The group of campaigners on The Just Transition Tour includes students, parents, doctors and ecologists.

Part of a week-long bus tour through NSW coal mining towns, organiser Laura Ealing said it was expected there would be about 30 people coming to Muswellbrook as part of the group, with the aim of spreading the message that there is no future in coal.

“We are going to the gates of coal mines and coal-fired power stations to send a message that coal’s days are numbered and to demand government support for green jobs,” Ms Ealing said.

The tour made its way to Singleton and Jerrys Plains today, and will visit Muswellbrook, Bickham and Caroona tomorrow, before continuing to other parts of the state.

Organisers hope the tour

will spark a discussion about how coal can be phased out and renewable energy alternatives developed.

Ms Ealing said the trip was about listening to communities, “not pushing our views down their throats.”

“We’re going to these communities to learn from them - to hear their perspectives and have a discusson, not to preach to them,” Ms Ealing said.

“We won’t be hiding the fact that we believe the future depends on phasing out coal.

“But we’re not going on this tour to attack people working in the coal industry.

“It’s those who run the coal industry, and the government that isn’t giving workers viable alternatives that we’re targeting.”

While in the local area, the group will meet with people who are campaigning against mining for

reasons including health, effects

on waterways and livestock and animals.

They will also speak with mining union and industry representatives and host a public barbecue in Simpson Park, Muswellbrook at 12.30pm on Saturday.

The trip’s tour guide is ex-miner Graham Brown who said there

was an urgent need to stop mining.

“If we’re going to avoid the worst of climate change we do need to phase out coal, and we need to do it fast,” he said.

“It’s obvious that workers in the mining and energy sectors will be right in the middle of this.

“But this is exactly why they need to be involved in the process of developing green alternatives that guarantee jobs, retraining in

alternative sectors and proper

compensation.”

For more information about the tour, visit www.transitiontour.

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