Furthermore, this event is designed to prepare our whole network ready to take peaceful and effective direct action to stop Santos in the Pilliga. The workshops are designed so everyone will feel prepared and confident to peacefully and safely participate.

We’ve already seen the power of farmers and other local people taking action – so it’s no good only people from outside the region training for actions here. Hopefully you will inspire some of these people to stay and help run the next protest camp, we do need their support, but we still absolutely need YOU to be involved in actions. You are the greatest power of this campaign.

Be there to show you care, to network and prepare, and to set our collective intentions for a gasfield free Pilliga and NSW. It will be inspiring… and a lot of fun!

Details

Entry fee: A suggested donation of $10/ person to help cover costs.

Accommodation: Camp for $8/person/night or $15 for two people/night or book accommodation with http://barkalafarmstay.com.au/

Food: A full menu of affordable and delicious food will be available, or BYO food.

The program will include: non-violent direct action, legal briefings, campaign media 101, social media for campaigns, public engagement and community campaign building, cultural awareness, photography and filming for actions, tree climbing, and practical action preparations.

Plus bush-walks and guided birdwatching, real coffees in the warm spring sun, wood-fired pizzas and night-time musical entertainment!

A full, detailed program will be released soon.

If you’re on Facebook, please RSVP here: https://www.facebook.com/events/847024561989406/ If you’re not on Facebook feel free to let me know if you’re coming to help with preparations (Crystal 0448 337 072).

Background (which you all know already)

Santos have been given approval to drill 9 further coal seam gas (CSG) exploration wells in the Pilliga forest. This is another step in their plan to drill 850 wells as part of the Narrabri Gas Project, the first large-scale coal seam gasfield in NSW.

Soon they will bring their drill rig back and again drill into the Pilliga, the largest temperate woodland in Eastern Australia, a cultural site of the Gomeroi people, and a groundwater recharge area of the Great Artesian Basin – the lifeforce of our farmers and our food bowls.

Santos’ recent round of drilling 8 exploratory wells in the Pilliga saw over 20 people arrested, including 18 local landholders, and hundreds of farmers protesting at drill rigs, putting an international spotlight on the controversial drilling and the empowered community opposition.

Over 96% of community members covering 2.5 million hectares of country surrounding the Pilliga have made gasfield free declarations.

Recently, investment analysts Credit Suisse slashed $600 million off the value of the Narrabri Gas Project due to community opposition, valuing it at only 1/3 the price Santos paid for the project in late 2011.

The community has won against CSG already – at Doubtful Creek, Fullerton Cove, the Southern Highlands, the Riverina, Seaspray, Bentley…

With your help, we can win this one too!