A new brand that identifies products as ‘Gasfield Free’ is being launched in Lismore today as part of the ongoing campaign to keep the region free of invasion unconventional gas mining.
The trademark’s striking logo and ethos ‘For the Love of the Land and the Future of our Children’ follows extensive discussions in the community, in structured groups and in street surveys.
Gasfield Free Brands Coordinator, Suzie Coulston, said the Gasfield Free licensed trademark was the latest development in the community campaign that opposes invasive industrial gasfields.
‘Now everyone can chip in at the checkout by buying Gasfield Free labelled products and services to help permanently keep the Northern Rivers gasfield free.
‘This community innovation was first mooted back in 2012 and is an extension of a national gasfield free communities campaign that has seen 426 communities across Australia declare themselves Gasfield Free.
‘The Gasfield Free award allows licence holders to substantiate their Gasfield Free status. There is a licence agreement and a community based accreditation system that requires the active participation of the gasfield free movement to ensure the legitimacy of every licensee.
‘We are committed to a gasfield-free future and thank our Gold Sponsor, Future Super, who is Australia’s first super fund to have absolutely no investments in gas and CSG.
‘Our Silver Sponsor, Santos Organics have been supplying organic produce in the Northern Rivers since 1975,’ she said.
Meg Nielsen, Northern Rivers spokesperson for Gasfield Free Brands said everyday decisions do make a big difference.
‘We are calling on businesses, their customers and networks in the region to show support for the Brand and to jump on board,’ she said
‘Interested farmers, product owners and businesses in the Northern Rivers can register on our website – www.gasfieldfree.com.au. You will be contacted straight away with the next steps towards using the Brand,’ she said.
‘Our very first landholders are Charles and Leone Wilkinson, beef producers whose farm is next door to the Bentley Blockade site, and Sarah and Barry Fletcher, Tea Tree Oil producers from Glenugie,’ she said
‘We’re excited about this opportunity for our business, to proudly show that we are and always will be committed to being Gasfield Free. This brand says it all for us and we are very pleased to be its first applicants,’ Charles Wilkinson said.
The new social enterprise draws on significant support regionally and nationally.
- Road surveys in the Northern Rivers saw an average of 95% of surveyed people declare their opposition to unconventional gas in their community.
- National polling shows that 81% of surveyed people agree that “farmers and traditional owners have the legal right to refuse mining and gas companies access to their land”.
