Stories from climate actions and camps

Media Release
12th July 2008

Coal targeted in huge protest

Who: climate protesters
What: march and coal train blockade
Where: Islington Park, Islington, Newcastle
When: 10 am, Sunday July 13
Hundreds of people from all over Australia will attempt to peacefully prevent coal trains from reaching the port of Newcastle tomorrow morning to protest the expansion of the coal export industry and the prospect of climate catastrophe.
Protestors will gather at Islington Park at 10am and march to Carrington coal terminal where they will attempt to peacefully occupy the coal train line on its way to the port.
The action will be the biggest direct action protest against coal and climate change in Australia’s history. NSW Treasurer Michael Costa yesterday criticised the protest, saying that shutting down the port at Newcastle for just one day would cost $34.5 million dollars.
The protestors have been taking part in the “Camp for Climate Action since Thursday, and further protests are expected.
“This protest is part of a growing movement of people calling for a rapid and effective transition away from Australia’s dependence on coal for power and coal exports”, Georgina Woods said today.

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

For stories from participants of last year's convergences in the US, go to http://www.climateconvergence.org/ and scroll down.

Peter Salmon talks to direct action campaigners from the Camp for Climate Action

The UK’s Camp for Climate Action has always been as much about taking direct action against the root causes of climate change as it has been about mass action and education. It is about going to people and saying that only radical action and radical change makes sense when it comes to fighting back against those responsible for the deteriorating state of the world. It grew from a sense that agreements such as Kyoto or Durban are too little too late.

Heathrow was a fantastic burst of energy - people who had never conceived of taking direct action left the campsite in droves to target climate abusers. For those who were on the front line of this new found world it was a fascinating and happy time, as several years of work finally came together.