Dear friend,

Right now, huge volumes of oil are pouring into the Timor Sea as a result of an incident at the West Atlas drilling platform, off the pristine Kimberley coast.

 

Last Friday I flew over the site of the oil spill to see for myself the extent of this disaster. I was deeply shocked to see that it spread far wider than had originally been reported.

Accompanying me on my flight was conservationist Richard Costin, who has shot some footage of the spill as it stretches from horizon to horizon.

I need your help to ensure that Australians everywhere see this footage.


The authorities have been slow to act as this spill gets bigger by the day. With your help, we can make sure everyone knows exactly what we're dealing with.

Our efforts have forced authorities to start reporting to the public on the extent of the spill … but we need your help to force them to act.

We need to ensure protection of these precious waters and the whale, turtle, fish and other species that call them home. Endangered species at risk are the Loggerhead turtle, Pacific Ridley turtle, Abbott's Booby and the Blue Whale.

Help us to make sure that Australians everywhere have a chance to see footage of this oil spill

Wind and currents associated with the Kimberley's huge tidal movements mean that the spill is continuing to spread. If it hits the coast, or spreads to nearby Ashmore Reef and Cartier Island protected areas the impact will be devastating.

Chemical dispersants are being dumped on the slick, but there is a real risk this will increase the long-term toxic impacts on these rich ecosystems as authorities try to make the problem go away.

Click here to send this footage to five friends

Every day that action is delayed increases the environmental impact of this disaster. I know that you don't want to see further ad hoc, poorly regulated oil and gas development in our pristine environments, causing these massive environmental catastrophes.

Thank you
Rachel Siewert
Australian Greens marine spokesperson

P.S. You can check out some of the pictures we took from the plane last week, showing the full spread of the slick so far.