Explaining coal seam gas and its extraction (Source)

Today's show reveals the shocking truth about the toxic, and one might say, genocidal effects of Coal Seam Gas, which is now spreading like a cancer throughout the country in both rural and urban environments.

My guest in the second hour is Wanda from northern New South Wales, who has been fighting on the frontline of this war against humanity. Recently she chained herself to a drilling rig as part of a protest against gas drilling in her region.

As we noted in a previous show, Coal Seam Gas drilling is coming to Sydney soon, and those who think that this is just a problem for a few unlucky rural folk have a rude shock coming.

During our interview we present a range of information about the destructive effects of this technology on both the environment and human health.

In the first hour of the show we take a look at the meaning of the word "democracy" with our guest Dan Collins.

Related Links

• Lock the Gate Alliance
• Water, salt and carbon in the coal seam gas future
• Fracking back on the table after AGL reversed a pledge not to use the controversial drilling technique in the suburbs
• Republic vs Democracy (Youtube)

President Obama's attempt to "get tough" on gun control has provoked a massive backlash from the patriot community in the US who are sworn to uphold the 2nd amendment at all costs, even if that means civil war.

On today's show we take a long hard look at some of the key questions in the debate over gun ownership and what the implications are for the stability of the United States and the world.

My guests are regular TNRA contributors John Bursill and Josh Jackson. Our discussion ranges through many issues which affect Australia. Questions considered include the following:

• Is there a real possibility of civil war in America?
• What will Australia's future be if US power collapses?
• Can an armed general population hope to shake off an invader or tyrannical government?
• What sort of weapons are needed?
• Is there a viable alternative to the use of force?
• Is peaceful revolution possible?

Related Links

• Obama Gets Tough on Gun Control, Seeks Renewal of Assault Weapons Ban
• A Legislative Civil War Brewing over Obama’s Gun Control Plan
• Fracking back on the table after AGL reversed a pledge not to use the controversial drilling technique in the suburbs

Today we bring you our first live broadcast on Logos Radio Network. This will be a regular broadcast, and you can pick it up the live stream at Logos Radio every Thursday. The exact time of the 2 hour broadcast varies a little due to changing daylight saving time zones. Our next broadcast on 29 March will be at 12pm, but the following week this will shift to 11am.

Some changes in this archive from previous podcasts:  there is a short INN news broadcast at the beginning of each hour - and there are ads - I hope that does not reduce your enjoyment of the show & we may be able to provide edited podcasts without ads later.

Topics covered on today's show include the anti coal seam gas rally held in Sydney recently, a recent taser death in Sydney's CBD, an in-depth interview wiith Damon Crowe on the secret history of the illuminati, and a discussion with Josh Jackon on the merits of the alternative currency, bitcoin.

A major feature in today's show is our exclusive interview with Matt Turner of the Queensland band Skinwalkers, who released an EP last year titled "Fall or Resist". Skinwalkers' music conveys a strong message of freedom and a belief in the human spirit. We include a couple tracks from their recent EP during the interview.

Related Links

• Bitcoin - P2P digital currency
• Stop CSG Rally video report - Government fails people of NSW
• 'Why are they trying to make him a bad person?' Anger on the streets of Sao Paulo over Roberto's Taser death
• Taser death fires up weapons debate
• Cops order double Taser trial
• Taser? I'd have used my Glock, says top cop
• Skinwalkers - Facebook Page
• Skinwalkers - MySpace

Truth News covers the stop CSG Rally at Parliament House NSW, 15 March 2012.

In the morning a motion was put to the NSW Upper House by Jeremy Buckingham of the Greens – to place a moratorium on all coal seam gas (CSG) projects in the state, other than the Camden production field. It was lost 16-19, with the Coalition, Shooters and Fishers and Christian Democrats against; and Labor and The Greens in favour.

In the afternoon a petition with over 20,000 signatures was presented in Parliament.

Protesters assembled outside Parliament at 4:00pm, then entered the building to continue their peaceful protest. After barely 10 minutes, the protesters were ejected from Parliament, allegedly because of the wording on their T-shirts.

Report from Stop CSG Illawarra follows:

Thursday March 15 2012 was a big day for the coal seam gas issue in our state parliament.

In the morning a motion was put to the NSW Upper House by Jeremy Buckingham of the Greens – to place a moratorium on all coal seam gas (CSG) projects in the state, other than the Camden production field. It was lost 16-19, with the Coalition, Shooters and Fishers and Christian Democrats against; and Labor and The Greens in favour.

