One week to go: join hundreds of people in Newcastle for the Camp for Climate Action!
The Camp for Climate Action will be six inspiring days of workshops, sustainable living and grassroots direct action aimed at stopping the expansion of the world's biggest coal port in Newcastle, from July 10-15th. Climate Camp will culminate in a peaceful direct action on Sunday July 13th at the Carrington coal terminal, where hundreds of people will walk onto the coal rail line and stop coal exports in their tracks.
>>> How to get to Climate Camp – Wickham Park
The Camp for Climate Action will be on public land at Wickham Park, on the corner of Maitland Road and Albert Street, Wickham. It has toilets, showers, plenty of space, and soon: hundreds of people, tents, marquees, solar panels and a healthy dose of community climate action. It's just a few hundred metres from Hamilton train station, close to facilities and the Newcastle CBD. Click here for photos, maps and directions to the Climate Camp site.
>>> The Camp for Climate Action Program
There are scores of fantastic forums, workshops and hands-on activities organised throughout the Camp for Climate Action. The program includes forums on climate issues such as just transition from a coal economy to a renewable energy future and workshops on refugees and climate justice; a program of kids' activities; hands-on workshops on renewable energy and creative street theatre; and workshops that share skills and build networks for community climate action. Importantly, the program includes workshops to prepare for the inspiring day of action on Sunday July 13th. See the program here and some highlights below.
- Derek Povel from Clean Energy for Eternity, a community climate action group in Bega, says: "The magnitude and detail of Australia's response will be revealed by the Federal government in the coming months, now is the time to demonstrate your concerns and Climate Camp is ideally timed for maximum impact. See you there."
- Peter Kennedy, Hunter Valley coal miner: "I will be at climate camp speaking out against the forever growing cancer called coal mining. We need to be putting pressure on our state and federal leaders to help stop this insatiable demand for coal and move towards green energy. See you at the Camp!"
- Anne Hodgson, a mother of three, grandmother of three, and Senior Manager of a disability service in the Newcastle region, says: "We have a small window of opportunity to make changes to the way we live in order to avert a tragedy, the extent of which this world has never known before. I am going to Climate Camp to demonstrate my commitment to change."
- Michael Costa, NSW Treasurer, on the Camp for Climate Action in the NSW Legislative Council on 18th June 2008: "The camp will be held over six days from 10 to 15 July in Newcastle, conducting inspiring workshops and direct action aimed at shutting down the world's largest coal port in Newcastle, just north of Sydney."
>>> Tired of hot air and want to take real action against climate change?
Gather your friends, neighbours, community group, and family and join hundreds of people at the Camp for Climate Action. The Camp for Climate Action is a chance for everyday people to take action for a future free of dangerous climate change. By being a part of it – in Newcastle next week, at the coalface of climate change - you can be part of the transition to a just and sustainable future.
- Holly Creenaune and the Climate Camp Organising Collective.
info@climatecamp.org.au / (02) 4926 1614 / 0417 682 541
Thursday July 10th, 2 – 3:30pm in the Main Marquee – Forum – What will it take? Peoples' power phasing out coal in Australia. With speakers Lee Rhiannon Greens MLC on coal communities and coal subsides, John Hepburn on building a national coal campaign and reducing the coal industry's political influence, Bev Smiles from MineWatch on the Hunter Valley mine expansions, and Louise Morris on the recently approved HRL coal-fired power station in Victoria's LaTrobe Valley.
Thursday 10th: 2 - 3:30pm in Marquee 2 - Stories of Success - our history of community-led social change. From anti-Apartheid solidarity to union boycotts to mass direct action to save the Franklin and Jabiluka World Heritage areas, we'll hear from organisers from past successful community movements for change. With Meredith Burgmann (on the anti-Apartheid campaign), Natalie Wasley (on the Irati Wanti campaign to stop the South Australia nuclear waste dump), Lauren Caulfield (on the campaign to protect Western Australia's Forests), and Emma King (on the Jabiluka campaign).
Friday 11th: 2 – 3:30pm - A Just Transition: Moving from fossil fuel economies to a clean energy. With Geoff Evans (Greenpeace Australia Pacific), Daniel Wallace (Newcastle organiser, AMWU), Anna Rose (national co-ordinator, Australian Youth Climate Coalition), Graham Brown (retired mineworker) and Peter Barrack (former Secretary Newcastle Trades Hall Council). We'll look at plans and campaigns to fund and implement a just, timely and orderly transition away from coal dependency and towards a renewable energy future.
Saturday 12th: 9am - 10:30am "Now or Never": Come to the Human Sign at Wickham Park at Climate Camp and tell the world what needs to happen. Cutting carbon emissions can't wait until later – we have to do it now. We need as many people as possible to make a giant ticking clock – that's right, a ticking clock – and the words "Cut Carbon – Now or Never". Initiated by Clean Energy for Eternity (Bega).
Sunday 13th at Islington Park at 10am: Join the peaceful community protest to stop exports from the world's largest coal port in Newcastle. The greenhouse gases from coal exported from Newcastle harbour are greater than the total volume of greenhouse gases emitted from NSW from every other source combined.
If you aren't able to come to Climate Camp, you are very welcome at the community protest - just come along to the 10am rally before the protest begins when we'll explain to everyone exactly what is happening. You don't need to be willing to be arrested to come along. We will march to Carrington coal terminal where members of the community will walk onto the coal rail line to stop coal exports in their tracks.
Meet at Islington Park at 10am for a rally and march to the Carrington coal terminal for an inspiring day of community direct action. Please join us to be part of this historic movement.
Monday July 14th: day of decentralised direct actions. The culmination of almost a week of education and skill sharing, today people will take non-violent direct action at various locations along the Newcastle Hunter coal chain.
Really keen for Climate Camp? Come help set up at Wickham Park on Tuesday 8th and Wednesday 9th of July. We'd love the help. If you have questions, please contact info@climatecamp.org.au / (02) 4926 1614.
