LAST Monday night, Chinchilla played special host to a human rights organisation, consultants to the United Nations and also, nuns.

In the Sisters of Mercy's first visit to the Western Downs, Sister Aine O'Connor and Sister Denise Boyle spoke about the research they had conducted across the world in human trafficking, as well as the human rights issues which related to mining and the environment.

"Normally people don't link fracking concerns into human rights but, when you use the land, you can't say the people don't matter," Sr O'Connor said.

Although the sisters met with the community at a meeting held in the Catholic Church Hall to talk about their experiences so far in looking into the human impact of fracking, they explained they were primarily visiting the area to gain a local perspective on the issue which they said was a global one.

Sr O'Connor said the ways in which the Sisters of Mercy examined the human impact of social and economic development was by asking the questions, "Who benefits?", "Who bears the cost?" and "Who is excluded?"

"Since 1998 we have had special consultant's status with the UN to push for the right to food, to water and to information," she said.

"Our focus is to journey with the people on the ground," she said.

The sisters also spoke extensively with the gathering of community members about global warming and the rapid impact this was having on access to safe drinking water and sanitation.

"September 2015 was the hottest month on record and the rate global temperatures are rising is incompatible with the continuation of human life," Sr O'Connor said.

"We don't want to sound like doomsday preppers but whatever policies there are to secure water must be put in place as soon as possible."

Following the meeting, locals gave the sisters a photograph of George Bender as a thank-you for their visit.

The framed photograph of the farmer included a note hand-written by his late mother about the history of Hopeland.

A short memorial service for Mr Bender had been held just before the Sisters of Mercy meeting.