The People’s Blockade of the World’s Biggest Coal Port
Start: 03.11.2007 – 10:00
End: 03.11.2007 – 18:00
Timezone: Etc/GMT+10
The People’s Blockade of the World’s Biggest Coal Port
Newcastle’s coal exports are Australia’s biggest contribution to climate change! Coal companies are planning to double exports from Newcastle – with support from both major parties. With the world in a climate crisis, we cannot sit by and let this happen. Come to Newcastle on Saturday 3rd November and join in a peaceful community blockade of the world’s biggest coal port. Join hundreds of other people on the water, or show your support from the shore.
When: Saturday, 3rd November, 2007
Where: Newcastle Harbour
>> WANTED – Boats of all kinds << HOW DO I GET THERE? Follow these maps: Far away map. Close map. What is the People’s Blockade of the World’s Biggest Coal Port? Why should I join the Blockade? What are our demands? What do I do now? What is the People’s Blockade of the World's Biggest Coal Port? Hundreds of people will form a chain across Newcastle Harbour to blockade the world's biggest coal port! You are invited to join in the peaceful blockade on the water, or show your support on the shore. The blockade will follow two similar community protest flotillas on Newcastle Harbour. Most recently, in February 2007, five hundred people came to occupy the port and call on the NSW Government to reject plans for a massive expansion of coal mining and exports in NSW. That demand has been ignored, so let's make the blockade on the 3rd November even bigger, and show that the community is serious about stopping the causes of climate change. Pictures of the first two flotilla’s are posted on here. ..at the previous flotilla Why should I join the Blockade? Since the Harbour occupation in February this year, NSW Planning Minister Frank Sartor has approved 109 million tonne capacity expansion of coal exports from Newcastle, expanding an existing terminal and approving construction of a new one. Capacity is currently about 100 million tonnes per annum, or 250 million tonnes of carbon dioxide. The expansion of coal export tonnage is directly related to more and bigger mines in the Hunter Valley and beyond. On the 7th June, Frank Sartor also approved the massive Anvil Hill open cut coal mine proposal in the Hunter Valley. In September, the massive Moolarben mine in the Upper Hunter was also approved. Both the Anvil Hill and Moolarben mines are intended to supply coal to Newcastle's proposed new Coal Export Terminal. There are around 30 proposed coal mine projects in the Hunter Valley and Gunnedah Basin regions of NSW, which feed Newcastle coal exports, and the NSW Government has shown they have no intention of rejecting any of them. Two years of community opposition to the Anvil Hill project and the third coal loader have gathered broad and strong support, yet our Governments have failed to take the commonsense steps to move away from coal dependence, so it is time for the community to take the next step. If we are going to stop catastrophic climate change, we must not allow this massive expansion of coal exports to happen. The only thing that can stop it now is a sustained campaign of civil disobedience and non-violent direct action. The People's Blockade of the World's Biggest Coal Port will be a fun, vibrant community event, so bring your friends and family. If you don't want to take part in the floating blockade, your support will still be needed! What are our demands? No new coal mines. No new coal exports. A just transition to a sustainable future. What do I do now? RSVP to Rising Tide if you're going to join in the blockade, so you can take part in kayak training and find out when and how to be a part of this historic action. KAYAK TRAINING IS IMPORTANT. If you want to go in a kayak you will need to attend one of our training workshops. If you are going to use your own boat, or if you just want to watch from the sure, we'd still appreciate an RSVP. Source boats, kayaks, wet suits, canoes, yachts, dinghies, inner tubes and other flotation devices. Let us know what you can bring: there will be extra kayaks available for those that have had training, but at the last flotilla, hundreds of people watched from the shore, because we just didn’t have enough boats for everyone. Spread the word. Send this alert to your friends and family. This flotilla will be a real blockade, but you and your mum will be in company of hundreds of others: it’s the perfect way to start changing the world. There is a lot of preparation work to be done, in promotion, logistics, comforts etc. Get involved in organising by contacting Rising Tide. Put up some posters or distribute some flyers. The files are attached to this webpage, see below. Thanks!