Whitehaven Coal’s recent Annual General Meeting (AGM) took a frightful turn as concerned citizens staged a Halloween-themed demonstration to denounce the company's nefarious coal expansion plans.
Dressed as a spine-chilling ensemble of creatures—including a towering 3-meter skeleton, zombie koalas, vampires, and "ghoulish" coal executives—activists from a variety of community groups gathered outside Sydney's Fullerton Hotel on October 30th, delivering a powerful message against Whitehaven's disastrous coal expansion plans.
The protest was marked by the presence of concerned citizens and groups like Gomeroi Traditional Owners, Doctors for the Environment, Bob Brown Foundation, Rising Tide, Ecopella and the Knitting Nannas, along with zombie koala that added a playful yet tragic note to the rally. The spooky spectacle not only served as a visual statement but also amplified public scrutiny of Whitehaven’s ongoing coal expansion projects.
The timing of the protest added to its impact. Just a day after the AGM, Whitehaven faced sentencing over four criminal charges linked to a hazardous blast that injured workers at a neighboring mine. Protesters condemned not only Whitehaven but also Japanese steelmakers Nippon Steel and JFE Steel for joining as joint venture partners in Whitehaven's Blackwater coal mine, a partnership critics argue will further exacerbate environmental degradation and endanger koala habitats.
Fahimah Badrulisham, an organiser for MoveBeyondCoal, captured the sentiment of the gathering:
“Whitehaven Coal is a total horrorshow. Whitehaven is creating a terrifying future for us all by pursuing more climate-wrecking coal mines in Australia than any other company.
“Adding to this nightmare, Whitehaven’s coal expansion destroys cultural heritage, wrecks water and threatens to destroy over 7000 hectares of koala habitat.
“Japanese steelmakers Nippon Steel and JFE Steel recently cursed themselves by partnering with Whitehaven Coal on its Blackwater coal mine - which has frightening expansion plans. These companies need to stop funding coal expansion and break ties with Whitehaven Coal lest their reputations be haunted for all eternity.”
As Whitehaven Coal faces growing resistance, protesters vowed to keep the pressure on, making this Halloween protest just one chapter in the ongoing battle for a cleaner, more sustainable future.
