A note from Missy about Dinosaur Footprints in the Kimberley

Hey everyone,

Apologies that this is non-music related, but this is something I care very deeply about and in the last few days it has become very urgent.

You see, 130 million year-old dinosaur footprints have been discovered along the Kimberley coastline at James Price Point, right along an ancient Aboriginal song-line and almost exactly where the WA government and Woodside want to build the world’s largest LNG hub. Scientists have apparently found at least 14 different types of dinosaur prints stretched along this section of the coast, which is extremely rare to find (they rarely find more than 2 or 3 different kinds in one place) and they range from tiny to 1.7 metres in diameter! They are blown away by this discovery and say that it makes Australia’s most famous dinosaur print site at Lark Quarry QLD, pale into insignificance.
These prints are also said to be very culturally significant to the Kimberley Indigenous people of that area, showing up in their Dreamtime stories as the footprints of Marrala Man, an ancient emu spirit. And just another reason for Joseph Roe, senior law boss and traditional custodian of that country, to be adamantly against the proposed LNG development.

If this gas hub construction goes ahead, these footprints will be in serious danger of being destroyed or damaged forever.

SO NOW THE REASON FOR THIS NOTE!

In a couple of days Environmental Minister Tony Burke with be finalising his Heritage List, and because this finding has ONLY JUST HAPPENED there is a strong chance these dinosaur prints won’t be added to the list at such late notice… unless we spread the word fast!

There are so many arguments against this LNG hub, environmental, financial, indigenous rights, and so far none of them seem to be standing up to the Giant Greasy Arm Of Industry. But getting these dinosaur prints Heritage Listed could just be the thing that saves the Kimberley Coast from being desecrated forever. After all, there are ALTERNATIVES to piping gas onshore at the Kimberley coast, they can easily pipe it down to the Pilbara where there is already the infrastructure to receive it with several mining towns, or process it offshore. We are not anti-industry, just anti-screwing-up-a-pristine-wilderness-unnessarily.

So please tell your friends about these incredible dinosaur footprints. If any of you are in media or have a blog, please write about this straight away, ring up talk-back radio, get the conversation going, write to Tony Burke! The most important thing is to get the word out there, and fast!

This could be our last chance to save one of the last remaining wilderness’ on the planet.

Below are some links to more information.
Short Youtube Clip about it: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J6j0NdylKxo
West Australian Article: http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/features/dinosaur-tracks-fuel-opposition-to-35bn-gas-project-near-broome/story-e6frg8h6-1226122981105
Save Kimberly Article: http://www.savethekimberley.com/wp/dinosaur-prints-our-kimberley-national-heritage/

And I promise I’ll write again soon with happier things!

missy x