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 between hand-made pontoons and a large catamaran parked in the middle of the channel, knowing that together we were stopping half a million tonnes of coal over the 30 hours.”.

The event was vibrant, energetic and family-friendly and very responsibly run with safety paramount.  Catherine reported that “it was peaceful and safe with Greenpeace boats on stand-by to pick up anyone in trouble. Other people were kayaking past and chatting like it was a completely normal event for people-power to take over the channel.”

But normal it was not - it was truly extraordinary.  Months of planning and preparation by hundreds of committed citizens went into making this event the largest civil disobedience for climate justice in Australian history.  Prolonged negotiations with civic, port and police authorities allowed the event to proceed.  We were simply going to be too many for them to say no.

When the 30 hours agreed with authorities for the blockade expired, a large contingent of committed people hammered the point home by continuing the blockade - peacefully facing down a flotilla of police boats in the largest ever act of civil disobedience for climate defence in Australia.  A very brave 97 year old Uniting Church minister from Newcastle was among the 109 people subsequently arrested.

As if this was not excitement enough, the weekend provided so much more - from live music to sand sculptures, an engaging program of activities for the kids, prayer gatherings on the beach on Sunday morning and much more.  The catering on site was exceptional and the facilities excellent.  All the planning and preparation was very much evident throughout.

The 30 hour blockade extended through the night

Why blockade a coal port?

We are in a climate emergency.  The early manifestations are all around us.  It is almost certain now that 2023 will have been the hottest year since the pre-industrial age and likely the hottest for more than 100,000 years.  And yet our emissions continue to grow.

Dr Vida Shahamat, 65, from Glenhaven, volunteered at the blockade welcome desk. "As a cancer clinical researcher, I am deeply concerned about the health impact of burning more fossil fuels," she said.  Vida participated in the blockade "to convey a clear message to the Labor government about ending all new fossil fuel approvals, including extensions to existing projects."

Whichever party is in power, one constant persists - they are seemingly resolved to continue and accelerate the extraction and export of fossil fuels. They are literally pouring oil on the fire and your children and mine will suffer the consequences.

The laws of physics cannot be negotiated away by politicians or fossil fuel executives.  They are laws that we must respect … or suffer and perish.

A healthy democracy does not begin and end at the ballot box but requires constant vigilance and participation, especially when governments fail to respond to the needs of the people.  This blockade was a spectacular manifestation of people power - a 30 hour blockade by 3000 participants, 109 arrests, 500,000 tonnes of coal exports prevented or postponed.

It was big!  Next year will be bigger - Rising Tide aims for 10,000 participants in 2024.  The bigger we get, the stronger we get … until we can no longer be resisted!

For that to happen, for us to change the dire trajectory we are on, more people will have to step up and join us.

Will you be one of them? Hint: you do not have to get arrested, you just have to care enough.

Stay in touch with Rising Tide plans and pledge your support here: https://www.risingtide.org.au/pledge 

By Hugh Vaughan, 64, retired Software Architect from Kenthurst.