LISTEN: Fracking – what would Jesus do? 2:58 Min. by Stephanie Anderson, April 13, 2013, ABC News AM
ROBERT BUCHAN: The Northwest Plains and the Liverpool Plains are wonderful crop-producing areas. We’re worried not only about the detrimental effect on the surface of the land by mining and coal seam gas drilling, but also too the effect of the aquifers which is very much the life-blood of the farming communities.
STEPHANIE ANDERSON: It’s an issue Uniting Church leaders from the region have taken to the New South Wales and ACT Synod in Sydney today. Four-hundred delegates will be asked to consider a motion to end the Church’s investment in fossil fuel industries. It would put mining companies on the Church’s excluded stock list, and see existing holdings in coal seam gas and coal mining projects sold off within the year.
ROBERT BUCHAN: We’re quite concerned about the food security aspect of coal seam gas drilling and coal mining.
STEPHANIE ANDERSON: Why do you see this as a matter for the Church?
ROBERT BUCHAN: It’s very much a theological issue as far as we can see. We read in our scriptures that Christians should be very much concerned with social justice and standing beside those people we think who do not have a voice. But we also believe that Christ, God, has created the world and we are to be good stewards of it. … There are investments that are tied up in a number of companies and it’s time that we stood up and said well look, are these investments ethical investments and what does it say about us if we don’t practice ethical investment making?
STEPHANIE ANDERSON: The industry says it understands environmental concerns about fossil fuels, but blacklisting investment isn’t the answer. [Emphasis added]