‘LAID BACK PROTEST’

‘LAID BACK PROTEST’
Date:  Saturday, May 29, 2010
Time:  10:00am – 3:00pm
Location:  Lefthander’s Beach, Gracetown
Description
NO WELLHEAD on our SEABED
PROTEST ACTION on SATURDAY 29TH MAY 2010

PROTEST ACTION: 29 MAY 2010 – LEFTHANDER’S BEACH, GRACETOWN
Start 10am, Action 11.00am
Oil on our Beaches –Not Worth The Risk
When commenting on a rally organised this Saturday by the Surfrider Foundation Australia and Conservation Council of Western Australia, opposing the Federal Governments recent granting of permits to drill for oil and gas offshore in the Margaret River region of South West Western Australia, Surfrider member Steve Andrews commented “the world is looking on with horror as beaches, wild life and prosperity are trashed along hundreds of kilometers of the US coastline. One oil well could cause the biggest and most expensive environmental disaster in US history, why would we want to risk such an event here?”
Andrews went on to state “At some stage we need to ask ourselves whether the environmental, social and economic risks of such a catastrophe outweigh the economic benefits to a company’s shareholders”. He added “It’s particularly alarming that such an event has now occurred twice in the past 12 months, including off our own beautiful Western Australian Coastline”.
Andrews believes that thousands of local surfers and residents in the Margaret River area share his concern that the region has special recreational, natural and economic values. “Its one of the most beautiful coastlines in the world, home to some of the planets best surf spots and tourist destinations”. He added “These values should be protected at all costs, and stopping exploitation of the sea bed off Margaret River for oil and gas is a good start”.
Andrews believes surfers and others will fight to the bitter end to see recent federal permits for oil and gas exploration revoked, and will carry their fight into the political arena and further to ensure the area gets “marine park status” to preserve it from future “catastrophic risks” posed by such activities.
Summing up the emotion of local organizers, Andrews stated “Any potential oil and gas spill offshore Margaret River would be catastrophic and would break the heart of the state of Western Australia, I encourage all concerned Western Australian’s to join us at the rally this weekend and let their concerns be heard”.
Details of the planned rally and contact details for more information can be found below or on the Surfrider Foundation Website www.surfrider.org.au <http://www.surfrider.org.au>

‘LAID BACK PROTEST’
Date: Saturday, May 29, 2010
Time: 10:00am – 3:00pm
Location:  Lefthander’s Beach, Gracetown, WA

Media Contact: Steve Andrews – 0415 542 502