Queensland is a state rich in natural resources. However, tensions are rising with growing populations increasing the for food and energy production. As energy needs are met through mining of coal and coal seam gas, food producers are outraged at the resulting destruction of arable land. Join Drew Hutton, founder of the Queensland Greens, and Rob McCreath, president of community group Friends of Felton, to discuss the conflicts and solutions in the food or fuel debate.

Drew Hutton
Drew Hutton has been an environmental campaigner in Queensland for the past three decades and a social movement activist for considerably longer. He founded the Queensland Greens in 1991 and was a co-founder of the Australian Greens in 1992. He was the Greens main spokesperson from 1991 to 2007 but resigned all his positions in the Greens in early 2010 to campaign with farmers and rural landowners on coal and coal seam gas. Drew is currently a member of the Six Degrees campaign and spokesperson for Friends of the Earth (Brisbane). He is also the author, with Libby Connors, of A History of the Australian Environment Movement published by Cambridge Uni Press in 1999.

Rob McCreath
Rob McCreath is a grain and beef farmer from Felton on the Darling Downs. Married with 3 children, he and his family emigrated to Australia 16 years ago after selling their dairy farm in Scotland. Rob is president of community group Friends of Felton, which is fighting to defend the Darling Downs from coal mining, is an advocate of renewable energy, and is puzzled by the reluctance of politicians to adopt what seems such an obvious solution to the threat posed by climate change.

Further reading:
Want to learn a little more before Drew and Rob’s session? They’ve suggested you have a read of Climate Hope by Ted Nace and have a look at the following websites:
Friends of Felton
Beyond Zero Emissions
Skeptical Science