In the afternoon it was the turn of our petition, YOUR petition, to be debated. Over 20,000 signed, calling on the Government to put in place an immediate moratorium on all CSG projects; a royal commission into the full impacts of CSG; and an immediate ban on fracking. Gareth Ward and Lee Evans spoke against, and Ryan Park and John Robertson spoke in favour. You can view the “debate” video (including its descent into chaos) in full online.

In both Houses Coalition members showed absolute contempt for the people of NSW. The Coalition called a moratorium irresponsible, saying that the Government must wait for more facts. But it is completely irresponsible to develop an industry before getting the facts.

Gareth Ward spoke against the petition – defending Coalition plans as adequate. Lee Evans spoke against the petition, then admitted to signing it. But he can’t have it both ways. He either stands with his community, and the 74% of people in NSW who support the call for a moratorium, or he tows the Coalition line and acts on behalf of the CSG industry. Yesterday, he chose the latter.

Actions speak louder than words. The Liberals opposed the petition. The Coalition voted down a moratorium. Barry O’Farrell did not even show up. CSG wells are being drilled in our drinking water catchment and the Government is not stopping it.

Yesterday, the vital role of community campaigns could not have been clearer. The Government is failing to act for the people of NSW; so we must. As the Coalition scrambles to defend the indefensible, we must launch a people’s moratorium and lock the industry out of our communities.

See you at the CSG Community Conference on Sunday March 25.

In 2008, the NSW government under Labor granted Dart Energy a Petroleum Exploration Licence (PEL 463) to explore for CSG across 2400sqkm of the Sydney Basin - from Gosford on the Central Coast to Coalcliff south of Sydney. The first exploration well has been approved was for the inner city Sydney suburb of St Peters. On June 2, 2011 Stop CSG-Sydney provided Dart Energy with a list of questions related directly to their plans to drill in St Peters, based on the Review of Environmental Factors. Here's the list of questions and the responses (received 64 days later).

Dart Energy agreed to meet St Peters residents at St Peters Town Hall, Tuesday 16th of August 6pm. For those that couldn't make it visit You Tube or watch the video.

CSG mining is already destroying communities across NSW and QLD, so it is crucial we act now to stop csg drilling in St Peters.

So far we have rallied together, lobbied our politicians, held community information events, hosted a community forum to hear the City of Sydney plans for trigeneration (view the City Of Sydney response to our questions), screened the US documentary Gasland, letterboxed hundreds of homes, submitted a formal submission to the NSW Government Coal and Gas Strategy and more.

Over 200,000 people live, work and play within 2km of the gas exploration site in St Peters.

ARE YOU ONE OF THEM?

Photo: Coal seam gas wells south of Chinchilla in south-west Queensland. (AAP: Supplied)

A man-made environmental and human disaster is looming and nobody in power seems to have the will to stop it. It's called coal seam gas (CSG), and it's making aggressive inroads into the Australian landscape, causing illness, despair and dislocation for those unlucky enough to live in its path.

This crime against nature is being carried out by large mining corporations like Santos, with the rubber stamp of your government, which of course is raking in the money from the sale of the mineral rights, while the owners of the land are being ignored and driven off the land.

Today Jess Moore from stop-csg-illawarra.org joins us to discuss these horrors, and what you can do about the situation.

From the website:

15 coal seam gas (CSG) wells have been approved for development in the northern Illawarra. Further wells are being discussed and applied for in the region.

These wells are in and around the Sydney Water Catchment, and pose a direct threat to our water supply.

We are worried because CSG mining:

Always involves contaminated water as extraction of gas draws water out of the coal seam that is highly saline and can contain toxic and radioactive compounds, endocrine disruptors and heavy metals;

When using hydraulic fracturing (or fracking), contaminates large quantities of fresh water with sand and chemicals that are pumped underground;

Lowers the fresh water table;

Is a fire hazard, as wells, processing plants and pipelines leak;

Risks a range of direct and indirect health impacts such heart, lung, kidney and neurological problems and cancer;

Related Links

• Alan Jones MUST SEE speech on Coal Seam Gas
• Lock The Gate: A national alliance of 90 community, industry and environmental groups fighting CSG
• Gasland Australia: See the trailer for the Oscar nominated documentary, plus the latest news on CSG.
• British firms urged to 'pack suitcases' in rush for Libya business
• An Open Message to the 99% (Occupy Wall Street)