Protest update: 3pm 13th July forty arrested, protest still going

Posted July 14th, 2008 by george
in

Media release: 3pm 13th July 2008

Forty arrested: Direct action protest shuts Newcastle coal line

Forty people have been arrested during thousand strong protest at Newcastle today.

Two more have just locked on to the coal train that has been stationary at the terminal for the past six hours.

No coal trains have moved in or out of Carrington coal terminal fore the last six hours and services have still not resumed.

The protest is the culmination of the Camp for Climate Action – a direct action protest camp that has been underway in Newcastle for the last five days.

Climate camp spokesperson, Georgina Woods said, "The attention of the world is on Australia today, as a thousand people have marched on the world's biggest coal port in Newcastle to demand a swift move away from coal depedence."

"Climate change is the issue of our time and today's protest is a turning point in the climate change debate.

"there is no longer any excuse for the Australian Government to keep expanding the coal industry. The people are ready for change and the time is now."

Further information or comment: Georgina Woods 0438 223 771
Holly Creenaune 0417 682 541