ADVICE FROM LOCK THE GATE

 It's time to abandon the old thinking and start working on some strategies that will actually protect good agricultural land from destruction by Coal and Coal Seam Gas. Here's some suggestions:

(1) Start a consumer boycott - Which Coal Seam Gas companies have retail customers? Tell their customers to cut off their gas or choose a different source for their gas or change their gas provider to someone who doesn't sell Coal Seam Gas.

(2) Mount a legal challenge - If a Coal or Coal Seam Gas company is giving you grief, wait till they take you to court. If only a hundred people did this to a Gas company their resources would be so stretched they'd have to capitulate. If a thousand people did it they'd be out of business. You don't need a lawyer and Barrister. Just represent yourself as people do everyday in court around the country.

(3) Work on a political campaign - The election is on the way. Each electorate has to vote for a local member. Choose a person from your community who is a good leader and ask them to stand in the election. Vote for them. If a dozen communities do this the major political parties will be forced into a minority government that is controlled by your local members who don't want Coal or Coal Seam Gas.

(4) Civil Disobedience - Just say yes to clean food and water and no to Coal Seam Gas. Lock Your Gate, blockade Gas company trucks, protest in the main street of your town. It's our land, our heritage and our future. The future is not Coal Seam Gas. Don't be afraid to stand up for what is right in the face of stupid laws and a corrupt government.

(5) Shareholder activism - Buy a share in each coal and gas company and write to the Directors. Show up to the AGM and protest. Get a hold of the share register (it's free) and write to the shareholders. Show up at the Directors houses and protest out the front.

(6) Don't be afraid to tell everyone you know that your life is being made hell by coal and gas companies and that if they don't get off their selfish arses and help you, they'll be next.

There's no time left to spend on feelgood stuff. The time for politeness has passed. It's now the moment to get cracking on winning this fight by thinking laterally and showing some guts in the face of adversity. It's time to show up the politicans as liars who care about revenue ahead of constituents.

As Mark Twain said, you'll regret more the things you didn't do, than the things you did.