Fight For The Bight
Last month, Patagonia
Surf Ambassador Heath Joske joined an Australian delegation to Oslo,
Norway, taking the fight for the Bight directly to Equinor. The delegation was
led by Peter Owen from The Wilderness Society and included Aboriginal elder and
singer Bunna Lawrie and various local and international environmental groups.
The delegation met with Norwegian Indigenous Sami people to discuss their shared experiences in the fight to protect their oceans and lands from development by the oil industry.
The delegation also found support in the 500-strong crowd of local Norwegians who joined them for a paddle out in the harbour in front of the city’s Opera House. This peaceful protest was one of the largest paddle-out demonstrations held in the country's history and members of the delegation were buoyed by the camaraderie shown by the local community who braved near freezing water temperatures in support of the Great Australian Bight.
“Borders were smashed and countries were united,” said Heath. “Thank you to the people of Norway for supporting our pleas to save our southern seas! You turned up in hundreds and screamed “Fight for the Bight!” with me, and when I stopped, you kept screaming. That was incredibly moving and heartening.”
The delegation met with Norwegian Indigenous Sami people to discuss their shared experiences in the fight to protect their oceans and lands from development by the oil industry.
The delegation also found support in the 500-strong crowd of local Norwegians who joined them for a paddle out in the harbour in front of the city’s Opera House. This peaceful protest was one of the largest paddle-out demonstrations held in the country's history and members of the delegation were buoyed by the camaraderie shown by the local community who braved near freezing water temperatures in support of the Great Australian Bight.
“Borders were smashed and countries were united,” said Heath. “Thank you to the people of Norway for supporting our pleas to save our southern seas! You turned up in hundreds and screamed “Fight for the Bight!” with me, and when I stopped, you kept screaming. That was incredibly moving and heartening.”
Taking on Goliath
The delegation also
attended Equinor’s Annual General Meeting in Stavanger where they presented a
shareholder proposal that the company should refrain from oil and gas
exploration and production activities in frontier areas (such as the Great
Australian Bight), immature areas and particularly sensitive areas. Heath Joske
also spoke at the AGM, taking to the stage to explain his connection to the
Bight as both a surfer and fisherman. Following the meeting, he personally
delivered over 300 letters from concerned Australian citizens to Equinor’s CEO,
Eldar Saetre.
“For the campaign, the AGM is not an end-point in any way,” says Norwegian citizen and Great Australian Bight Alliance campaigner Rune Woldsnes. “It is a step on the way to getting Equinor out of the Bight. There is no question the Board got the message.”
“For the campaign, the AGM is not an end-point in any way,” says Norwegian citizen and Great Australian Bight Alliance campaigner Rune Woldsnes. “It is a step on the way to getting Equinor out of the Bight. There is no question the Board got the message.”
Heath Joske at the Equinor AGM from Patagonia Australia on Vimeo.
BACKGROUND
North Coast Voices:
17 April 2019, Norway
needs to withdraw its majority-owned petroleum mining company from the Great
Australian Bight
4 March 2019,From
September 2019 onwards underwater seismic blasts will rock the Great Australian
Bight around the clock over a 30,100 sq kilometre area
8 January
2019, Why
proposed offshore mining in the Great Australian Bight matters to all of
Australia
12 October
2016, Multinational
gas and petroleum giant BP withdraws from offshore exploration in the Great
Australian Bight - for now.
23 May 2016, Australian
Federal Election 2016: which major political party is likely to put brakes on
the petroluem industry's risky commercial ambitions in the Great Australian
Bight?
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: only a member of this blog may post a comment.