below on May 1.
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Residents of the inner west joined farmers, environmental activists, the Country Women's Association, community groups and industry groups from across NSW in a massive rally at Martin Place today.
Jacinta Green, President of Stop CSG Sydney said: 鈥淥ur group formed in response to learning that a CSG well had been approved in our backyard 鈥 St Peters 鈥 without even talking to us. While most of us initially came together over local concerns, we quickly realised that issue was much greater than our backyard.
鈥淲e joined in with what is surely the most diverse display of support for a single issue, the largest social movement Australia has ever seen. Never before have so many people with so many differing opinions and backgrounds agreed on a few simple messages.
鈥淭o see the Country Women鈥檚 Association standing side by with Occupy Sydney, inner city residents, farmers from the North West, the Hunter Valley Vineyard Association is a dramatic snapshot of the broad reaching impacts and concerns around inappropriate mining and CSG.
鈥淭he Barry O'Farrell government has failed to live up to a critical election promise 鈥 to protect prime agricultural land and our water. The government has also failed to even acknowledge the threat of CSG in urban communities."
Pip Hinman, a spokesperson for Stop CSG-Sydney said: 鈥淭o see the incredibly broad support here today strengthens our resolve to continue the fight to stop coal seam gas mining until the health and environmental impacts have been properly investigated.
鈥淭he display of unity from rural and urban communities sends a clear message to the government. It must listen.鈥
