The Dirt Down UnderThe Dirt Down Under

PEP-11

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Maybe you don’t live in Australia or care about the politics of the oil and gas industry although considering we burnt down an area the size of Syria during those treacherous black summers, are the second hottest continent on earth and emitted a near 550 million tonnes of greenhouse gasses in 2019, I’d hope to have your attention now.

We aren’t here to fill your ears with political jargon, but we are here to tell you that your beautiful Sydney coastline is about to become an oil rig epicentre if the current PEP-11 goes ahead (petroleum exploration permit - 11) and we’re here to tell you that the impacts are going to be felt Australia-wide.

Obviously, the big picture is gas and oil are fossil fuels which fuel further climate change. 

I’ve heard gas is a dirty fossil fuel which causes 84 times more climate damage than carbon dioxide and 2/3 of our gas is exported and in 2019 Australia was the largest exporter of gas in the world. But Australia doesn’t want to stop drilling and exporting and in turn, heating up our planet. The Amazon is now releasing more carbon than it was absorbing and the upper ridges of the Daintree Rainforest in far North Queensland are now fire-prone!?

You might not be familiar with the California coast line so I’ll paint you a little picture; oil rigs, everywhere. And what’s worse is when you emerge from the water and have to scrape the oil off your wetsuits. Do you really want that to become a possibility here in Australia? We’ve brought the most politically incorrect man to our frontline to share the tale; he’s former world surf league commentator, owner of World Surf Magazine and led the successful, coastal-saving campaign against oil giant, Equinor from oil drilling in the Great Australian Bight. His name is Sean Doherty and he’s a dead-set living Legend.

Sean talks the dirt of the oil and gas industry. It’s entertaining and terrifying. PEP-11 stands for Petroleum Exploration Permit 11. It is a permit to drill for oil and gas in a four and a half thousand square kilometers offshore zone between Manly and Newcastle. In some parts, PEP - 11 comes within 6 kilometers of the shoreline.

Minister Keith Pitt, the Federal Resources Minister, is the person responsible for either allowing the permit to expire, or to approve the extension of PEP -11. It's a big decision and we can't let him make it without first hearing what we collectively have to say!

The Dirt

@seano888

  • Why Australia’s most politically incorrect social media influencer doesn't like Australia's Environmental minister… every Australian should hear this.

  • Did you know about PEP-11? And how the 4500km between Sydney and Newcastle is about turn into oil rig town… You know, that whale highway of ours?

  • Seismic testing? What. Talking the dirt on the damage by ocean sonic blasting

  • If you’re an Aussie, you should really listen / watch this episode and hear why you should care about this massive bump in the environmental road

  • - Gas is important to the Aussie economy. What would the economic impact of these wells be?

  • Sean and Paul talk the dirt on how Oil companies are dodging tax rules out any potential economical benefits and reveal the truth to Julia!

  • What kind of energy Australia is investing in currently…

  • Paul asks the question; Is there a war on renewable energy in Australia?

  • The dirt on Australian government and corruption and the environmental impacts of non-renewable energy

  • How do you speak up if you’re Australians or anyone who wants to change this!

  • Movements to fight PEP-11 - get involved

  • What will happen to Australia if nothing changes? (Hmmm, remember those black summer bush fires where Australia burnt the equivalent land size of Syria)

  • If this is science, Sean, how does it keep being disputed?

  • Sean, is Australia culturally ready for renewable energy?

  • Bombshell. Renewable energy is the cheapest energy on the market so it’s a bit weird that the Australian Government wants us to keep paying for a more expensive alternative (oil and gas)

  • …We are producing more gas than is even required…

  • How Sean stopped Equator - that Norwegian oil giant who tried to drill in the Great Australian Bite.

  • How we (Australians and anyone out there) can further spike global change

  • Sean's closing remarks - ‘positive change will come, but only when we move the roadblocks’

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The Dirt Down Under

Let’s be honest, none wants to talk about the end of the world. However, with the looming issues of 
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