Hills locals join coal port blockade
Ten coal ships and half a million tonnes of coal were stopped by the blockade (Photo: Lee Illfield) Very early on Friday, November 24, I set off from my home in Kenthurst to join a peaceful 30 hour blockade of coal exports from the port of Newcastle, organised by climate defence organisation Rising Tide. Around 3000 people of all ages, from all walks of life and from every state and territory did the same. That Friday morning was wet and unpromising. But some momentarily inconvenient weather was never going to stop us - because we were all driven by the urgency of climate defence. Our goal was to blockade the coal port of Newcastle for 30 hours - stopping 10 coal export ships and 500,000 tonnes of exported coal. And we did so - peacefully but determinedly - in kayaks and canoes and other small boats - even a giant inflatable unicorn! Catherine Woolnough, 43, a scientist from Baulkham Hills was there too. She said of her experience “It was a surreal experience to be floating betwe