22 February 2019

The Great Australian Bight is a magical place. It’s waters are filled with life that’s found nowhere else in the world. It’s essentially untouched by human hands, but now, that’s all changing. Equinor, an oil drilling company that believes they can be a part of a sustainable future, has taken the next step towards drilling in the GAB. Apparently, their “Environmental Plan” will help us all. Even their main statement on their website reads, “We energize the lives of 170 million people. Every Day. “
​
170 million people is a lot of people, but there are over 7.7 billion people in the world. Those numbers are staggering when they’re next to each other. As a company that wants to reduce carbon emissions, you think they’d try to focus on renewable energy. Well, they are! What boggles my mind is that their main focus is still on off shore oil drilling. I don’t get it. 

Posted on their website, Equinor’s own modelling shows that oil from a spill could hit Australia’s coastline anywhere from WA to Sydney. Again, why is their main focus on off shore drilling!? For my digital class, I created a tri-fold pamphlet that highlights the importance of the Great Australian Bight, and I even made certain to include the negative impacts of oil drilling. (photos on the right).

The GAB’s Place in Nature: Information explaining how the GAB is a home to many living things. Messing with this ecosystem is a real bad idea.
Environmental consequences and ways YOU can make a change. Do it! #FIGHTFORTHEBIGHT 

I may seem a little bias, but in this case, what exactly are the real, true, and honest positive aspects of oil drilling? There are so many other ways to create energy. There are substantial facts to back this up. If I could invest any money (I have very little at the moment), I would invest it in renewable energy. The sun, the water, the wind…there are so many other forms of energy that can help us survive and thrive WITH nature. 
 
So please, take the time to check out the pamphlet I’ve made. Also, here’s a look at the model from Equinor’s website that shows the potential devastation to life (both on land and in the sea) if there was to be an oil spill in the GAB.

I hope I’ve helped you see that we are the voices that can be heard to make a difference. Please take the time to sign petitions, contact your government, and share it on social media. There’s a 30 day public comment where you can voice your concerns and help stop this. Please check it out! The link is here. This link also has the environment plan they’ve created; spoiler alert, it’s 426 pages. Hm, I sense a few loopholes hidden amongst the corporation jargon. 

Have your voice heard. It would mean a lot to not only me (you will make me one really happy gal), but also to many many people, and especially marine life who have no say with their home being taken away! Do the right thing. Be the change. Sign this petition.
Stay informed. Make a change.
​
Much love,
Jess

​P.S. There’s a funny, yet very informative video about oil drilling in the GAB, and you can watch that here.

Love Nature. Fight for the Bight.