Article: Green voices: the resurgence of political activism

By John Treadgold

Published at http://www.gmagazine.com.au/node/1681/full

What would motivate you to join a protest movement? How dire would a
situation have to get before you lost faith in the powers that be and
took it upon yourself to physically demand change?

The lack of major protest actions over the past decade would suggest
that this threshold hasn't been met for the majority of Australians.
While this could be interpreted as either complacency or contentment,
the climate change debate is stirring a change. A recent rash of
protest actions is clear evidence of many people's frustration.

At the recent Climate Camp in Helensburgh, NSW
- a gathering of people peaceful protesting against coal mining - I
asked one attendee, Liam, from Newcastle, what had motivated him to
attend the protest. "Dealing with climate change is a unique issue,
there's so many resources backing up big-industry," he said. "I just
didn't feel I could rely on politicians anymore, I had to do something."

The Climate Camp was held in parklands adjacent to Australia's
oldest coal mine, Metropolitan Collieries, just south of Sydney. It
brought together grass-roots communities who were concerned about the
environmental impacts of the planned expansion of the mine. Workshops,
music and discussions sought to unite and educate the disparate
campers. The weekend culminated in a mass peaceful demonstration.

"I haven't protested before, but after seeing some horrific
environmental degredation in South America I had to act, I didn't want
to let that happen here in Australia," Liam said.

The climate change debate is a divisive battleground that pits the
interests of heavy industry against the need to reduce carbon
emissions. With an impending carbon constraint, the days of cheap,
plentiful coal-fired power are over. This poses a conundrum for
Australia, a country dependent on coal fired electricity and buoyed by
emissions-intensive exports.

While it appears our government has sided with the coal industry,
demonstrated by its generous concessions in the proposed Carbon
Pollution Reduction Scheme, many Australians feel their views aren't
being considered.

Another attendee of the camp, Juliet, a public servant from Sydney,
explained her feelings of helplessness: "I do all I can, but I feel
like I don't have a voice. It gets depressing. Coming to an event like
this re-empowers you to keep up the pressure."

The most striking thing about the event was the diversity of those
attending. From elderly ex-coal miners to school teachers, indigenous
elders and university students. They all told the same story; that
they'd lost faith in the government to work in the best interests of
the community.

"It's just so blatant, I'm sick of it. I voted for Rudd on his
environmental credentials but he's shown himself to be just another
politician, in the pockets of the coal industry and without the
backbone to lead the way on climate change," said camp protestor
Michael, a graphic designer from Gosford.

The demonstation began on a Sunday morning in October, with more
than 500 people marching through the streets of Helensburgh. A strong
police presence that included a dozen mounted police, the dog squad,
motorbikes, barricades and even a helicopter, ushered the procession
toward the mine's entrance. There were banners, flags and loud speakers
all advertising the evils of coal.

A strong contingent of Helensburgh locals also lined the route. Some
shouted distaste at the aims of the group, saying the coal mine
supported the town and that the protesters should go home, while others
threw eggs - what turned out to be the most violent action of the
march.

This conflict is symbolic of the issues that are at the heart of
this debate. Coal is choking our atmosphere, but digging it up and
burning it provides a lot of jobs and a lot of cheap power.

Neither Liam, Juliet nor Michael had attended protests before.
Juliet explained why it is the climate change debate in particular that
has motivated her to action: "The environment is an umbrella problem.
Without it, we're lost. I feel strongly about other causes, but the
changing climate just affects me, and my kids, so directly," she said,
as her young daughter crawled over her lap.

The protest was run by a dedicated crew of environmentalists, many
of whom appeared acccustomed to protests. Their passion was obvious and
their proffesionalism impressive. Holly, an organiser for the camp who
grew up in the area, explained her motivation for the cause:

"The talk of politicians and businessmen on targets and trading
rings pretty empty, while coal mining expands and undermines our river
health and water supply. Having come to the Climate Camp, I think I
look at every coal train a bit differently. I notice them - which I
never really did before. It makes me think about the impacts of climate
change in our communities, and for people across the world."

The protest remained peaceful. The centrepiece of the day involved a
number of people announcing that they would approach the police line
with the intention of walking on to the mine. They strode through the
crowd under a rain of applause and when they were stopped at the police
line they calmly sat down. They were soon joined by 50 other protesters
and the symbolic act of sitting quietly under the shade of gum trees,
blocking the entrance to the mine, was a fitting representation of the
aims of the demonstrators.