Camp for Climate Action Australia Day 3 = shut down coal trains!

Right now I’m feeling so excited and happy about what happened today in Newcastle, my hometown in Australia. Around 1,200 people today took direct action to stop the disastrous environmental impact of the world’s biggest coal port in Newcastle. The spirited and colourful protest was made up of a diverse mix of people including families, coal workers and activists … even some zombies, clowns, and radical cheerleaders. Many people made it on to the rail line - through or under the fence - and coal transport in Newcastle was shut down for the entire day. No coal trains got through. Organisers estimated that we cost the coal industry about 1.3 million in lost revenue. There were 50 arrests, and most arrestees were let off with a $400 fine, which we will all fund-raise for in the next few months. The mood was inspiring and strong, with the crowd chanting “shut down the coal port; green jobs now”.

This is a victory for everyone disappointed by the government’s inaction in the face of the biggest environmental crisis we have ever seen – instead of phasing out coal, the NSW Government last year gave coal companies permission to more than double their exports from Newcastle to 211 million tonnes per year. Coal exports are Australia’s biggest contribution to climate change and the greenhouse pollution from our coal exports exceeds all of our domestic pollution combined.

But the real props go to the NSW police force who assisted protestors by patrolling the rail corridor in an attempt to keep them out, which in effect helped prevent any trains from running. See the short video at engagemedia.

About Anna

Anna Rose, 25, founded the Australian Youth Climate Coalition in November 2006. The coalition unites a diversity of youth organisations to build a generation-wide movement to solve climate change. Anna was a National Organiser for the National Union of Students in 2005 and is past National Convenor of the Australian Student Environment Network. She is a former editor of the Sydney University student paper, member of the United Nations Pacific Youth Environment Network, holds a 2008 Fellowship from the International Youth Foundation, and comes from the biggest coal export port in the world - Newcastle, Australia.

8 Responses to “Camp for Climate Action Australia Day 3 = shut down coal trains!”

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1 willie Jul 13th, 2008 at 10:35 am

Wow. great work. i can’t even hardly keep up with all direct action going on. keep it up.
2 Cascadia Brian Jul 13th, 2008 at 2:21 pm

holy hot damn. what I can I say but, this is incredible.

Let’s make it happen here in 2-3 weeks at the Convergences for Climate Action in New York, Virginia, and Oregon!

http://www.climateconvergence.org
3 Sparki Jul 13th, 2008 at 5:58 pm

I’m with Brian and Willie, this is great! It reminds me of images of Seabrook when thousands blockaded a proposed nuclear plant in New Hampshire in the 70’s that started a movement which ended the drive to build nuclear power plants all over the country.

And of course a big big shout out to all my mates in Australia hitting coal plants and coal trains all over recently.
4 Joshua Kahn Russell Jul 13th, 2008 at 11:27 pm

Congrats! Great work!!!

xo
josh
5 sally andrew Jul 14th, 2008 at 6:15 am

Hi Anna Rose!
May I quote from your coal-blockage story in my forth-coming climate change book “Stories for Fire Dogs” (to be published by Findhorn Ecovillage) which features inspiring egs of action.
Please email me your reply asap
Warm wishes
Sally Andrew
6 Cascadia Brian Jul 14th, 2008 at 12:43 pm

omg - they are at it AGAIN today:

http://www.businessspectator.com.au/bs.nsf/Article/More-coal-protest-arrests-at-Newcastle-GJHQP?OpenDocument

this time at the coal export terminal itself!

we got some shoes to fill folks!
7 Carl Jul 23rd, 2008 at 6:30 am

Hi Anna,

Nice work Team.

If you hadn’t seen it- here is an Australian Essay Competition on Energy Futures:
http://www.neec.org.au/

- For Australian citizens and permanent residents under 31 years of age at 30 June 2008
- There are two major prizes of $20,000 each.
- Entries close 22 August 2008

Send it out to your networks, could help pay for any direct action fines

Warm wishes from across the Tasman,

Carl

1 Australian Climaticide protesters shut down coal trains « Johnny Rook’s Climaticide Chronicles Trackback on Jul 13th, 2008 at 7:25 pm

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