Wood* Entrepreneur, philanthropist and environmentalist *Aunty Beryl* Carmichael Nyampa Elder and author *Arnold Zable* Author, novelist and human rights advocate *Professor Lesley Hughes* Councillor Climate Council *Andrew Stock* Councillor Climate Council *Professor David Karoly* IPCC Lead Author *Bill McKibben* Author and Co-founder, 350.org *May Boeve* Co-founder and Executive Director, 350.org *Koreti Tiurnalu* Pacific Coordinator, 350.org *Blair Palese* CEO, 350.org Australia *Dr Jonathan King* OA AA Best-selling, award-winning author and historian *Ben Oquist* Executive Director, The Australia Institute *Joanna Weston* Australian athlete and environmentalist *Sheila Nguyen* Executive Director, Sports Environmental Alliance (SEA) *Mike Sheahan* Australian journalist, #SEA Ambassador *Jeff McMullen* Journalist, author and film maker *Ross Tzannes* AM Lawyer and community leader *Toby Barber* Renewable Energy Engineer *David Ritter* CEO, Greenpeace Australia Pacific *Kirsty Albion* Director, Australian Youth Climate Coalition *Amanda McKenzie* CEO, Climate Council *Kelly O’Shanassy* CEO, Australian Conservation Foundation *Paul Oosting* National Director, Getup! *Archie Law* Executive Director, ActionAid Australia *Claire O’Rourke* National Director, Solar Citizens *Cam Walker* Campaign Coordinator, Friends of the Earth *Kate Smolski* CEO, Nature Conservation Council of New South Wales *Craig Wilkins* Chief Executive, Conservation Council of South Australia *Shar Molloy* Director, Environment Centre Northern Territory *Mark Wakeham CEO*, Environment Victoria *Darren Kindleysides* Director, Australian Marine Conservation Society [image: Return to frontpage] <http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/> Australians head to Ahmedabad, ask Adani to shelve project Virendra Pandit/Rutam Vora ‘No coal. Go solar,’ says petition by citizens, including cricket legends Ian and Greg Chappell Ahmedabad, March 16: The protests against the Adani Group’s Australian coal-mine project, on Thursday, spilled over from Queensland to Ahmedabad. An Australian group of green activists delivered an “open letter” to the office of Gautam Adani here to tell him: “We want solar, but not your coal mine,” referring to the A$16.5-billion Carmichael coal project to be developed there by the Indian billionaire. They urged Adani, who is attempting to develop the project in the untapped Galilee Basin in Central Queensland, Australia, to abandon the plan which involves a 60-million-tonne per annum coal mining plant, a 388-km rail line, and construction of an export terminal at the Abbot Point coal port. Although the Australian authorities have given the go ahead — the Queensland Premier and six regional mayors are currently visiting India to promote it — the project has been dogged by controversy from the start. Aboriginal landowners and environmentalists are concerned about the project’s impact on groundwater and on climate change due to the burning of coal. *‘Highly controversial’* In addition, its effect on the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area has made the project “highly controversial”. Activists claim that over two million people have expressed their opposition and 13 global banks have ruled out providing funding for the project. As part of this campaign,90 prominent Australians, including former cricket captains Ian and Greg Chappell, and top businessmen, signed the ‘open letter’ along with well-known musicians, artists, journalists, novelists, stakeholders and business leaders. The letter was handed over by the leader of the activist delegation,Geoff Cousins,the president of the Australian Conservation Foundation. “We could have mailed the letter, but we wanted to make a direct contact with the executive,” Cousins told *BusinessLine*. *Adani response* Reacting to the development, an Adani Group spokesman said that Cousins’ legal challenge has been dismissed by the Australian courts.