On Monday 13 April, work stopped at Alcoa’s Huntly mine site for three hours as a result of direct action by a group of 16 concerned Western Australians.
This was the first time direct action has stopped Alcoa’s mining activities since the 1970s.
The group walked onto the site to stop works close to where Alcoa is actively clearing forest.
Participants were on site from around 12:30pm, until they were moved on by police just after 3:30pm.
Quotes attributable to spokesperson Vicky Kerfoot:
The Jarrahdale community has lived with Alcoa for more than 65 years. We have tried everything to stop Alcoa’s destruction, negotiation with governments, and with the company itself—nothing has worked.
Alcoa profits from the destruction of our backyard, getting everything to their timetable, including an exemption that allows them to continue clearing while the EPA decides their fate.
Enough is enough. The jarrah forests cannot wait any longer, so why should we?
Quotes attributable to spokesperson Alex Saurin:
Alcoa has lost the confidence of Western Australians. In over 60 years, this American-owned company has cleared 28,000 ha of Jarrah forests and failed to rehabilitate even one of those hectares.
The public is calling for the government to draw a line in the sand and start the transition to end forest mining. Now is the time; before we lose any more of this irreplaceable ecosystem.
I’m here because I cannot stand idle while Alcoa is allowed to clear more forest every day under an outrageous exemption. Taking action is a way for the community to take back power from corporations like Alcoa and show them that we’re all fed up with environmental vandalism. I encourage everybody to get involved.
About Vicky Kerfoot:
Vicky has lived in Jarrahdale for 45 years and is an advocate for the town’s local heritage and its transition to trails, tourism and other environmentally friendly industries. Vicky is the secretary of Jarrahdale Forest Protectors.
About Alex Saurin:
Alex Saurin was raised in Albany, where he still lives and works as a brewer. Alex is passionate about the environment and connecting with Country. He is a long-time activist and environmentalist with a passion for standing up against environmental vandals like Alcoa.
Background:
Despite its current mining being simultaneously assessed by the WA Environmental Protection Agency and the Federal government, the US company is allowed to continue clearing precious jarrah forests due to state and federal exemptions.
In a warming climate, and with evidence that rehabilitation simply does not work, the Northern Jarrah Forests cannot wait for an assessment to be made. This expansion will produce 1.3 billion tonnes of greenhouse gases, the equivalent of approving 18 coal-fired power stations.
On Monday 13 April, work stopped at Alcoa’s Huntly mine site for three hours as a result of direct action by a group of 16 concerned Western Australians.
This was the first time direct action has stopped Alcoa’s mining activities since the 1970s.
The group walked onto the site to stop works close to where Alcoa is actively clearing forest.
Participants were on site from around 12:30pm, until they were moved on by police just after 3:30pm.
Quotes attributable to spokesperson Vicky Kerfoot:
The Jarrahdale community has lived with Alcoa for more than 65 years. We have tried everything to stop Alcoa’s destruction, negotiation with governments, and with the company itself—nothing has worked.
Alcoa profits from the destruction of our backyard, getting everything to their timetable, including an exemption that allows them to continue clearing while the EPA decides their fate.
Enough is enough. The jarrah forests cannot wait any longer, so why should we?
Quotes attributable to spokesperson Alex Saurin:
Alcoa has lost the confidence of Western Australians. In over 60 years, this American-owned company has cleared 28,000 ha of Jarrah forests and failed to rehabilitate even one of those hectares.
The public is calling for the government to draw a line in the sand and start the transition to end forest mining. Now is the time; before we lose any more of this irreplaceable ecosystem.
I’m here because I cannot stand idle while Alcoa is allowed to clear more forest every day under an outrageous exemption. Taking action is a way for the community to take back power from corporations like Alcoa and show them that we’re all fed up with environmental vandalism. I encourage everybody to get involved.
About Vicky Kerfoot:
Vicky has lived in Jarrahdale for 45 years and is an advocate for the town’s local heritage and its transition to trails, tourism and other environmentally friendly industries. Vicky is the secretary of Jarrahdale Forest Protectors.
About Alex Saurin:
Alex Saurin was raised in Albany, where he still lives and works as a brewer. Alex is passionate about the environment and connecting with Country. He is a long-time activist and environmentalist with a passion for standing up against environmental vandals like Alcoa.
Background:
Despite its current mining being simultaneously assessed by the WA Environmental Protection Agency and the Federal government, the US company is allowed to continue clearing precious jarrah forests due to state and federal exemptions.
In a warming climate, and with evidence that rehabilitation simply does not work, the Northern Jarrah Forests cannot wait for an assessment to be made. This expansion will produce 1.3 billion tonnes of greenhouse gases, the equivalent of approving 18 coal-fired power stations.