Aboriginal Australians to Ex-Im Bank: don’t fund our destruction

Representatives ask Ex-Im Bank to refrain from funding controversial coal mine on ancestral land

WASHINGTON, D.C. – It’s not every day that the U.S. Export-Import Bank is the site of striking demonstrations, like a young aboriginal woman doing her traditional dance to the unique sounds of a didgeridoo. But at 1 p.m. on Tuesday, that’s exactly what will happen. Two representatives of the Australian Wangan and Jagalingou people will be addressing media then the Ex-Im Bank about their opposition to a proposed coal mine on their ancestral land as part of a trip to America to meet with first nations and Wall Street and Ex-Im Bank executives. 

Seeking to convince the embattled Ex-Im not to fund the controversial Carmichael mine, Murrawah Johnson and Adrian Burragubba will provide a glimpse of the culture they’re trying to save before addressing media and the bank. With a meeting at the Ex-Im bank afterwards, they are hoping to prevent construction of a mine that their people have voted against yet still has received permits from the Australian government.

What: Press conference and Aboriginal culture demonstration

Where: Ex-Im Bank headquarters, 811 Vermont Avenue, NW D.C.

When: Tuesday, June 9, 1 p.m. EDT

Why: Convince Ex-Im Bank to reject funding for the mine

Who: Murrawah Johnson and Adrian Burragubba, official spokespeople of the Traditional Landowners Family Council

Click here for more preliminary photos from the Wall Street event.

To discuss the W&J’s meetings with banking executives or to arrange an interview with spokespeople Murrawah Johnson and Adrian Burragubba, contact Anthony Esposito at +61.418.152.743, [email protected] or Philip Newell at (864) 293-1102, [email protected].

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Expert contacts:
Julien Vincent, Market Forces, (917) 753-5927, [email protected]
Jenny Bock, Friends of the Earth, (646) 258-6998, [email protected]

Communications contact: EA Dyson, Friends of the Earth, (202) 222-0730, [email protected]