“We categorically reject such motivated letters of representation by a very small group of misled people. The proposed mine in Australia has been cleared after rigorous assessments and strict conditions.” He said the proposed mine is supported fully by the people of Queensland and their elected representatives who in turn represent millions of Australians. A national opinion poll found that almost two-thirds of Australians would prefer that Adani invest in large-scale solar energy projects rather than a new coal mine in Australia. The green activists’ delegation will meet politicians, business representatives and civil society leaders. × Ian and Greg Chappell ask Adani Group to abandon coal mine project in Australia Australian cricketing legends, Ian and Greg Chappell, have written an open letter to Gautam Adani, the company’s founder and chairman, citing public opposition, risks to miners’ health, climate change and potential impact on the fragile Great Barrier Reef as reasons not to proceed with the coal mine project : Mar 16, 2017 [image: Malavika Vyawahare] Hindustan Times [image: Ian Chappell] Australian greats Greg Chappell (left) and Ian Chappell (right) have written to Indian energy giant Adani to abandon its controversial coal mine project in Queensland.(Getty Images) Cricket legends Ian and Greg Chappell and at least another 90 prominent Australians have written to businessman Gautam Adani, asking him to abandon his company’s bid to mine coal near the ecologically-fragile Great Barrier Reef. The Carmichael mines in Queensland, Australia, is expected to produce 2.3 billion tonnes of coal over 60 years, most of which will be exported to India to feed fossil-fuel-fired power plants. The project involves dredging 1.1 million cubic metres of soil near the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park, one of the wonders of the world for its brilliantly-coloured coral reefs. In an open letter on Thursday, the legendary Australian brothers and other celebrities asked Adani to abandon the project as it will damage the environment, exacerbate climate change, and trigger adverse public health hazards. Also, they warned the controversial $21.7 billion project could damage bilateral ties and even hit sporting links. “It would be a great shame if this one project were to damage the image of India in Australia,” the letter says. Ian Chappell told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation that cricket has “a bit to do with the feeling” between the two countries. “The thought that this (mine) could affect the relationship, hopefully, that’ll get through.” Environmentalists portend that mining and burning of coal from this mine will release 4.7 billion tonnes of greenhouse gases. That will be more than the total greenhouse emission from New Zealand in a year. The project located in Galilee Basin in central Queensland has been mired in controversy right from the start — when it was proposed in 2010 by Adani Mining Pty Ltd, a subsidiary of the Adani Group. Besides protests by environmentalists, the project faced legal challenges over land disputes based on claims by indigenous groups. But Australian government and the Queensland administration has supported the proposed mining, saying it would create jobs for the local population. The Adani Group has argued that coal from Australia will help India cut down its greenhouse gases and produce a “net positive impact on climate change in the world”. “India is a large consumer of coal either way. So if Australia doesn’t produce and give India high-quality, highly-sustainable mining, it is going to rely on coal that will come from lesser reliable geographies,” Adani Australia chief, Jeyakumar Janakaraj, told Reuters last December. But Thursday’s letter calls on Adani, the company’s founder and chairman, to invest in renewable energy instead, and concludes that it would be a “great shame” if the mine damages “the image of India in Australia”. Besides the former Australian Test cricket captains, authors Richard Flanagan and Tim Winton, Telstra chair John Mullen and investment banker Mark Burrows signed the letter. Prominent Australians ask Adani Group to abandon coal mine project Ian and Greg Chappell and few other prominent Australians have written to Adani Group Chairman urging him to abandon the $21 billion mine project. By: PTI <http://indianexpress.com/agency/pti/> | Melbourne | Updated: March 16, 2017 9:00 pm Ian Chappell said Cricket has a bit to do with the feeling between India and Australia. Cricket legends Ian and Greg Chappell and few other prominent Australians have written to Adani Group Chairman Gautam Adani urging him to abandon the USD 21 billion mine project, a plea the company rejected as “motivated” by a very small group “misled” people. The open letter cited public opposition, risks to miners’ health, climate change and potential impact on the fragile Great Barrier Reef as reasons not to proceed with the project in the Galilee Basin. Adani Group spokesperson rejected the letter as “motivated” by “a very small group of 76 misled people. The proposed mine