A FREMANTLE boy was so moved by his first protest march with his mum, cousins and uncle that he’s launched his own campaign to stop bauxite mining in the Northern Jarrah Forest.
Eli, 10, joined hundreds of people on the “End Forest Mining” rally to Parliament House last month.
“I went to my first protest rally with my mum, uncle and cousins to End Forest Mining,” he said.
“I saw so many people wanting to protect the jarrah forests.
“I was inspired by so many people including Ricky England walking all the way from Dwellingup to Parliament House and the speech by Jess Beckerling from the Greens.
“I saw that one person can make a difference, even me!”
• Ten-year-old Eli went to the forest protest and was inspired to create his own campaign.
The Beaconsfield Primary student has since penned his own pamphlet urging people to “Stop the Chop!”, warning that jarrah forest mining is threatening the homes of “two critically endangered animals, Baudin’s black cockatoo and numbats”.
“When I am in nature, I can feel the energy of the animals and the trees. It is all connected to us,” Eli said of what inspired him.
“The black cockatoos bond for life and care for their babies in the same nesting hollow they had their last baby in.
“The hollows they need are in old growth trees and can be between 300 to 500 years old.
“We need to protect their homes and their future. More and more black cockatoos are in our backyard, because their homes are being destroyed.
“I wish everyone saw that these old growth jarrah forests are worth more than greed. Once they are gone, they are gone forever.”
Eli’s campaign coincides with the final day — Wednesday August 21 — for public submissions on Alcoa’s proposed bauxite mining expansion and refinery upgrades in the Darling Range. The Environmental Protection Authority is seeking feedback via its consultation hub before deciding whether to approve mining across almost 11,500ha of jarrah forest.
“Instead of bulldozing, we need to protect and be a voice for nature,” Eli wrote.
“You can help to stop this before it’s too late. Speak up and act now… endforestmining.org.au”
by STEVE GRANT