in Australia has been cleared after rigorous assessments and strict conditions”. “Cricket has a bit to do with the feeling between India and Australia,” said Ian Chappell. “The thought that this [mine] could affect the relationship, hopefully that’ll get through.” The letter calls on Adani to invest in renewables instead, and concludes that it would be a “great shame” were the mine to “damage the image of India in Australia”. Adani Group spokesperson said the proposed mine is supported fully by people of regional Queensland and their elected representatives. “The proposed mine will help in providing energy security to millions of Indians who are without electricity while creating thousands of jobs and economic benefits for the state of Queensland in particular and Australia in general. It is a project which will create enormous social and economic value for both the countries of Australia and India,” the spokesperson added. The USD 21.7 billion Carmichael coal mine project, one of the world’s largest, is set to start construction this year after being given the green light by the federal and Queensland state governments. The project involves dredging 1.1 million cubic metres of spoil near the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park, which will then be disposed of on land. Besides the former Australian Test cricket captains, authors Richard Flanagan and Tim Winton, Telstra chair John Mullen and investment banker Mark Burrows have also signed the letter. The letter is expected to be delivered to Adani’s Gujarat headquarters by an Australian community delegation currently visiting India. The letter said, “We are writing to respectfully ask you to abandon the Adani Group’s proposal in Queensland’s Galilee Basin…Pollution from burning coal was the single biggest driver of global warming, threatening life in Australia, India and all over the world.” “Last month The Lancet, one of the world’s leading medical journals, published a report that described your company’s Carmichael mine proposal as a public health disaster… This mine proposal does not have wide public support in Australia and does not have the support of the Traditional Owners of the land where the mine would be dug. “There are concerns about the impact the mine will have on groundwater resources and on nearby farmers who rely on this water for their livelihoods,” it noted. “We urge you to think about global warming and public health and listen to the wishes of the people. It would be a great shame if this one project were to damage the image of India in Australia. “We understand the Adani Group has not made a final investment decision on the Carmichael coal mine. We strongly urge you to decide to abandon this project. “We the undersigned – and we believe all Australians – would support and welcome moves by your company to invest further in renewable energy in Australia,” the open letter said. The Guardian - <https://www.theguardian.com/international> Ian and Greg Chappell call on Adani to abandon Carmichael mine project Former Australian test captains say opposition to mine in Australia could affect sporting ties with India, in letter directly appealing to Adani boss [image: Former cricket great Ian Chappell joined other prominent Australians, including Peter Garret and Tim Winton, asking for Adani to abandon its mine project.] <https://www.theguardian.com/business/2017/mar/16/ian-and-greg-chappell-call-on-adani-to-abandon-carmichael-mine-project#img-1> Former cricket great Ian Chappell joined other prominent Australians, including Peter Garret and Tim Winton, asking for Adani to abandon its mine project. Photograph: William West/AFP/Getty Images Joshua Robertson <https://www.theguardian.com/profile/joshua-robertson> @jrojourno <http://twitter.com/jrojourno> Thursday 16 March 2017 01.46 GMT Last modified on Thursday 16 March 2017 05.09 GMT Australian cricketing greats Ian and Greg Chappell have signed an open letter calling on Indian billionaire Gautam Adani to abandon his company’s proposed Queensland coalmine. <https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2016/dec/07/indigenous-owners-launch-fresh-legal-challenge-to-adanis-carmichael-mine> The Chappells, well-known through their sporting exploits in India <https://www.theguardian.com/world/india> where the Australian team is currently playing, joined 90 prominent Australians in the letter, which will be delivered to Adani’s head office on Thursday. Signatories include former Labor federal environment minister Peter Garrett; authors Richard Flanagan, Tim Winton and Helen Garner; Telstra chair John Mullen; investment banker Mark Burrows; and former Australian of the Year, Prof Fiona Stanley. Adani Carmichael mine opponents join Indigenous climate change project Read more One of Australia’s foremost experts on the reef, Terry Hughes, has also called for the scrapping of the Adani mine, saying it could potentially compound risks to the reef in its weakened state. Palaszczuk said last month the meeting in India with the mining company would be “critical ahead of Adani making its final investment decision in April”. She said the mine proposal was closely scrutinised and “offered the potential for thousands of new jobs across regional Queensland”. Palaszczuk said her government had remained true to its 2015 election commitment to protect the reef and sensitive wetlands from dredging as part Adani’s planned port expansion. It had also delivered on its promise not to use taxpayer funds to subsidise Adani’s infrastructure. However, the state government holds veto power over Adani’s application for a $1b federal government loan to build a railway to link the mine to its port hundreds of kilometres away. The Northern Australia Infrastructure Facility <http://www.naif.gov.au/application-process/investment-proposal-process/> says it “will not proceed with making an investment decision, and further consideration of an investment proposal will cease if at any time the relevant state or territory government provides written notification that financial assistance should not be provided to the project”. Cousins said that “polls show the majority of Australians are appalled that Adani [would get] a $1bn handout of public money to finance a project banks won’t touch”. The rail company Aurizon has lodged a rival bid for NAIF funding for a railway line to the Galilee basin, it was reported on Thursday <http://www.afr.com/business/energy/aurizon-returns-to-the-galilee-basin-with-northern-infrastructure-fund-plan-20170315-guys3y?login_token=u10KAACGwvGTP3CpnuCBeajfGksBO7sQbM1Zy8A8m9IaqN6TapRkrbJlRIW4Qt_gIrGLDUBzPAgDRZpW35rl0A&expiry=1489625697&single_use_token=A5J7Li7dZBXmxucyg7KFq8prCuyBGOk9RJjThR4_x1gkbGOpOQfRcSZYVL3BSVl_Q06ZOmxsI5lvG5-J037wkA> . Aurizon’s proposal rail line would cost up to $1b less than Adani’s, the Courier-Mail reported <http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/queensland/aurizon-seeks-funding-for-abbot-point-to-galilee-basin-rail-link/news-story/d7d70d6082b89b8173dcf4cc5fd16493>. ---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Rainbow Warriors <[email protected]> Date: Thu, Mar 16, 2017 at 3:08 PM Subject: A video on Adani and a pamphlet To: Edwin Pinto Mopa <[email protected]>, John Fernandes < [email protected]>, Rony Dias <[email protected]>, Siddarth Karapurkar <[email protected]>, Diana Tavares < [email protected]>, Ravindra Velip <[email protected]>, Rajkumar Walavalkar <[email protected]>, Judith Almeida < [email protected]>, Freddy Agnelo Fernandes < [email protected]>, Avinash Tavares < [email protected]>, Albertina Almeida <[email protected]>, Alito Siqueira <[email protected]>, "adv. Russo" < [email protected]>, Guilerme Almeida <[email protected]>, Amey Puranik <[email protected]>, Amita Kanekar <[email protected]>, amogh prabhudesai <[email protected]>, Annand Madgavkar < [email protected]>, Ashish Kamat <[email protected]>, Judas Barretto < [email protected]>, Ramkrishna Jalmi < [email protected]>, JOSE BENAULIM GOA <[email protected]>, [email protected], [email protected], "Joseph L. R. Vaz" <[email protected]>, Kishore Paingankar <[email protected]>, Karsten Miranda <[email protected]>, shakuntala mesquita < [email protected]>, Pamela D'Mello <[email protected]>, Naresh Gaude <[email protected]>, Nigel Da Costa Frias <[email protected]>, Nihar Gokhale <[email protected]>, Dominic Noronha < [email protected]>, Nilesh Gaonkar <[email protected]>, Subodh Naik <[email protected]>, olencio simoes < [email protected]>, Eric Pinto <[email protected]>, [email protected], [email protected], Rupesh Shinkre < [email protected]>, Sudhir Tari <[email protected]>, Satyawan Gaonkar <[email protected]>, [email protected], "Terence ." < [email protected]>, Tenny Ferns <[email protected]>, "Fr. Victor Ferrao" <[email protected]>, [email protected], suhas velip <[email protected]>, [email protected], Roger D'Souza < [email protected]> Hi everyone, The video is graphic and simple; pamphlet prepared by Prashant Pagi from Loliem. please distribute widely regards abhi
